Davalynn Spencer's Blog, page 13

One Thing

If you haven’t already heard, March is Women’s History Month.

The button pictured above was left in my box in the teacher’s lounge when I taught at the college. I laugh every time I notice it on my “inspiration” board at home.

However, I can think of several well-behaved women who did make history, in spite of their quiet demeanors. Especially one named Mary.

No, I’m not referring to the mother of Jesus, and, of course, not Mary Magdalene who started out quite a bit less than well-behaved. I’m talking about one of two biblical sisters with a brother named Lazarus.

You may have heard of Mary and Martha who one day hosted a dozen or so visitors at their home. Martha would have fit well in our current society—a woman of many talents who could juggle more than one duty at a time. Always busy, always looking for what needed to be done. Quite capable of managing a home and serving unexpected houseguests.

But her sister Mary chose not to be caught up in the necessary preparations that day. Instead, she sat down and listened to what one of the guests had to say. Jesus.

Martha complained and asked Jesus to prod her sister into being more helpful. His response was surprising – at least to me, a woman who often finds herself morphing into much-to-do Martha.

“My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42 NLT).

One thing? Really? Just one?

What do you think it was? How would you put it into your own words? How would you fit it into your own life?

Of all the many things I have to do and want to do, Jesus said one ranks above all the others. Do I give it the importance and attention it deserves? Or do I push it to the bottom of the list and say, “Later, when I have time”?

Indeed, I have learned in my life that very few of all the things I’ve worried about have ever happened. Maybe .05 percent.

But that one thing is a priceless choice that affects not just me but those around me, especially my family.

What is your one thing, and what will you do with it?

May we make history in the lives of our families, not just this month, but every day.

~

What is your one thing?
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Tranquility reigned, and Mary breathed deeply of the pristine air, relaxing as they rode toward the rimrock. It was farther away than she had first thought, but hurry was not a matter to concern her … she had let go of the tension that had been building since her arrival in Colorado …. Her biggest issue now was where to wait out the building of her house. She could well afford a room at the Denton Hotel in town, but was reluctant to leave the Rafter-H. She loved everything about it, one thing in particular above all the others. ~Hope Is Built

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Published on March 05, 2023 16:44

Someone to Devour

Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer

Someone to Devour

Sounds gruesome, doesn’t it? Like something out of a zombie or horror movie. However, there is more of that sort of thing going on than we realize.

A friend of mine had her computer hacked the other day, and the culprit obtained access to her bank account. Thankfully, the bank stopped the bleeding before it was too late, and all of my friend’s funds were recovered.

When one of my credit cards was compromised, I had to cancel it, stop payment, and get a new card. The company worked with me when I discovered the bogus purchases and didn’t charge me for them. (This is why I match receipts with every purchase every month to prevent theft.)

Lately, I’ve received countless attempts via text messaging, phone calls, email, and social media to bait me into clicking on a link. If I’m not careful, a fake threat or prize-gimmick can lure me into certain trouble. If I’m not ever-vigilant, an imposter can worm their way into my online accounts, identification, and personal information.

So I must beware.

This is not new advice.

A couple thousand years ago, a fisherman named Peter said, “Beware, because your enemy, Satan, is out looking for a victim” (1Peter 5:8).

Various translations of the Bible state the warning in different ways:

Be alert and of sober mind.

Stay alert! Watch out.

Be sober-minded; watch.

Be vigilant,

Be on the alert.

Be clear-minded and alert.

Be self-controlled.

Discipline yourselves, keep alert.

“Alert” seems to be the word of choice. When it comes to daily communication, I am not always as alert as I should be while scrolling through text messages and email. That can make me a target.

The same applies to my spiritual life.

The Message says, “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.”

The first time I saw this scriptural warning, I wondered why Satan would go to such lengths to trip me up. I’ve learned that he wants to disable me. He comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

With the increase of online trolling, I’m beginning to see the urgency in Peter’s words for both my spiritual life and my technological life.

Temptation comes when we least expect it.

The test is always a pop quiz.

If we’re not watching, we’ll step in the hole.

No matter how you say it, it pays to pay attention.

