Smiling offers a wide range of physical, psychological, and social benefits. Here are 15 benefits of lifting those cheeks and showing the world your smile:
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1. Improved Mood: Smiling can trigger the “feel-good” hormones, which can instantly boost your mood.
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Our joy causes us to SMILE, but did you know that smiling actually causes you to feel more joy?! You can’t smile on the outside without feeling better on the inside.
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2. Stress Reduction/Mental Health: Smiling, even when you don’t initially feel like it, can lower stress levels by reducing the release of cortisol, a stress hormone.
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3. Pain Relief: Endorphins released through smiling can act as natural painkillers.
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4. Better Health: A positive outlook and reduced stress can strengthen the immune system, making you more resilient to illnesses.
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5. Better Relationships: Smiling is a universal sign of friendliness and approachability. It can improve relationships.
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6. Makes you Prettier/More Handsome: People tend to find those who smile more attractive and likable.
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7. Better Communication: A smile conveys warmth and connection, making you a more effective and engaging communicator.
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8. Longevity: Research suggests that people with a positive outlook, often marked by smiling, tend to live longer and experience better overall health.
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9. Conflict Resolution: When faced with conflicts, approaching the situation with a smile can make it easier to find common ground.
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Peace begins with a smile.
-Mother Teresa
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10. Better Decision-Making: A positive mood from smiling can lead to more optimistic and rational decision-making.
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11. Heart Health: Smiling may lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart-related conditions.
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12. Enhanced Memory: A positive mood induced by smiling can improve memory retention and recall.
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13. Snowball Effect: Your smile can have a contagious effect, brightening the mood of those around you. Smile first!
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14. Improved Confidence: Regular smiling can boost self-esteem and self-confidence, leading to a more positive self-image.
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15. Promotion of Well-Being: Overall, the act of smiling contributes to a sense of well-being and a more optimistic outlook on life.
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I hope you have a BIG SMILE on your face after reading these 15 amazing benefits!
Lately, headlines have felt especially heavy. News of violence in schools, the shooting of Charlie Kirk, and so many other tragedies can leave us reeling, wondering how to hold hope in a world that seems so fragile. Pair that with the ordinary challenges of family, work, and everyday life, and it’s easy to feel discouraged or even numb.
Not long ago, I found myself in a difficult season—disheartened and worn thin. We had uprooted our lives once again, landing in a new state just as one of the coldest winters in years settled in. Friends were scarce, the days were short and gray, and sickness seemed to circle endlessly through our home. The demands of raising four energetic boys were high, but my energy was at an all-time low. I felt physically drained, emotionally weary, and increasingly isolated. As the weeks dragged on, I struggled to find purpose, motivation, or even a clear sense of who I was in this unfamiliar place.
I’m usually the person who’s positive, who sees the bright side … but I couldn’t in this season. What made it harder was comparing myself – to myself! The person I’d been just a year ago was so different than the girl I saw in the mirror.
The previous year was marked by remarkable growth and progress.
Then all of that changed. We moved to a new place. I no longer wanted to set goals, to write, and was living in (what felt like) Antarctica.
Isn’t life supposed to move up and to the right?
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It was certainly moving to the ‘right’ as time continued its relentless march forward. The “up” part seemed elusive. Why had things shifted so drastically?
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In my quest for answers and to regain a sense of equilibrium, I realized I needed to make some changes. It was time to unplug from the constant noise, to halt both the input and output, and just be. After all, we are human beings, not human doings.
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I took a break from writing and blogging. I removed Facebook and Instagram from my phone. I unsubscribed from the podcasts that left me discouraged and overwhelmed.
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Instead, I listened to positive music, I played with my boys, I prayed, read my Bible and a couple of life-giving books, and carved out time to make new friends.
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To burst out of a cold, dark winter… Into the brightness and life of spring takes a lot of SHOVELING of gray thoughts that have become a blizzard in our minds… So thick we can’t even see our hands in front of our face.
Deb Freeman
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Through this process, I learned a valuable lesson: Life doesn’t always follow a linear path. It ebbs and flows, bringing both good and challenging times. It oscillates between loneliness and fullness, happiness and sadness, ugly and beautiful.
The lows serve to deepen our appreciation for the highs.
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Life is like a book. You take it one chapter at a time. Often one page at a time or one paragraph at a time. Some paragraphs are written better than others.
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What I WANTED my life to look like was different from ‘reality.’
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My previous assessment of life was a linear progression. Growth and more growth! Life and more life! Up and further up! Add, don’t subtract.
