You can have empathy. You can pray. You can love. You can offer help. You can even walk beside someone through a difficult season. But there comes a point where you have to ask: “How can my faith and willingness to keep going be stronger than the faith and willingness of the person actually living through it?” That does not mean you stop loving them. It means you recognize that you cannot surrender to God for someone who refuses to surrender for themselves. You cannot do thei

A 5-Day Reflection (Series) by Swanette Day 1 I Don’t Even Carry My Own Weight For a long time, I thought being strong meant carrying whatever came my way. My problems. My responsibilities. My worries. And somehow, the weight of everyone else's struggles too. But lately, I have come to realize something. I don't even carry my own weight. I have learned to let go and let God. That does not mean I don't have responsibilities. It doesn't mean I sit back and do nothing. It mea

"Sometimes the greatest acts of love aren't grand gestures, they're simply showing up." Life has a way of reminding us that time is precious. Sometimes the greatest service we can give someone isn't money, gifts, or elaborate plans. Sometimes it's simply our presence. A spontaneous trip. A surprise visit. A shared meal. A laugh around the table. Those are the moments that become treasures. Recently, my sisters and I, the “Goodwin Girls” , decided to surprise our parents. It w