So how do we know if something or someone is on the level or true?

We familiarize ourselves with the Truth of God’s word. If we know what it says, we’ll recognize a lie when it pops up.If we know the rules of engagement regarding email and social media, we’ll be less likely to fall for a scam.

Today’s online hackers are a great metaphor for Satan’s tactics. They troll the internet, looking for someone to attack, someone who isn’t aware of their scams and trickery, someone who is susceptible to deceit.

So take the fisherman’s advice and Beware! Both online and in your heart.

Cast all your anxiety on Him
because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

~

In the Beginning Was the Word

Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer

Did you choose a “word for the year” at the beginning of 2023? Many people did. It has become a friendlier variation on the New-Year’s-Resolution theme.

Researchers say resolutions last between two weeks and one month. I was surprised they lasted that long.

However, a word is less threatening, less likely to hold failure over our head when we quit.

A word gives us the feeling that it will be our friend even if we don’t live up to it or, worse, forget about it.

In my Winter Newsletter last month, I shared my personal word for the year (Redemption) and asked readers to share theirs. A random winner was chosen from those who replied, and that person received a free e-copy of one of my books.

Out of 2,400 readers, nine replied. And surprisingly enough, none of their chosen words were duplicated.

Here is the list:

FaithPeaceLoveConsistencyKindnessCalmOrganizationDeeperThrive

Some readers elaborated on their reason for choosing a particular word, and it was evident that each one took the challenge seriously.

The first person I know of to choose a specific word at the outset of something is John, the disciple of Jesus who penned the Gospel that carries his name.

In the beginning was the Word,
And the Word was with God,
and the Word was God (John 1:1).

In this context, there is a lot more to “word” than one might expect, for part of its original meaning in the Greek (logos) is “Divine Expression,” as in “Christ.”

And God Himself began creation with a word, as recorded in Genesis 1:3 –

“And God said … ”

Pretty potent stuff, words.

Of course our words don’t pack that kind of punch, but they’re not powerless. They direct, guard, assist, encourage, and flavor our attitudes and speech … they touch the other people in our lives.

For example, look at word No. 5 – kindness. Imagine the difference in our world if people chose that word to guide their thoughts, speech, and actions.

If you haven’t already done so, pick a word for the year and see where it goes. It’s not too late. Don’t talk yourself out of it because January is gone and February is more than half over.

Start now, because now is all we have. We don’t get yesterday and tomorrow isn’t here yet.

Pick a word. Choose one from the list above or another one the Lord whispers to your heart. Let today be your new beginning.

~

If you’d like to share your “word for the year,” I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

And if you don’t receive my quarterly newsletter, sign up here for advance announcements and giveaways. And a free book!

Let today be your new beginning.
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Rather than allow discouragement to root, Mary flicked the reins on Sassy’s shiny back, eager to see Cañon City from a new
perspective.

When she drove into town from the west end, horses and carriages shared Main Street with automobiles and bicyclists. The
thoroughfare was wider than she remembered, and muddy from the recent rain. No doubt it churned with slush in the winter. But a spring rain symbolized hope for new life and fresh starts. Hers in particular. ~ Hope Is Built

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Published on February 19, 2023 16:09

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer

A lot is said in February about the heart.

A lot of money is spent too. Advertisers market flowers, candy, cards, and jewelry all connected to the little red or pink -shape denoting love, affection, fondness, and fidelity.

And of course the looks nothing like a real heart.

Synonyms for the word heart include “soul, feeling, spirit, mind …” but instinctively we know that the heart we mean when discussing love is somewhere in the very core of our being. We’ve all felt the twinge, the ache, the dagger tip of a pointed word. We’ve all felt our heart shatter, quiver, stop.

A broken heart is not easily mended and has the power to prevent an individual from ever trying again when it comes to relationships with spouses, children, parents, or close friends.

It’s always those closest to us that hurt our hearts the most. It’s a matter of emotional proximity.

If we had merely been cut, as in “a cutting word,” maybe we would heal more quickly. A nurse once told me that a cut is easier to stitch closed than a tear.