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However, I’ve come to understand that ‘reality’ is far more complex. Life involves a series of steps forward, with occasional steps backward, sideways meanders, and even a few ‘loop-de-loops.’
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In a world characterized by constant change, I’m thankful for a God who never changes. Who’s love is always certain.
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I am deeply grateful for the nourishing wisdom found in the pages of the Bible, for the solace and inspiration that uplifting books and music provide. For the gift of prayer. My heart brims with gratitude for the friendships that have woven their way into my life and the ‘date nights’ shared with Ted. I’m grateful for the ways my boys make me laugh and how they teach me knew things. I love that nature soothes and time heals. Every day that passed made me stronger, more able to live in (and even love!) this new place.
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Look for the good, even in the dark. Once you train your eyes for little glimpses of goodness, you’ll get better at seeing them.
Shauna Niequist
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Each of these elements brought me back to a place of joy. In the midst of this journey, I rediscovered that my truest calling was wife, mother, and cherished child of God. All other pursuits, at this moment in time, occupy the periphery.
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I am learning that seasons shift, but God’s love doesn’t. Even in the dark, He is steady, kind, and near. When we anchor ourselves in Him, we find the strength to endure and the courage to hope. If you’re walking through a heavy season, may you feel His presence holding you close.
“Have you ever moved to a new place or entered a new environment where no one knew who you were, what you could do, or what dreams ignite your soul?”
Jesus’ hidden years gave him time to grow and become. It was sacred. Time for rest. Unapplauded but not unproductive.”
The author suggests how to rest:
“Take long walks through the woods. Paint a picture no one will see. Watch the stars. Wander through an art museum. Play piano when only God can listen. Write in your journal. Plant a garden.”
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Savor the anonymous season. Respect it’s potential.
-Alicia Britt Chole
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This book was everything I needed for that season. If you are in a “new, waiting, or starting over” season – Anonymous may be the perfect book for you!
This book shares Shauna’s journey back to joy in the midst of some really challenging circumstances. Here are bits of advice she gives:
Get outside and be on the lookout for beauty, especially in nature, read books for comfort. Fresh air helps everything. The world is still good, still beautiful, still interesting and worth savoring. God is still good, still faithful, still kind.
Keep walking, keep loving, keep writing, keep praying. Keep learning, keep forgiving, keep apologizing, keep moving forward. Keep inviting, keep listening, keep opening my arms to all of life.
It doesn’t help to pretend everything is okay. Tell the truth. Allow yourself to be supported by friends and family.
I’m learning home isn’t singular. You don’t lose one, instead, your world and your heart expand with each new home and new set of experiences. The old ones stay and the new ones make your heart and your world bigger.“
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I’m thankful authors who can eloquently put into words what I feel so deeply and can’t exactly articulate. They let me know I am not alone and brighter days are ahead.
This daily devotional is designed to guide readers through the entire Bible over the course of a year. Each entry includes a Scripture passage, insightful commentary, thought-provoking questions, and practical application steps. Here is just one powerful quote from this book
This is a 40-day devotional that is PACKED with goodness and EXCELLENT book to read in a challenging season. Here are two powerful quotes from the author:
Thoughts are like trains, they take you somewhere. Instead of stopping a thought, REPLACE it. You have to actively FEED the POSITIVE and STARVE the negative.
God loves the people in your life so much that He put YOU in their lives. He gave you a means to communicate with them so they could be better off because they encountered YOU!
(Books are affiliate links)
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These books brought me SO MUCH JOY as I realized I am NOT alone. Others have been through similar challenges and came out stronger. And God is always with me, cheering me on.
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How about you? What sustains you during life’s challenging moments? Where do you find hope and support? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment by clicking on the little box by the title.
Here’s an idea for you: Take your kids to the backyard and play a GAME together.
It’s a refreshing departure from the ever-encroaching high-tech world of gadgets, which often leaves little room for imagination.
Playing with your kids is an opportunity to move, laugh, and learn as a family.
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Here’s the good news, it doesn’t have to take all day. Just carving out 10 minutes to play strengthens the bond between parent and child and lowers stress and anxiety for all ages!
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The opposite of play is NOT work. The opposite of play is depression.
Dr. Stuart Brown
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Playing with your kids lowers your stress level and strengthens the bond with your kids! So, let’s embrace the enchantment of play and reap the joys it can bring to our lives.
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Need game ideas?
TAG!! Good, old-fashioned TAG! When my kids ask me to play TAG, I want to say: “No, I’m too old … too tired.” However, I push that feeling aside, realizing this is an opportunity to connect with my kids and burn some calories! You don’t have to play for HOURS! Usually in 5 to 10 minutes we are worn out from running and laughing so hard! Try it!
