When Your Story Becomes Someone Else’s Healing

When Your Story Becomes Someone Else’s Healing

by | Jul 23, 2026 | Blessing, Encouragement, Sorrow

"Patricia Cameron stands with author Kathe Wunnenberg at the SpeakUp Conference alongside the cover of Grieving the Child I Never Knew, a book God used to bring comfort and healing after the loss of Patricia's newborn daughter."
I attended a writing and speaking conference recently — SpeakUp. As introductions were made for a panel discussion, the emcee mentioned that this was the 25th anniversary of one of the panelists’ books, Grieving the Child I Never Knew.

A full circle moment of gratitude

I couldn’t believe it. Almost 25 years ago, we experienced the death of our daughter at birth. Not long after, someone gifted us that very book, and it was instrumental in our healing during a devastating time.

It made such an impact that we later used memorial gifts to purchase a box of books for our church to hand out to others suffering loss through a miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death. What a blessing that book was to me — and to countless others.

At the first opportunity, I introduced myself to the author, Kathe Wunnenberg, and told her how her experience and her words helped heal my shattered heart. Because of her faithfulness, God used her pain to bring healing to others.

Jesus gives purpose after the pain

That’s what we do when we walk through trials, isn’t it? We take what we’ve learned and share it with someone else still in the dark.

Jesus said something powerful to Peter on the night of Passover, the night everything fell apart. He told him:

“I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32 NIV).

Jesus knew Peter would deny Him. And He knew Peter would return. So, He gave him a purpose on the other side of failure: strengthen your brothers. Peter did exactly that — he spent the rest of his life encouraging and strengthening others, living out the purpose God gave him that night.

Your story can bring hope to someone else

Have you been there? Has God brought you through something hard, only to use it for good?

You don’t have to be a speaker or an author to share your story of God’s goodness. God’s presence stirs hearts. Listen — and let Him use you. His purpose for you is bigger than you can imagine.

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Don’t know Jesus? You can.
It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him. Find out more here.
The Generous Heart of God

The Generous Heart of God

by | Jun 18, 2026 | Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude

Christmas Joy

I asked my youngest son to pick up some address labels while he was at the store, so I could mail his graduation announcements. He brought me a box of 3,000 labels! I’m not sure how many announcements he thought we’d send, but I don’t think we have that many friends! In that moment, he reminded me so much of his daddy. For him, more was always better.

My son certainly exceeded my expectations — both in quantity and in price!

And in a much deeper way, isn’t that just like our God? He gives generously, abundantly, and often in ways that far exceed what we could ever expect or imagine. Scripture reminds us of this truth in 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV.

However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—

Seeing His Abundance in Scripture

God has always been generous toward His people. From creation itself to daily mercies, Scripture reveals again and again a God who pours out grace, forgiveness, hope, peace, salvation, and love without measure.

Jesus fed thousands with a few loaves and two fish — and still there were baskets left over. He turned water into wine in abundance, far more than anyone expected. He multiplied a widow’s oil and flour so she and her son would survive a famine. God showed His provision is not limited by human resources.

His mercy is new every morning. His peace surpasses understanding.

That is the generous heart of God.

Seeing His Gifts in Daily Life

And that same generous heart still meets us in everyday life. Even in difficult seasons, His goodness appears in quiet ways. In grief, He sends comfort. When we’re weary, He provides rest. In uncertainty, He gives exactly what is needed for that moment—and often more.

Some may say that they don’t see God’s generosity. But perhaps the problem is not that God has stopped giving. Perhaps we have simply become too hurried, too distracted or too weary to notice.

Sunlight spilling through the kitchen window.
The friend who checks in at just the right time.
Laughter shared around the table.
The strength to keep going.

All gifts.

And the greatest gift of all was freely given through Christ — undeserved, unearned, overflowing grace.

Today, take a moment to reflect on the ways God has been generous in your life. Thank Him not only for visible blessings, but also for the unseen way He has protected, guarded and sustained you. Thank Him for the gifts you may have overlooked.

And let’s slow down long enough to recognize His goodness surrounding us and remember that we serve a Father who delights in giving to His children.

Not reluctantly.
Not sparingly.
But generously.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above,” (James 1:17 NIV).

