Community Series Q&A: I grew up in a family that isolated us from others. How do I step out of this and learn to build community as an adult?

Community Series Q&A: I grew up in a family that isolated us from others. How do I step out of this and learn to build community as an adult?

Question: I grew up in a family that isolated us from others. How do I step out of this and learn to build community as an adult? How do I engage and pursue others? How do I get past my tendency to isolate?
Answered by Allie de Graaf

Community is a miracle. Getting to experience Gospel-saturated relationships of knowing and being known, of loving and being loved, of sharing the ugly inside each of us and yet still being accepted and valued, that truly is a miracle. When I consider the culture I grew up in, my present community becomes even more of a miracle.

A Place of Purpose

A Place of Purpose

I’ve come to a place where I try not to ask, Why, God? Although it’s not wrong, I find that I can place my heart in that question and constantly try to find solutions for it—I depend on it as a means to help me get through my hard. Even if I knew one reason why, usually God is working in a thousand ways so I wouldn’t have the full picture anyway. And yet…

Kara’s Collection: Dearest Jason

Kara’s Collection: Dearest Jason

From an article originally posted September 30, 2013…

Dearest Jason,

I’m writing this before surgery, but I want to thank you in advance for loving me so well through this trial. When I say you are an excellent man, I am not saying that flippantly. With great admiration, I am witness to the limitless of your love. Most men would crumble, but, with Christ, you continue. You are a gift to my weary heart.

Kara’s Collection: Grace Behind Me! Grace Before Me!

Kara’s Collection: Grace Behind Me! Grace Before Me!

From an article originally posted September 26, 2013…

I’m visual, and I’m forgetful. I forget what grace there was last year. I crumbled in the office when the doctor told me chemo might be in my future. I told him I couldn’t, he told me I would. I wept big tears. He couldn’t possibly understand what he was asking of me. My other doctor told me I might have another hill to climb. He was gentle. He patted my shoulder, he wanted to cry too, I think.