Gratitude is a fundamental aspect of emotional intelligence and well-being, and teaching it to children can have long-lasting positive effects on their development and outlook on life.
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When you are grateful, an invisible blanket of peace covers you … it makes you happy, strong and warm.
Om Swami
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Cultivating a heart of gratitude in our children begins when we model what that looks like.
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Here are 10 ways to cultivate GRATITUDE in our children:
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Model It: Children often learn by observing their parents. If you consistently express gratitude, your children are more likely to do the same.
Talk about It: Verbalize your feelings of gratitude regularly. When you thank others for their kindness or acknowledge the positive aspects of your life, you demonstrate to your children the importance of being thankful and appreciating the good things.
Teach the Value of Effort: Help children understand that many things they enjoy in life, whether it’s a meal, a clean home, or a loving family, require effort and work. Show them how to appreciate the effort that goes into providing these things.
Encourage Reflection: Encourage your children to reflect on what they’re thankful for. This can be done through conversations, a gratitude journal, or asking them about the best part of their day. This practice helps them become more aware of the positive aspects of their lives. Here’s a link to a fun Gratitude Activity.
Give Back: Volunteering as a family can be a powerful way to show children the value of gratitude and compassion for others.
Limit Materialism: In a consumer-driven world, it’s important to teach children that long term happiness doesn’t come from getting more stuff. Talk about how experiences and relationships are the biggest sources of fulfillment and gratitude.
Be Patient: Developing a sense of gratitude is a process that takes time. Children may not always express gratitude naturally, so be patient and provide gentle guidance.
Avoid Comparisons: Discourage comparisons with others. Instead, focus on individual growth and the unique circumstances that make each person special. Click here for more on Comparison.
Celebrate Achievements: When your children show gratitude or acts of kindness, celebrate and reinforce these behaviors. Positive reinforcement can motivate them to continue being appreciative and kind.
Correct Missteps: If your child displays ingratitude or entitlement, use these moments as teaching opportunities rather than scolding. Explain why their behavior is not aligned with gratitude and help them understand the impact of their actions on others.
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Incorporating these practices into your parenting can help instill a sense of gratitude in your children, which can contribute to their emotional well-being, resilience, and the development of positive relationships throughout their lives.
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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
On Sunday we introduced “The Great Lake Rescue” to our community by hosting an Ice Cream Book Launch party. The event took place at our local park. Our invitations were sent to array of friends, classmates, and the esteemed illustrator.
Here’s what happened:
3:00
Ice Cream Sundaes, Root Beer Floats and Popsicles
Meet the Author and Illustrator
Opportunity to Purchase and Obtain Autographed Copies of the Book
Children’s Drawing Contest with Exciting Giveaways
Coloring Station, featuring custom sheets crafted by the illustrator
4:00
Meet the Four Main Characters – the Egly boys
Live Book Reading
Q and A with the Author and Main Characters
4:40
Giveaways Announced and Prizes Given
4:45
Final Opportunity to Purchase and Obtain Autographed Copies of the Book
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Even with the rain, over 100 people came! The boys, the book, and I felt incredibly loved. One thing that really stands out to me about Minnesotans is how they don’t let the weather bother them. Rain, heat, or freezing cold, they still go out and enjoy life without hesitation.
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I forgot to ask someone to take photos of the event so I didn’t get pictures of everything and everyone, including the illustrator, Alyssa Whetstone. However, here are a few that others snapped and sent to me:
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The Fox FamilyThe Jean FamilyLive readingGeorge and Evie – the best ice cream scoopers!Paul and Jordan- with one of the Giveaways!
I know most birthday parties are held at a ‘play place’ these days, but there is something special about a backyard birthday party. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve backyard games with friends. Now I enjoy re-creating those memories with my kids and their friends. Not only are backyard parties fun and memorable, they can cost less and save you some money.
If you are considering an outdoor birthday party, here are some tips and tricks to make it a memorable day.
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Survival Guide:
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Time: I’ve learned that a backyard birthday is best at about two hours. If you plan to feed the kids lunch, schedule the party from 11AM to 1PM, and let the parents know lunch will be served. If you are just having snacks and cake, then schedule the party from 2PM to 4PM.
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Place: A large grassy area – the front yard, backyard, or at the park.
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Guest list: Try to keep the amount of guests the same number as the age of the child. If your child is turning 8, only invite 7-8 kids.
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Game list: Keep a list of the games you are going to play in your pocket or on your phone so that you can refer to it. Tip – print this post or have it available on your phone! If a game is not going well, scratch it and move on to the next one.