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Don’t know Jesus? You can.
It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him. Find out more here.
The Day God’s Presence Came Down

The Day God’s Presence Came Down

by | May 8, 2025 | Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Christmas Joy
Garrett loved his three-week staff role at a summer camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains until “camp crud” hit two weeks in. For four days, he lay in his bunk, sick, frustrated and isolated from the fun and community he’d been enjoying.
 

Alone but not abandoned

“The only one I had to talk to was God.” Garrett began to question God, wrestling with why he was sidelined when he had come to serve. He was stuck looking at four walls.
 
Always one to joke and tease, and one who loved being around people, that bed felt like a prison cell, and he was in no condition to break out. The “crud” had hit him hard.
 
But in the quiet, God’s presence met him. He felt encouraged to be patient, trusting God would bring something good from the experience.
 

The promise of the Holy Spirit

The prophet Joel gave us a glimpse of one of God’s most precious gifts: the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in us, His people. (See Joel 1-3.)
 
This Spirit gives us the ability to know the Lord, the power to believe, and the faith to follow Him.
 
About 800 years later, Peter connected the dots and boldly referenced Joel’s prophecy on the Day of Pentecost.
 
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4 NIV).
 
As the disciples gathered a week after Jesus ascended to Heaven, the Holy Spirit came like a rushing wind. Tongues of fire appeared, and they began speaking in other languages. As crowds questioned what was happening, Peter declared Joel’s prophecy was being fulfilled before their eyes.
 

Jesus rose up. His presence came down.

Jesus’ ascension did not mean He was leaving His children alone, but His presence was coming down. His physical presence left, but God’s spiritual presence came down to be with them forever.
 
We, too, have access to the power from the Holy Spirit. His spirit pours out upon us and remains in us.
 
That same Spirit encouraged Garrett in his struggle. It gave him hope and reminded him that God was still at work and could bring something good from it.
 

A song and a sign

Garrett, the only staffer from Louisiana, had relentlessly requested the song Louisiana Saturday Night during camp activities, but it had never been selected.
 
After four days in bed, he rejoined the group for dinner; no one had expected him to be there. As he walked in, the staff cheered in affirmation and support.
 
And “Louisiana Saturday Night” began to play.

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Don’t know Jesus? You can.
It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him. Find out more here.
Where are you, God?

Where are you, God?

by | Feb 7, 2025 | Encouragement, God, Prayer

Christmas Joy

When I woke up, I remembered the snow and ice storm coming across the Midwest heading east, with rain on its way to my part of the country. My son was traveling home from Kentucky that day, prompting me to look at the weather in his location. Sure enough, a snowstorm hovered over that entire part of the country. And he was driving in it.

I immediately thought of the dangers and reached out to a handful of people, asking for prayer for my son and those traveling with him.

Less than an hour later, he called me. They had been in a three-car wreck on the interstate. Everyone was shaky but okay. 

As I thought about the events of the day, I wondered about all those prayers lifted on their behalf. Did God not hear us? Why didn’t he protect them?

In my spirit, these words pricked my heart. “Maybe He did.” Even though they wrecked, God protected them from injury. Things certainly could have been a lot worse.

Have you experienced a similar situation where God spoke to your heart about something you prayed over?

Joseph must have thought God had abandoned or forgotten him when his brothers sold him into slavery. Later, after being wrongly accused and sent to prison, did he question God? Did he wonder if that was the end of his story? (See Genesis 37, 39.)

Hardships can serve a greater purpose

The Bible tells us God wasn’t done with Joseph. He used those experiences to protect Joseph and his family for many years.

Do hardships sometimes come when we are trying to do the Lord’s work? I believe so. We see this often in Scripture as well through our own experiences.

My son and his friends had just left a Christian conference focusing on sharing the good news of Jesus with others. That wreck had to be disheartening after the spiritual encouragement and inspiration they had just experienced.

But God wasn’t done with them and their mission to share Christ.

Now, my car . . . that’s another story.

 

“Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things” (Ecclesiastes 11:5 NLT).

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Don’t know Jesus? You can.
It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him. Find out more here.
Glimpses of Hope

Glimpses of Hope

by | Jan 22, 2025 | Beauty, Encouragement, Hope

Christmas Joy

It was dead of winter. A week of twenties and thirties temps had this southern girl moving quickly to get to mom and dad’s door.

In my rush,  I almost missed it. But a single rose grabbed my attention. It spoke of hope against all odds. After the prior week’s temperatures, it should have already frozen and drooped by then. Everything else had. But it held on tight, bringing a glimpse of joy and hope to those who would stop long enough to see it.

