Kara's Collection

Kara’s Collection: Big Mama Love

Kara’s Collection: Big Mama Love

rom an article originally posted May 2, 2014...

Years ago my dear Mickey offered me advice at the just right moment. That advice took deep roots and has followed me through my parenting. Mickey was my greatest champion of nursing my babies. When I felt weary and wanted to stop I would call her for her encouragement.

But she told me children moved from nursing to nussing, as she called it. She explained that even when the special time of nursing stops, the gentle time with mama needs to continue. When Jason and I have our special places to sit and read, my chair is always the oversized one. Simply put, it has space for each of my babies to sit close. And this close time never ends.

Kara’s Collection: What is care?

Kara’s Collection: What is care?

What is care? The word finds its origin in the word Kara, which means to lament, to mourn, to participate in suffering, to share in pain. To care is to cry out with those who are ill, confused, lonely, isolated, and forgotten, and to recognize their pains in our own heart. To care is to enter into the world of those who are broken and powerless and to establish there a fellowship of the weak. To care is to be present to those who suffer, and to stay present, even when nothing can be done to change their situation. 

Kara’s Collection: Choosing to Move—Simply Move

Kara’s Collection: Choosing to Move—Simply Move

from an article originally posted April 29, 2014...

There is a temptation to want to bow out of life when new hard comes. I have often mentioned the pull of the dark room and the constant screen to shut out reality. Each day having littles, responsibility, friends who know me—well, it makes me move. When I found my new lump, I frankly wanted to avoid it. I wanted to pretend it wasn’t there.

Kara’s Collection: Be Not Dismayed

Kara’s Collection: Be Not Dismayed

from an article originally posted April 28, 2014...

There is great power in the truth. When we look in the face of today, we can despair ourselves, the tasks set before us, and we can wonder at the plan. I look at these verses and my heart wants to scream, Do you see what I am facing? Do you know? Do you understand the depths of my weariness? And the gentle answer always comes: Come to me, come to me, come to me Kara, I will strengthen, I will uphold, fear not, fear not, fear not my daughter. Some days I simply don’t want to come. Some days I don’t want to be comforted, some days I want to forget.

Kara’s Collection: Josh Garrels, Farther Along

Kara’s Collection: Josh Garrels, Farther Along

from an article originally posted April 27, 2014...

One evening two lovely ladies came by and dropped off a cd of music they loved for encouragement. I have played and played the cd, especially this song.

As I was writing The Hardest Peace, I uncovered something I have quietly believed in my life of faith. It’s similar to this song I suppose: the idea of understanding and answers will come as we move farther along. In Presbyterian circles, we use a certain word a LOT! Sanctification. It’s a big Bible word. The word is essentially the process of God’s refining in love and grace. It’s beautiful business.