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Safety: An adult should always be watching or playing with the kids. It’s easy for someone to get hurt or tackled if there are a bunch of kids playing with no supervision. One ref can make all the difference.
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Prep:
Put all the game supplies in one container right where the action takes place.
Have a large trash can available close by.
Keep them hydrated! Create a drink/snack table for self-serve.
Have a spot for gifts/gift opening.
Have a side craft or coloring table for kids who don’t want to play games. They can sit and watch/color/craft.
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Etiqueitte: Do not send invites to school unless you are inviting the whole class. I recommend Evite!
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Here are some of our favorite party games:
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Active Group Games
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Crepe paper tag – Put a ‘crepe paper‘ belt around each child, with a 3 foot long tail. When you say “go” – kids will try to tear off the belt of the other players while protecting their own. Last one wearing the belt wins. After the game, ask everyone to grab the trash and throw it away before you move on to the next game. Play more than once if the kids are having fun!
Sharks and Minnows – Identify who will be the shark, either a kid or parent. Everyone else will be minnows. The shark stands in the middle of the play area. At any time, the shark can yell Shark Attack! At with point, the minnows must run to the opposite boundary line without being tagged. If a minnow is tagged, s/he also becomes a shark.
3 v 3 soccer game – Grab a sports ball or soccer ball, set up two goals using nets or cones, divide the kids into two teams, and play!
Simon Says – A parent starts as “Simon.” After the first round, you can choose one child as “Simon.” Simon gives instructions by saying, “Simon says…” telling the kids to perform a physical action. For example, “Simon says touch your nose,” “Simon says shake like a leaf.” Each child must perform the action. If Simon leaves out “Simon says” before giving instruction, anyone who performed the activity is out! Other ideas: Simon says lift your leg, turn around, sit down, clap, bend, laugh, smile, tap your knees, touch your toes, run in place, stretch up high, give a high five, close your eyes, move like a robot, dance, do the griddy, etc.
Balloon Stomp – Tie a balloon to each player’s ankle with a short piece of string. There should be at least a couple feet of string from the ankle to the balloon so the balloon can bounce along the ground. Have all your players carefully stand at the edges of the play area. At “go,” all players rush forward and try to stomp each other’s balloons so they pop (while protecting yours from getting popped). When your balloon pops, you’re eliminated from the game. Go sit or stand along the sidelines and watch until there’s only one player remaining with a balloon on their ankle: the winner!
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Circle Games – have everyone sit down in a circle.
Duck Duck Goose – does this need instructions?
Hot (or Cold) Potato – Pass a bean bag until the music stops. Whoever is ‘holding the bag’ when the music ends is out. Keep playing until there is a winner.
Balloon Bounce – Kids lay down (or sit down) and have to work together to keep balloon(s) in the air.
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Relay Races – Divide kids into two (or more) even teams. Have them line up behind a starting line or cone.
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One shoe off – At the start of this relay, every kid takes off ONE shoe. Put all the shoes in one big pile. Separate the kids into two teams and line them up behind cones. When the relay begins, the first kid on each team runs to the shoe pile, finds his or her shoe, and returns to the back of the line. The relay continues until the last kid on each team has returned to the line. The first team to finish is the winning team. Note: You will want to be sure at the start of the relay that there are no identical shoes in the pile. If there are, you might want to distinguish the duplicate shoes by placing a piece of masking tape with the owner’s name on them.
Balloon Waddle – Start at the starting line, place a balloon between their knees and race out and around a cone, run back and pass it to the next team member without dropping or bursting their balloon. If the balloon drops, they must put it back between their knees before moving forward.
Egg race – Give each team a large spoon and one egg. One team member at a time runs out and around a cone, while holding the egg in the spoon, without dropping it. If the egg drops, the runner has to retrieve it and replace it back on the spoon before returning to running.
Balance a bean bag on top of your head and race around the cone.
Shoebox Slide – Provide each team with two shoeboxes (or amazon boxes). At the start of the race, the first member of each team puts one foot into each shoebox, slides his or her way around a cone set up at a destination point, and then slides back to the team. When that child returns to the team, he or she jumps out of the shoeboxes and the second student “puts them on.” The relay continues until the last member returns to his or her team. The first team to finish is the winner.
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Parachute Games
Who remembers playing Parachute games?
Who has fun childhood memories of playing with a parachute? My mom purchased this as a birthday gift for my boys many years ago, and we’ve been playing games with it ever since. Our kids and their friends love it. Here’s the link to find one, here are games to play:
Mushroom – This is a great starting activity to get everyone used to moving the parachute and working together. Have everyone grab one handle, then lift the parachute above their head and back down to the ground. Have them do this three times. Then have them lift it high, bring it over and behind their back and sit on it. This creates a mushroom canopy.
