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Prodigal Mom Blog
Hope for the Hopeless
My only son is in prison. Part of my heart is locked behind barbed wire, nibbling on miserable rations, feasting on sorrow. Fear is real. Safety not so much. Some people are released without much time, while others serve long sentences that feel unjust. Hope is a...
6 Steps to Healing
His death did not come as a surprise. Hanna’s dad was in his 90s and had lived a good, full life. She loved her father deeply. He helped her with homework, visited her in her travels, and walked her down the aisle. An aging parent who encouraged her through tough...
Not Wrong, Just Different
In the mid-twentieth century, Cassandra wandered off in Sears and secreted herself in the center of a circular clothing rack. Frantically, her mother searched for her. But the bright lights, packs of strangers, and loud noises frightened Cassandra. So, she stayed...
Resolutions, Goals, and Choices
The New Year is here. What direction should we go? We have many choices. Do we make New Year's resolutions, set annual goals, or just keep going and hope for the best? Being an overachiever, I set spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical, home, and relational...
The Oil of Joy for Mourning
My son is sentenced to 5 years in prison. Sitting in court, I listen to felony after felony announced. He pleads guilty to all of them. I feel traumatized, hearing, living, seeing everything in 3-dimensional agony. The people next to me are his victims. That’s both...
Turning Nightmares Into Dreams
I didn’t realize I was having nightmares. I thought I was trying to figure out how to help our son, Rodrick. Longing for good in his life, I kept reframing imaginary conversations. In my dreams, I heard him blame-shifting, escalating, and falling. Pain and loss...
Healing Your Self-Esteem
My teenage daughter, Katrina, eyes flashing like cobalt fire, screamed up the stairwell, “I hate you. You are the worst mother in the world.” A cacophony of ear-splitting rage. Maybe you have someone in your life who likes to tell you quite loudly how little they...
Overcoming Veggiphobia
Here’s a throwback to when our problems were simpler. I hope it brings you a smile and a chuckle. Some days, we just need to focus on self-care. Do things that make you smile and bring the sunshine into your hearts. Remember, it’s beautiful to be alive. You are...
Who’s the Prodigal Here?
Irene wronged her thirteen-year-old brother greatly. Everyone could see it. Should he have been screaming at her? Probably not, but I understood his feelings. Then, to my horror, our eighteen-year-old daughter wrapped her hands around his throat to strangle him. More...
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Mary Schilling
God has used trials to move me to a place of deeper joy and hope than ever before. I want to bring you that same hope and encouragement.