But our hearts aren’t cut, are they?

They tear. From many things.

And as the nurse said, they are hard to mend, difficult to heal, so we build walls around our hearts because we don’t want them torn again.

Jesus also had a lot to say about the heart.

The Gospel writer, John, recorded Him saying twice, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Those who divided John’s book into chapters bookended chapter 14 with this phrase, first in verse 1 and again in verse 27 where Jesus added, “and do not be afraid.” In between those verses we read how to not be afraid.

A popular song titled “Way Maker” focuses on the heart in the second verse, reminding us that Jesus touches, heals, and mends our hearts.

If you are suffering from a heart problem, listen with hope to the song linked below.

And if you simply want to remember and consider how amazing our Heart-Holder is, click the link and listen with a heart full of gratitude.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27

~

Song link to “Way Maker“

“You could do worse, Livvy.”

She stole a peek at her grandfather, who was watching her with a keen eye, as if measuring her reaction to his words. “Whit reminds me of myself when I was young and wanting my own spread. He’s a good man—with the upbringing he’s had, better than I was. You would do well to give him a chance.”

Livvy flipped three eggs and broke the yoke in every one. There was no discussing such things with her grandfather even though she knew he loved her dearly. The ruined eggs went onto a plate for herself, and she broke three more into the skillet. She must get them right or she’d not have enough to feed the men.

Dare she tell Pop that his foreman had already turned her heart as well as her head? ~ Straight to My Heart

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Published on February 12, 2023 16:33

Don’t Listen to the Doubt

Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer

Have you ever suffered from “imposter syndrome?” Misgivings about what you’ve been called to do.

“Me – teach?”

“Me – sing?”

“Me – help the sick/poor/lonely?”

As an author, I know well the spidery footsteps of doubt crawling up my shoulder …

“You – write?”

“Making up stories is a worthless occupation. What good can fiction possibly do? And romantic fiction? Ha! What a joke.”

And then I walk into a restaurant, an airport, or even my doctor’s office, past artwork and photographs that tell the story of my preferred genre – the West.

Colorful cowboys saddle horses. Log cabins huddle near mountain streams. Old barns and corrals spread before extravagant sunsets. I want to climb into those pictures, escape for a while. I want to smell the dawn sifting through a forest, hear the nicker of a horse at feed time. Run my fingers through the rough hair of a good cowdog.

Someone took those photographs and painted those pictures, someone with a creative gift that touches my heart and offers me the respite I need.

And I finally understand why readers write to me and say they “escaped” into my stories.

You who teach and open the eyes of understanding, you who prepare a meal for someone who needs it or give an hour or a day to those who are sick, hurting, or lonely – you are helping to restore souls. You are offering escape from the suffering, if only for a moment.

Don’t listen to the doubt that tries to strip away your God-given gift.

You are offering respite.

There is restorative value in the gift of giving, whether food, time, physical help, or a listening ear. There is restorative value in song, story, art, and countless other creative expressions.

Thank God He poured creativity into His children. Thank God He lets us walk in His image and share in His touch.

How gracious He is.

Then God said,
“Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us …”
Gen. 1:26 NLT

~

Imposter Syndrome
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Don't listen to the doubt.
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Cale Hutton was out of his ever-loving mind and Ella told him so.
He smiled. Smiled! “Why, thank you, Miss Canaday. I’ve always considered myself to be an ever-loving soul.”
Steam churned just inside her ears, scalding the words piling up on themselves, stuck behind her gritted teeth.
She’d walk away, but her feet had sprouted roots again—three steps from Mr. Thorson’s tomato-red face. He glared at her as if he’d never seen her before, as if she were an imposter, stealing the spotlight from his star performer. She would be an imposter if she tried such a foolhardy move as riding across the river in Mabel’s stead. Ridiculous. Ridiculous!
And the spotlight was exactly what she did not want, metaphorically or otherwise. ~A Change of Scenery

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Published on February 05, 2023 16:05

Trust Like That

Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer

Most moms have a way of knowing what their children are capable of, whether it’s good or ornery.

They also usually know what’s going on. Especially at important gatherings.

