Bloom with Jesus!

    Enjoy this guest blog post from Erin E. McEndree.  Even if you are not in the adoption arena, there is great wisdom in her words. I met Erin many years ago through a writer's group. Her calming spirit always makes one feel welcome and loved. Erin's book is available on my website as well at  https://maryrodman.com/updates . I will pass on the information to Erin and she will send you a signed copy. Hi! I am Erin. I like to say I was my mom and dad’s little girl before I was born. My birth mother got pregnant, and my birth father broke it off and did not take responsibility. My birth mother’s parents took her to a maternity home for three months until I was born. It was not her choice. She prayed for a Christian couple to raise me surrounded by the love of the Lord. She did not get to hold me or see me. The nurse told her I was a girl and that I had all 10 fingers and all 10 toes, which translated to, “You had a healthy baby.” Her dad came to pick her up, and I wa...

  Change doesn’t always come easy for me. Maybe that is why I worked for the same company for over twenty years. There were good and bad times at that company, but in the end I was always glad that I persevered. Making it through difficult times gave me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. At this point and time in my life, change comes a little easier. Is it easier because of my age, or is it my faith that every change in life works out for the greater good? I am a strong believer that if you pray and ask God for direction, He will lead you through changes. My most recent changes include: Posting on my blog more, and working on a book less. Helping other authors self-publish. A new look for my website. Helping less on the farm, as the next generation takes over. It is like God has laid a path out in front of me that I didn’t know existed. A path that I am struggling to understand, but I continue to follow God’s lead. All of the changes are different, yet somehow interconnected. ...

  There are blood relatives which make up your family, and church families. Close friends are often considered family, and as a nation, we are a family. Families can be full of belly laughs, good times, smiles, and unforgettable memories. There is survival mode through tragedies, and celebrations of great accomplishments. But families also come with a blend of personalities, so there is frustration, the occasional harsh word, and arguments which get out of hand. The key to a close family is always remembering what is important. Unconditional love and forgiveness. When difficulties arise, we need to step back, pray, and consider what Jesus would do. He would always forgive. Grace was the key element to His ministry, and forgiveness should always be a part of our Christian walk, no matter the circumstances. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, his wife, Erika, publicly announced that she forgave the assassin. I’m sure those words were difficult to utter as she mourned the los...