A Woman Who Has Mastered the Cross

There is a dear friend named Jane who has mastered the art of carrying her crosses. About four years ago, her husband of twenty-six years was diagnosed with stage two cancer. As if this were not a heavy enough cross, around the same time God permitted another — Jane suffered a mild stroke.

An Iron Cross

Both Jane and her husband were on the road to recovery when, in May, she received what can only be described as an iron cross to bear. Her beautiful twenty-five-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, was diagnosed with stage four melanoma. Things have not gone well for this precious young woman, and the cancer has gained the upper hand in this battle.

A Field of Hidden Mines

From the beginning, Elizabeth’s plight has been a field of hidden mines and grenades coming from every direction. Her cancer is too far advanced for experimental drug therapy. She required immediate, radical treatment simply to slow the growth of the malignancy.

Grace Under Fire

Through it all, Jane has remained steadfast — a true picture of grace under fire. Yet the wear on her heart is visible, and her eyes carry the quiet anguish of a mother’s clandestine pleading with God. How she has maintained such composure is beyond human explanation. Jane is a living testament to what it looks like to carry a cross with grace.

A Mother’s Heart

Nothing is worse than watching your child suffer, and every parent knows the instinct to do whatever it takes to make it better. Jane holds fast to Scripture — anchoring herself to the truth that nothing is impossible with God. This is what keeps her focused, interceding without ceasing for Elizabeth.

The Call That Changed Everything

On January 2, 2017, Jane received a call that Elizabeth had been hospitalized again — complications from brain tumors affecting her speech, and additional tumors disrupting her cognitive function. With Elizabeth in Denver and Jane in California, the distance only compounds an already agonizing situation.

And yet — this is precisely where God meets Jane. He holds her through this grievous trial.

Believing for a Miracle

On January 6, 2017, Elizabeth is scheduled for surgery to remove the cluster of tumors at the center of this battle. The prayer is that Elizabeth will consent to the procedure and that this will be the road to her miracle. Jane will be at her daughter’s side — as she has always been — her rock, her advocate, her mother.

“For nothing will be impossible for God.” — Luke 1:37

Why Must We Suffer? — And a Prayer for Elizabeth

The Question Every Suffering Soul Asks

Why, Lord, must we suffer like this?

The answer, when sought in prayer, is always the same: so that we might understand our own vulnerability — and discover that when we allow God to take over our pain, it becomes His as well. He does not stand at a distance watching. He enters into it.

God: Our Modern-Day Simon of Cyrene

The Lord is our modern-day Simon of Cyrene — but unlike Simon, He does not carry the cross for only part of the journey. He carries it the entire way, to the very end.

The Emotional Weight of the Cross

We never give up, because we are faithful and trusting people. And yet — when a cross of this magnitude is placed upon us, emotions come with it. Anger. Blame. The relentless question: Why me?

These are not signs of weak faith. They are signs of a human heart in anguish. In the end, we return to what is most natural — what draws us back to the foot of the original cross — where we bow our heads and pray without ceasing.

A Note of Hope

Please join in prayer for Elizabeth. She is recently engaged and plans to be married in October of 2017. Her life is full of promise, and that promise is worth fighting for.

A Prayer for Elizabeth

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before You in urgency, on behalf of Your daughter Elizabeth. We stand in the gap for her, and in unity we plead her case before Your holy throne.

Lord, You know all things. We are asking — earnestly, desperately, and with faith — for a miracle. Reverse these cancer cells. Restore Elizabeth’s body. May this surgery be the turning point, the link to the miracle only You can provide.

It is within Your power to manifest a healing. From the very beginning of this trial, You have been there, holding Elizabeth close to Your heart. We believe that still.

We remain before Your throne, interceding for precious Elizabeth — trusting in Your goodness, Your mercy, and Your power.

Amen.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves.” — Psalm 34:19

The Sweet Surrender: Choosing Discipline Over Indulgence

The Moment of Clarity

It came to a screeching halt — and then the epiphany arrived: stop eating sweets. Cold turkey. For some people, that is the only thing that works.

What Was Pulling the Body Down

See’s Candy, homemade goodies from neighbors, extra-rich desserts — all of it was taking a toll. Even an afternoon nap could not revive the body. The sugar was depleting energy rather than restoring it. The overconsumption of sweets was wearing on the mind and dragging my spirit down as well.

The Decision

On Tuesday, December 27th, it stopped. No more sweets.

How Long Does It Really Take?