One day in a small Middle Eastern town roughly halfway between an inland sea and the Mediterranean, a family hosted a wedding supper for their son. It must have been a big affair because they ran out of wine—a serious situation for the wedding planner.

How do people toast the happy couple without something in their glass or goblet? Something other than water.

Several moms were there besides the mother of the bride, but one in particular saw what was happening. She was a simple woman, not of the elite class, but she was paying attention as guests emptied their cups and no one came to refill them.

She must have anticipated trouble, or at the least, embarrassment.

So she whispered to her son who was also there, “They have no more wine.”

He said in essence, “It’s not my problem.”

True, it wasn’t his problem, but why would she tell him rather than someone else? He wasn’t in charge. He was a guest too.

But she knew what he was capable of. Maybe in the quiet of their family life at home she had seen him intervene, come up with a solution. Think outside the box.

She turned to the waitstaff and told them, “Do whatever he tells you.”

And what he said would have given me pause. He told them to fill several twenty- to thirty-gallon containers in the house with water, then pour that out for the wedding planner.

What must his mother have thought? Was she shocked? Frightened? Did she wave her arms and shout, “Wait! Stop!”

We don’t know how she reacted but we know how the staff responded. They did what her son told them.

And it was a show stopper.

After tasting the wine, the wedding planner drew the groom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

Notice who got the kudos: not the mom, her son, or the hosts, but the groom. The guy who had absolutely nothing to do with it.

And who knew what really happened?

The servers.

They knew they had filled those containers with water and they knew when they poured it out it was wine.

No fanfare. No announcement. Just a simple, quiet miracle resulting from the servers’ obedience to do what they were told.

I want to obey like that.

The son’s friends figured it out later. But I think his mom expected it.

Somehow, she knew. She trusted.

I want to trust like that.

John 2:1-11

~

“Those barbecued beans were great. And the cake.” Ty shook his head in a way Ronnie knew meant yes rather than no.

“Thank you. Felicity, our cake specialist, is a genius. And the beans, well, my Gramma ’Cine should get credit for those.”

“Seen?” His forehead wrinkled.

“C-i-n-e. Short for Francine.”

“Did she cook ’em? Your grandmother, I mean.”

“Oh, no. She’s been gone for twenty years. But she taught me how to make them when I was a little girl.”

Not exactly the time to get all puddly, but Gramma ’Cine had laid the foundation for nearly everything Ronnie did, from cooking to trusting God, both of which often went hand in hand.

Polite won out over petrified, and Ty reached for the saganaki wedge she’d offered. “Sounds Japanese,” he said. “Not Greek.” His mouth hitched up on one side with a little chuckle deep in his chest. But when he bit into one of the cheese-topped triangles, his eyes slid closed in pleasure.

Bingo.

~ “Taste and See” from Always a Wedding Planner

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Published on January 29, 2023 16:15

Better Than What the Well Offered

Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer

Do you ever get so busy that you ignore other people? In too big of a hurry to sense their need. So tied up in your own thoughts that you miss the obvious.

I do.

Maybe that’s why I enjoy accounts of Jesus meeting people one-on-one and saying something pertinent to them. Noticing them.

One example is the hot, dry day he stopped to rest on his trip north from Judea. He stopped at the well of Sychar in Samaria, which was unusual, because most Jews went out of their way to skirt around Samaria.

Except Jesus.

When a woman showed up to draw water from the well, Jesus asked her for a drink. Seems logical, but it wasn’t.

Men in that society didn’t speak to women in public, especially Jewish men to Samaritan women who should have come to the well in the morning with other women.

Except Jesus.

That day, the woman may have thought a stranger in the area – a Jew no less – would simply ignore her.

But Jesus knew exactly why she came to the well in the middle of the day, and He offered her what she really needed.

He wasn’t in too big of a hurry to talk with her. He didn’t ignore her.

He wasn’t like me in the checkout line at the market, avoiding the eyes of others because I’m in a hurry or bothered about something that needs my uninterrupted thought processes.

He wasn’t like me when I squeeze into an airline seat and stare out the window hoping no one talks to me so I can zone out during the flight.