Hope in a dirty river

We find a man named Naaman in 2 Kings 5. Naaman found hope in a dirty river, but he almost missed it. When the prophet Elisha sent word to wash seven times in the Jordan to heal his leprosy, pride grew in his heart. He left in a rage because the answer he sought did not meet his expectations. Elisha failed to recognize his importance. But pride took a back seat as he listened to his servants and dipped in the Jordan anyway. He was healed.

That simple step changed his perspective. He found hope in a simple act of obedience. He returned to Elisha and gave honor to the God of Israel.

“And he said, ‘Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel’” (2 Kings 5:15 ESV).

If Naaman had not listened to his servants, he would have missed the healing, the blessing God had for him.

Find hope today

Hope discovers meaning in life’s simple experiences.

Has someone sent you a handwritten note? Texted a word of encouragement or a spontaneous word of appreciation? Have you heard a child’s sweet outburst of song? Watched the speck of the sunrise grow on the horizon? Have you experienced a warm hug at just the right time?

What sparks hope in your heart today? Let God encourage you through subtle moments. Embrace the beauty in the ordinary, the simple and the everyday. He’s got an encouraging word woven into everyday experiences. Look for it. And let’s open our hearts to receive it. 

Then let’s become a messenger of hope and share what we’ve discovered with someone who might need it too.

I’m glad I stopped to see that rose and take a picture. I hope it reminds you to have eyes to see God, and recognize His glorious presence in everyday moments.

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Don’t know Jesus? You can.
It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him. Find out more here.
Tending the Garden

Tending the Garden

by | Sep 11, 2024 | Beauty, Blessing, Encouragement

Knowing God

As our long summer days end, I find myself weeding, trimming and even pulling up plants from my flower beds.

I tried to tend to my garden to keep it healthy by trimming, fertilizing and watering. Many days I found it in a hot mess.

Those potato vines went crazy this year! They grew everywhere, overtaking zinnias and other flowers in the bed, up the porch railing and into the driveway. I cut them back occasionally, but they were a bit overwhelming. Plus, those little flies ate holes in the leaves of my flowering plants!

Some of my garden plants and bushes surprised me. Who knew I had a plum tree that would produce hundreds of plums? And an elderberry bush that I could use for medicinal purposes?

Others brought disappointment. My tomato plants never produced. I blame the potato vines for that. My cucumber plants went wild climbing up a screened-in porch and flowered, to mostly shrivel up later. When I pulled those up, I found four large hidden cucumbers that weren’t edible.

My rose bushes did not disappoint. They were consistent throughout, showing out with bright red, fuchsia and pink blooms. The ginger plants with their big and beautiful white blooms provided a heady aroma on my porch. Both kept my dining room table dressed in color and fragrance.

What a day brings

I think our gardens depict life sometimes. We try to keep healthy by inviting God’s presence into our day, seeking Him and studying His word. Sometimes we still find ourselves in a hot mess.

Some days are just crazy, one setback throwing things off and overwhelming the other areas in our life. Those are the days we need to keep the right perspective . . . and keep ourselves healthy physically, mentally and spiritually.

Sometimes a day takes a surprising turn, and we enjoy the fruits of that, finding joy in the blessings that come our way.

Our personal “life” gardens surprise us and showcase a diversity of people He created to make our lives beautiful and fulfilling.

And let’s just be honest. Some days bring disappointment. What do we do when life seems to spiral out of control? If we are grounded in our faith, we weather those days. When disappointment comes, we can take time with those close to us, investing in others. We can be intentional about our relationships and stop fueling unhealthy relationships – those that bring us down instead of lifting us up and encouraging us.

Thankfully, some days bring about much joy and color to our lives. These serve as a vital part of your life’s garden. What are the activities in your life that give you joy, provide a sense of accomplishment, serve others and make your days fulfilling?

Think of the people in your life — the bright and colorful additions — who can lift your spirits, supporting and encouraging you when you need it. These people are bold enough to speak the truth into your life, who call it like it is.

Preparing for the next season

In the good and bad, the surprising and the steady, we can find joy in our season. Let’s approach this next season with purpose, discipline and endurance.

From the beauty around us to the people God places in our path, be refreshed and let the beautiful garden of our lives refresh others. 

“The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing,” (Isaiah 51:3 NIV).

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Don’t know Jesus? You can.

It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him.

Find out more here.

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