Relationships & Spirituality
Stories about relationships, emotional and spiritual well-being
There And Back Again
By Alexandra Green Two years ago I wrote an article for the Iron Butterfly Project detailing the bullying I faced in middle school and into high school. I wrote about my bike being smashed past the point of use, my older sister standing up for me, and the profound...
Perfect Love
By Lucia Hur The story you are about to read is true. I should know. I am not only the author, but I am also the mother who has had to endure what no parent should ever have to endure: the report of your child being involved in a horrific car accident, which...
Sisters by Choice: Bag Ladies
If we’re lucky, life introduces us to people who light us up inside when we see them, and who love us, just as we are. Luckier still are those who get the rare opportunity to spend unadulterated time with such friends in beautiful places. On the face of it, this...
Shoebox Chronicles 5: A New Spin on an Old Holiday Tradition
By Mark Lehman For generations, a holiday tradition in my family was to string a wire across the fireplace mantel to display much-anticipated Christmas cards. The cards would fill the mailbox in the days leading up to Christmas as loved one’s touched base with...
Strong Woman Hiding
By Terri Ray Going from being a strong woman hiding behind fears to being empowered by grace in strength is like moving from invisible to being transparent. Your fears keep you hidden, but recognition of yourself makes you visible to the world. The subject of this...
Looking for the God Thing
Terri Ray's second story is a brief interview about how she maintained the power, strength and flexibility it took to be an award winning Hollywood stunt woman. She shares how she's experiencing a new version of what power, strength and flexibility really...
Victory Over Cancer
By Verlie McAlister Edwards September 2019 was an extra special month for my family. My cousin, Barbara Sneary, completed 12 months of chemotherapy and “rang the bell!!” If you aren’t familiar with this tradition, it’s when cancer patients “ring the bell” following...
I’ve Got Joy: Music Ministry in Memory Care Facilities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QDTMnsaTgI&feature=youtu.be “Seniors should not retire from church, especially those dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia” is something you will hear Pastor Ja Davis say over and over. He...
Remembering Hurricane Harvey
by Eileen KilchristAugust 27, 2017 is a date that will always be remembered.My husband Joe and I struggled with Hurricane Harvey and 60 plus inches of rain that flooded 70% of the homes and businesses in Houston, Texas. Now, those memories are yet again flooding our...
Life is Full of Ups and Downs
by Kay Lynn Means DarlingLife is so full of ups and downs, but most have lessons to be learned or knowledge to be stored. More times than not at this stage of my life it has become easier to accept change because I realize our Father in Heaven is graciously guiding my...
Dragonfly Karma: Musings of a Bereaved Mom
by Lisa M. KurekJuly 14, 2019Five years ago (actually 1,862 days ago as I write this, but who’s counting, except me) my 23 year old daughter died from a freak accident. In my brief hours of clarity, before I descended into the black hole of grief, I realized that my...
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...
The 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...
Loving 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...
My 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...
Remembering…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...
Mazel 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....
Shoebox 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...