No, He wasn’t like me at all. He spoke to her, told her He knew she was living with man number six, but showed no offense or judgement. He gave her a metaphorical version of an eternal truth about Living Water—better than what the well offered—and told her where to find it.

But Jesus is also telling me something here. He’s showing me how to meet people where they live. In the middle of their need. Maybe in my checkout line at the market, or the seat next to me on a plane.

Jesus didn’t always do what was expected. Imagine that.

So now the choice is mine. In the weeks ahead, will I make the most of what could be God-ordained opportunities to show a little interest in someone else’s life? Or will I draw into myself, ignore the situation, and let the other person go away thirsty?

Read the whole account of the woman at the well in John 4:1-42

~

Meet people where they live.
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Mary’s pulse increased, throbbing in her already painful temple. “The property was bequeathed to me.”

“And you are from—?”

“Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.”

“I see,” the banker said. “We will need verification that you are who you say you are. Is there anyone in Cañon City who can substantiate your claim?”

“Excuse me?”

“I am sorry, ma’am, but we need proof of your identity. The property is under foreclosure and a tax lien and is to be auctioned off. When an heir appears contesting ownership, said heir has three years to redeem the property by paying overdue and current taxes. However, as I said, we would need proof of your identity. Preferably from a male next of kin.”

Mary took the will from his hand, thanked him with as few words as possible, and left. The distance to the buggy felt like miles rather than yards, and her jaw ached from clenching it. She didn’t know what to think or feel—angry, insulted, or cheated. She’d been so upset she hadn’t even verified what the mortgage debt was. ~Hope Is Built

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Published on January 22, 2023 16:09

Expectancy Frees Us from Expectation

Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer

When I was in elementary school, I had two classmates who were identical twins. Even their names were nearly the same: Arlene and Darlene. I rarely knew who was who.

As an adult, I’m learning the difference between two nearly identical words: expectation and expectancy. They are closely related but one is to be preferred over the other.

Expectation calls for a predetermined desire/event/goal that, if not acquired, can spawn disappointment.

Expectancy eagerly anticipates what lies ahead.

Expectation presses my foot on the accelerator because I need to arrive at an appointed time.

Expectancy allows me to enjoy the ride and respond to careless drivers without elevating my blood pressure—or hand.

When God reveals Himself to us, short-sighted expectation often follows: “Now I’ll get what I want.” Expectation stamps its foot and demands that God do things my way.

However, expectancy allows us to stand in awe of His grace and love. Expectancy acknowledges that He is sovereign and, more likely than not, will surprise us.

Scottish evangelist and teacher, Oswald Chambers, says in My Utmost for His Highest, “’What do you expect to do?’ You do not know what you are going to do; the only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing.”

Perhaps this is what it means to walk by faith and not by sight. To put our trust in the God we are getting to know, the God Who awes us with His power, perfection, and mercy. The God Who loves us more than we will ever comprehend.

My plans and dreams for the year ahead take on a different flavor when I look toward tomorrow in expectancy rather than preconceived expectation.

What might God have in store for me that I hadn’t thought of?

What might He have for you?

~

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed
when God called him to leave home
and go to another land that God would
give him as his inheritance.
He went without knowing where he was going.
Hebrews 11:8 NLT

~

Hugh hadn’t held a woman in his arms since the night Jane died. He’d clutched her lifeless body and cried like the baby at her side, praying that he could die with her.

That was his last earnest prayer—until the pit a week ago when he’d prayed he could get Mary McCrae out of it without killing her. He’d held her then, not knowing who she was, and carried her into the ranch house. But this—alone in the emptiness of a vacant home—this was different. He felt her sense of abandonment, the weakening of her steely resolve, her need for his strength.

His need to hold her.

He was losing his mind. ~Hope Is Built

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Published on January 15, 2023 16:29

How to Approach a New Year

Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer

A new calendar faces us. New challenges, new goals, new opportunities. And honestly, a lot of the same-ol’ same-ol’ repetitions we could do without.

Yet, in spite of all those things we have no control over, we can choose to control our responses to them.

