I don’t even know her. She’s a friend of a friend. Each time she messaged me, it was to provide an update on her physical, emotional, or financial situation. Her “pray for me right now” arrived in my inbox at strange hours. I’ve heard that […]
When Will the Bleeding Stop?
A plate came barreling down on my forehead one dreadful night in July two years ago. Blood soaked my glasses, covered my hands, and dripped on the floor. My crime was opening a cabinet door. Crying out to the Lord in the emergency room, I wailed, […]
What if You’re Strong But Not Courageous?
“Hey, strong gyal, you gonna be here on Sunday? We need you to roll that stone away!” He cracked himself up with his joke both times he told it. Once to me and then again to our pastor. I didn’t mind. I even used this […]
I Didn’t Know it Would be You!
With a smile that lit up the room, she walked toward me, saying, “When I heard that a Ms. Sharp would be speaking, I didn’t know it would be you!” We were at a Girls’ Sleepover for her church, face-to-face, for the first time. We […]
Cry Out to Jesus
How do you define happiness? For me, happiness is walking down a flight of stairs pain-free. Over the past year, each interaction with stairs has been daunting and painful. After hearing several recommendations, I was compelled to give the local pain doctor a try. Honestly, […]
Practicing the Pause
Last week I asked, “Who are you when you’re hungry?” This week there’s an acronym that keeps popping up in my mind. HALT. It stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. It serves as a reminder that these four common stressors are powerful enough to derail […]
Who Are You When You’re Hungry?
What if she ordered food, opened the cash box, took out twenty dollars, and when the delivery man arrived, paid for her meal with her employer’s money? This seems like a shocking move from someone hired to clean the premises. But, who are you when […]
The Secret Power of Small Beginnings
I arrived at the gym that morning fully armed with well-rehearsed excuses dressed up as reasons to quit. While others managed to lift twenty or thirty pounds, the weight of the five-pound dumbbell in my left hand was nearly unbearable. Sweat trickled down my back […]
One Book Can Change Our Lives
“Start.” “Press.” “Rack.” These competition commands are for the bench press. 34 athletes between the ages of 12 and 74 competed at our Belize National Championship over the weekend. Each athlete contended according to International Powerlifting Federation standards. No exceptions. The 74-year-old had to comply […]
Our Choices Matter
Have you ever tried plantains? The ripe ones are sweet and when baked or fried they make a tasty treat. A common meal in Belize would feature rice, beans, and stewed chicken with a few slices of fried plantains on the side. The other day […]