Category: Perseverence

Art in Books, Author Guest Post, Book Illustrations, Cladach Authors, Creative Nonfiction, Healing & Wholeness, Memoirs, Offering HOPE, Perseverence, Relationships

“An Earthly Father Who Just Loves Me”

by Catherine Lawton • 1 Comment

Fathering with faithfulness, courage and hope through pain and uncertainty.

A YOUNG FATHER’S BATTLE

(An excerpt from Mark Fraley‘s Sketchbook story, CREATION OF CALM):

My body has been invaded.

“Dear God, comfort them! I can’t right now.”

“The hardest part… is not being able to pick up my son when he is close to tears.

My heavenly Father says, “I love you and I know it hurts. Put your faith in me.”

Moments together turn into hope, a hope that is reachable and lasting.

My children provide me with strength needed to move forward. I can forget my condition when they are with me.

“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 MSG)

A lot of who I am today comes from who my dad has been for years. I thank the Lord for the gift of an earthly father who just loved me!

An encouraging book for anyone facing trials and challenges.

Authentic Faith, Following Jesus, Perseverence, Poetry, Venturing for the Lord

Life As a Journey

by Catherine Lawton • 4 Comments

“Does the road wind up-hill all the way?”

“Yes, to the very end.”

“Does the day’s long journey take the whole long day?”

“From morn to night, my friend.”

This poem by Christina Rossetti has often given me encouragement to keep stepping onward and upward on my own life’s journey. Just recently, Rossetti’s poem came to mind again— when I noticed that many Cladach book titles allude to various aspects and dimensions of this journey called ‘life.’ For instance,

that up-hill road will be an adventure that requires us to WALK, taking one step after another:

As we walk, we will inevitably need to TRUST:

The Journey will require COURAGE:

We may need to RUN (turning from SHAME and toward LOVE):

Our journey may provide ESCAPE and NEW BEGINNINGS:

Our journey may be fraught with DANGERS:

Our journey will involve SEARCHING and FINDING:

We will COME to oases that bid us to STAY awhile, be REFRESHED, experience HEALING, and CELEBRATE:

The journey provides stretches of solitude for PONDERING, CONTEMPLATING, and REMEMBERING:

The journey includes places to PAUSE, let others pass by, and find RENEWED PERSPECTIVE:

Along the journey we may find ourselves PRAYING, PRAISING, even LAMENTING:

Opening our hearts, we will experience Renewed WONDER and Freer IMAGINATIONS:

And the rest of Christina Rossetti’s poem:

But is there for the night a resting-place?

A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.

May not the darkness hide it from my face?

You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?

Those who have gone before.

Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?

They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?

Of labor you shall find the sum.

Will there be beds for me and all who seek?

Yea, beds for all who come.