Note that I said response not reaction, for those are two very different words that we often confuse. The confusion begins in childhood, and I see it in my grandchildren when they defend an outburst or retaliation by crying, “But he made me mad!”

“He made you?” I ask. “He (or she) has that much power over you?”

They don’t like that last question.

Learning the difference between response and reaction is as hard for adults to learn as it is for children. But it’s part of the whole free-will thing God gave us.

Praise—like love and forgiveness—is an attitude choice. Though we usually bounce into these three conditions via emotional triggers or reactions, they are also choices. This means we don’t have to be limited to how we feel.

Sometimes I feel like recycled horse feed, but I don’t have to let that emotion rule my day or life. I can still praise God for Who and what He is.

Will we face overwhelming days ahead?

Yes.

Will we be ecstatic about positive developments that come our way?

Yes.

God told the Israelites after their long, circuitous journey to the Promised Land, “… choose today whom you will serve,” (Joshua 24:15).

We always have a choice in how to approach a new year.

~

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign LORD is my strength!
Habakkuk 3:17-19

We always have a choice.
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Psalm 37 … The verses continued from the lefthand page to the right, familiar lines that carried childhood memories of her mother reading to the family on winter evenings. The psalm held so many promises of God’s provision, and so many warnings against harmful choices.

Mary’s gaze fell first to “fret not,” repeated three times in the first eight verses—an insistent reminder that worry accomplished nothing. Mary was an expert in that regard. All her fretting had done nothing but weaken her faith. ~Hope Is Built

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Published on January 08, 2023 15:11

Deep Calls Unto Deep

Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer

Iconic images of frozen Niagara Falls have hit the Internet as hard as a recent wintry storm hit North America.

Amazing that the water’s thunderous, rushing journey can be stopped.

I’ve never been to New York and the Niagara River, but I’ve heard the roar of Shoshone Falls* on the Snake River in Idaho. I’ve seen the rapids of Great Falls, Montana, and understood the portage of canoes by Lewis, Clark, and their companions along that stretch of the Missouri River.

And I love the pivotal scene in The Last of the Mohicans set behind a cascading veil of roaring water.

It is humbling to stand near such a display of natural strength.

A favorite scripture of mine speaks of “the noise of Your waterfalls” (Psalm 42:7 NKJV). But it is what precedes that phrase that captures my attention:

Deep calls unto deep …

What does that even mean?

As I searched for definition, I read several versions of this scripture and settled upon the poetry in The Passion Translation as the psalmist cries out to God:

My deep need calls out to the deep kindness of your love.

That rings true in the recesses of my own heart. No one knows me quite so well as God, not even my family.

Often people suffering similar grief will share similar grace. They recognize the deep wounds of the other as well as their deep dependency upon God.

If you have found someone like that, treasure them. If you have not discovered that the depth of God’s love will meet the depth of your need, talk to Him. Pour out your pain. Be honest in your complaint, for though He already knows, He loves to hear your voice.

And take heart in the next verse of Psalm 42, the one that assures us of God’s response to those who trust Him:

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8 NKJV

~

Deep calls unto deep
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Kip leaned sideways and looked past Hugh with a question wrinkling his face. “Did you buy a devil wagon?”
“No, I did not buy a devil— And don’t call ’em that.”
“You do.”
Hugh ran his hand over his face, wiping away what he wanted to say at being dressed down, first by his horse and then by his youngest son. “Don’t talk back. Just do what I told you.”
Ty and Kip skedaddled inside, too fast for Hugh to call them back and warn them to be quiet about it. Like that would help.
He set out for the east pasture, following a thin trail of women’s clothing. Found a hair brush. Toothbrush. A near-empty tin of face powder next to a small sage brush with flesh-colored leaves. It could have been Jane’s possessions scattered across the grassland.
His housekeeper had looked after Jane’s belongings seven years ago, and at first, Hugh resented the purging. But he soon realized it was for the best. Finding reminders of his deceased wife in unexpected places only dug the wound deeper.
Until now, all that had reminded him of her were two dark eyes looking up at him from the face of his youngest son. ~Hope Is Built

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