Relationships & Spirituality
Stories about relationships, emotional and spiritual well-being
Gratitude is the Heart’s Memory
By Mary Groenewoud Hale I have fond memories of my iron butterfly grandmother, Cornelia Lievense Groenewoud, sitting in her chair knitting. She was always doing something with her hands: knitting, crocheting, darning socks, or sewing. She even made the men in our...
read moreThe Stranger in our Home
By Caroline Kessler SalcedoOn July 19, 2018, my husband and I met a stranger and invited her to live with us. To be honest, she wasn’t the best roommate at first. She stayed up all night, was very loud and never cleaned up after herself. She left her stuff all over...
read moreLoving Jaxon
By Rachel FriendI don’t know if I can fully express the range of emotions I went through once I discovered my son had “special needs.” Specifically, a rare genetic disorder that would be the reason for his global developmental delays. Our journey began after we took...
read moreMy Father, My Hero
By Kay Lynn Means-Darling When I think back on my life, my first thought is the need to honor my heroes…being a true Daddy’s girl, first on my list would be my father. Oh how I wish I “would have known then what I know now.” The extent of sacrifices he bestowed...
read moreRemembering…and Moving Forward
By Amber Davis I met my now ex-husband, Luke, at a high school band party when I was 15. We were strangers when our names were entered in a kissing contest. I remember our names being called and walking to the stage amidst cheers and whistles from the crowd. Luke was...
read moreMazel Tov, Shayna
It has been a pleasure watching Shayna Levy grown this year in her preparation for her Bat Mitzvah. As part of her mitzvah project, she helped us interview Iron Caterpillars for Iron Butterflies Project....
read moreShoebox Chronicles 4 – Remembering Well
By Mark LehmanLast weekend an airline flight delay leaving Washington D.C. gave me a couple of rare free hours. I could choose to see new monuments, a museum, or just visit favorite landmarks in this wonderful and uniquely American city. I opted for Arlington National...
read moreSeth Glier, Not “Standing Still”: How his life and experience made him an Iron Butterfly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j22Ud1hjqmk https://youtu.be/5Wck2BxGCUU https://youtu.be/PQm-QVMVfe4 From the time Seth Glier was a young boy, music was something he always enjoyed. As he grew up, he loved to entertain friends and family to be the center of...
read moreShoebox Chronicles 2: Gospel According to Fern
by Mark Lehman Recently I found a 46-year old letter in the shoe box which dispelled a lifetime of very unflattering impressions of my insufferable Uncle Fern. The origin of his unusual name is unknown. Proving that truth is always better than fiction, Fern’s loyal...
read moreShoebox Chronicles 1: Healing Power of Letters
By Mark Lehman Recently I began the laborious and sentimental task of dismantling my parent’s homestead; also my childhood home. As I worked my way through old dusty boxes found tucked away in closets and under beds, I made numerous unique discoveries about my...
read moreShoebox Chronicles 3: Guideposts of Dreams
By Mark LehmanAs I was growing up, it didn’t occur to me I was actually living my own history. I was simply part of the ideal post-war era of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s with loving parents seeking their own part of the American Dream in a brand new tree-filled...
read moreWhenever You’re In Trouble
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BrVYciS-PU Sandy Sandefur was born in Canada to a mother who was not ready to understand what it was like to raise a child with Cerebral Palsy. As a result, she was put up for adoption and was adopted by her mother Jean who lived in...
read moreHealing Power of Meditation
By Melinda Rothouse Instead of asking ourselves, “How can I find security and happiness?” we could ask ourselves, “Can I touch the center of my pain? Can I sit with suffering, both yours and mine, without trying to make it go away? Can I stay present to the ache of...
read moreHappy Mother’s Day
By Rose Horng Standing under the spotlight on stage, I felt embraced by the audience when they gave me a warm applause. I couldn’t believe I finally did it – delivering a public speech in English. I have been very shy since childhood, so I always feel nervous whenever...
read moreA Reason To Fight
By Anna Harwin As the family scapegoat for a drunken stepfather, I knew it wasn’t safe to go home. Too many meals missed, too many head ringing punches, too little sleep, I knew I wouldn’t survive if I couldn’t find a place to go and so, one night at the age of 12,...
read moreFinding The Courage
by Lynn Doelger My brother and I grew up playing in the vast woods of Alabama. I started running at a young age and recall running with my Dad in the morning before he went to work. My parents married at a young age. Home life was less than pleasant. Mom and Dad were...
read moreThe Corkscrew Effect
By Misty Raley Gassaway Fourteen years ago, my whole life changed. At twelve years of age, I was tucked in the back of my closet, banging my head against the wall attempting to soothe my fearful soul. Tears streaming down my checks, I repeated at least a thousand...
read moreI Am One of Us
By J. L. Egremy I grew up in a place full of colors, smells and sounds from childhood birthday parties to holidays. My aunt was often called upon to make party costumes for my siblings and myself which were always a great hit. We truly enjoyed the attention and felt...
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