“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” —C.S. Lewis When I read these words, my first thought was, “What is an ordinary person?” Curiosity got the better of me, and down the rabbit hole I went. One definition described an ordinary person as someone with no special distinction, status, or rarity—average, usual, typical, existing within the normal course of events. That definition did not sit well with my soul. What exactly is ordinary? Is it

"Be the person your dog thinks you are." – Unknown Over the course of this lifetime, I have been blessed with the companionship of many animals. My first dog was a tiny Chihuahua named Peppy. Since then, I have shared my life with dogs of all sizes—from little lap dogs to a big-hearted Rottweiler named Rock—and several beloved cats as well. While each had a unique personality, they all shared one remarkable quality: when I looked into their eyes, I saw God. Animals have a w

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you." — Lewis B. Smedes For many years, I misunderstood forgiveness. I thought it was something we did for someone else. If another person hurt us, betrayed us, abandoned us, or disappointed us, forgiveness seemed like letting them off the hook. It felt unfair. Why should they be forgiven when they caused the pain? Then one day I heard a simple truth: forgiveness is not about them—it is about you. That real

"Fall seven times, stand up eight." — Japanese Proverb Life has a way of knocking us down when we least expect it. Just when we think we have found our footing, another challenge appears. A relationship ends. A dream falls apart. A health issue emerges. A door closes that we were certain would open. In those moments, it can feel easier to stay on the ground than to gather the strength to rise again. Yet some of the greatest stories ever told were born from perseverance. S