by Elaine Olsen | Jun 11, 2018 | family fun, out of the mouths of babes, pain, parenting
“At least in heaven we’ll be friends again.” Tears fell from her eyes as she imparted a final hope regarding a relational struggle she’s been dealing with for the past six months. Tears fell from my eyes as well. As a mother, my greatest personal pains have always...
by Elaine Olsen | Apr 14, 2018 | brokenness, courage, fellowship with God, letting go, pain, suffering, surrender
Betrayal. It’s a terrible sting, a wounding not easily salved. Betrayal cuts more profoundly than disappointment because betrayal is rooted in motive. Betrayal is planned deception. Betrayal is attached to the heart. Whereas I am often disappointed by someone’s...
by Elaine Olsen | Dec 15, 2017 | dad, family fun, God's voice, knowing God, ministry life, pilgrimage, right words; right timing, words
I had a dream last night. So strong in its witness, I needed to “get it down” on paper this morning. Perhaps in doing so, it will get down to a deeper place inside of me so that I might more fully live it outside of me. The sermon that was never heard. Allow me to...
by Elaine Olsen | Oct 9, 2017 | family fun, friendship, hunger, living God's truth, pilgrimage, sundays
We drove my Grandpa Al home yesterday. Well… sort of. He wasn’t really my grandpa. My Grandpa Al died in 1994 at the age of eighty-three. The man we drove home, Howard, is seventy-four but could have passed as Al’s brother. Short in stature, round in the belly,...
by Elaine Olsen | Jul 23, 2017 | courage, evil, faith, fellowship with God, prayer, rest, strength, surrender
“Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.” Those are the words chiseled into the marble sarcophagus that holds the body of an unidentified military veteran from WWI. In addition, two other unidentified soldiers from WWII and the Korean War are...