According to Maxwell Maltz, it takes 21 days to establish a good habit. Research on habit formation, however, suggests the timeline may be considerably longer — studies report median times ranging from 59 to 66 days, with substantial individual variability. Phillippa Lally, a British research psychologist, published findings on how habits are formed in the real world, modeled in a landmark study in the European Journal of Social Psychology. Her research points to approximately 66 days as a more realistic benchmark — though considerable variation exists between individuals and behaviors in the time it takes to form a habit.

The science is clear: lasting change takes time, consistency, and something stronger than willpower alone.

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13

We have to start somewhere so I started by omitting the sweet jelly on my Ezekiel toast and though it took on the taste of cardboard it was still satisfying. The rest of the day the See’s peanut brittle was calling my name but I ignored the voices and did not cave in.

The Diet Diaries: A Complicated History

Weight Watchers: Three Strikes

My history with dieting is complicated. Weight Watchers never quite fit — too much planning, too much structure. The literature is still sitting on the shelf after three attempts with no real results.

The Easter Disaster

The worst Weight Watchers experience came many years ago, when a friend and fellow member made the journey together. It was Easter season — and the jelly beans and pastel-colored M&M’s proved to be an irresistible downfall. On the very day the friend stepped on the scale and earned her star for a ten-pound loss, for me scale told a very different story — a gain of seven pounds. That sad but true moment confirmed what had long been suspected: a rigid, structured program is simply not the right fit.

The Others Did Not Fare Better

Jenny Craig and her diet counterparts did not go over well either. Diet pills? Out of the question — they bring on sleeplessness and a kind of mental restlessness that is simply not worth it.

The Real Battlefield: The Mind

The battle is not in the kitchen. It is in the mind — the self-talk, the moments of feeling out of control, the moments of feeling completely in control, the quiet negotiations made in the noggin before a single bite is taken. That is where the real struggle lives.

No Shortcuts

Surgical intervention has never been a consideration, and for good reason — an honest self-awareness about how the mind works makes it clear that the external fix would not address the internal battle.

Four Days In — and Moving Forward

It has only been four days without sugar. And yet, there is enough confidence — and enough grace — to write about it. With God’s help, this journey continues one day at a time.

New Year, New Habits: Resolutions Worth Keeping

This Year’s Resolution

This New Year’s resolution is simple and specific: establish good eating habits — and cut out sugar entirely.

A Look Back at Resolutions Past

This one already feels like an improvement over years gone by.

• The “No Antics” Year: One year the resolution was to stop putting up with anyone’s nonsense. That did not go well. The arrogance behind it caused more suffering than the antics ever had.

• The Letter-Writing Campaign: Another year brought a resolution to respond to every injustice with a formal letter. That one actually paid off — literally.

• Be Kinder to Others: Then came the resolution to be kinder — including to husband Mike. Mike is deeply loved, but he has a remarkable gift for making every good intention evaporate the moment he is upsetting. That resolution had its challenges.

• Unfiltered Honesty: Perhaps the worst of all was the resolution to speak the mind completely unfiltered. That lasted approximately one week — and left a trail of mildly offended people in its wake.

The Real Secret to Keeping a Resolution

Whatever the resolution, change requires effort. Give it at least 21 days. Give it 66 if possible. And remember — God has given every human being free will, and He does not abandon those who are striving. He will walk with you through it.

A Word of Encouragement from Scripture

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” — 1 Corinthians 10:13

A Blessing for the New Year

May this new year grant you the desires of your heart — and direct your path to peace.

The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Surrender

At Mass today, we heard the Magnificat—that ancient hymn of Mary found in Luke 1:46-55:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations shall call me blessed; the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

What strikes me most profoundly about these words is how Mary gives God all the glory with perfect clarity. She proclaims the greatness of the Lord and never elevates herself above her Son—nor should we. There exists a great misconception among Protestants regarding Mary. She is the Mother of God, and as servants of Christ, we are called to honor her just as Jesus did. God gave us the Ten Commandments, and the fourth commands us to honor our father and mother. When someone speaks against Mary, we should ask ourselves: How would I defend my own mother? Jesus comes to the defense of His Mother. We thank Mary for her courageous “yes” to bearing her Son Jesus, and we remain ever mindful of her irreplaceable role in this celebration of Christmas.

The True Meaning of Christmas Traditions

If your home is adorned with Christmas lights, a Christmas tree, and the exchange of gifts, you are celebrating the birth of Christ—whether you recognize it or not. Yes, it has become a cultural tradition, but its roots are unmistakably Christian. According to Pew Research, 81% of Christians in the United States celebrate Christmas, but remarkably, 87% of non-Christians do as well. What joy must resound through heaven to witness such a diverse gathering of people come together to honor our Savior’s blessed arrival. In this season, we celebrate not merely tradition, but the Incarnation itself.