Popcorn – Have everyone grab one handle. Place several soft balls on the parachute and have the kids try to keep them on, while popping them up like popcorn.
Merry-Go-Round – Have everyone grab ONE handle. When the music starts, they should walk in a circle, then skip, hop, stop and go the other direction, etc.
Sharks and lifeguards – Kids sit down, holding the parachute above their legs. One kid should stand outside the circle – they are the lifeguard. One kids goes under the parachute and is the shark. All kids holding the parachute should shake it like waves. A shark has to try to pull a kid under the parachute. The kid can call for the lifeguard to help pull them back out. If a kid gets pulled under, they are a shark. Keep playing and give other kids a chance to start as the shark or life guard. Remind kids not to kick the shark. Also remind the lifeguard not to yank a kid by the arm. Pull under the armpits.
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The goal of the party: PLAY and have fun!
Supplies: Here are affiliate links to party supplies.
It is very important that children learn from their fathers and mothers how to love one another – not from school, but from you. It is very important that you share with your children the joy of that smile. There will be misunderstandings, every family has its cross, its suffering. Always be there first to forgive with a smile. Be cheerful, be happy.
Mother Teresa
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In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
– Thomas Jefferson
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When raising children, it’s best to spend on them half as much money and twice as much time.
– Dear Abby (Abigail Van Buren)
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Before I got married I had many theories about bringing up children. Now I have many children and no theories.
John Wilmot
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Mama, where you are weak, He is strong!
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There was. time when we expected nothing of our children but obedience, as opposed to the present, when we expect everything of them but obedience.
– Anatole Broyard
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We spend the first 12 months of our children’s lives teaching them to walk and talk, and the next 12 years telling them to sit down and shut up.
– Phyllis Diller
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Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.
– James Bladwin
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Outings are so much more fun when we can savor them through the children’s eyes.
– Lawn Blackwell
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We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.
– Fanlkin D Rossevelt
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Your children need your presence more than your presents.
– Jesse Jackson
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If you want your children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.
– Abigail Van Buren
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Even as the cell is the unit of the organic body, so the family is the unity of society.
– Ruth Nanda Anshen
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A good home must be made, not bought.
– Joyce Maynard
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In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, and look around you.
– Leo Tolstoy
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What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us, what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
– Albert Pike
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If you send out good people into the world, you know you’ve done something good.
– Carl Reiner
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“…The Mother is the one supreme asset of the national life. She is more imoprtant, by far, than the successful statesman, or businessman, or artist , or scientist.”
This was the text I received on a Friday afternoon from my sister, Krista, about her 4-year-old daughter.
After receiving that horrific text, I immediately called my sister. She did not answer. Her husband Nate did not answer. They were camping in Michigan and I didn’t know who else to call to find out what had happened and if my niece was alive.
I tried not to panic as I said a prayer for God to heal little Lily.
I asked for a miracle.
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Krista finally called me back and said Lily was alive and they were in an ambulance, headed to the hospital. Lily wanted to talk to my son Luke.
I tearfully and happily handed the phone Luke.
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Here is Lily’s story in Krista’s words:
It was a great day in South Haven. We had breakfast and enjoyed the morning together. Later, I had a bad headache so I laid down to try to sleep it off. While falling asleep, I dreamed of Lily being hit by a car (not normal for me to imagine anything traumatic). I prayed about it and fell asleep. I woke up and went for a run.
I came back to the kids playing and Lily chalk-coloring next to our camper.
I went inside to change clothes, leaving the door open. I looked out just in time to see a truck drive right over Lily. The front and back tires of an extended cab hauling truck drove over my daughter. The truck laid Lily flat – TWICE. It rolled over her head and back.
I screamed and was in shock. I couldn’t move. Nate (my husband, Lily’s dad) went running towards the kids. Nate did not know what happened until after he picked Lily up. She was spraying urine through her clothes.
I had to tell myself to keep it together, to think, to breathe, to be strong for Lily and my other kids. Lily asked me to sing the “Jesus” song.
I’m on the worship team at church and she attends practice with me. She has her own little microphone and hopes to play drums one day. The “Jesus” song is called Tremble, and is our favorite song. All she wanted was for me to sing that song.
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Kate (Lily’s 11-year-old sister) laid hands on her and prayed. So simple, so powerful, our only hope.
It was hard keeping Lily awake through the ambulance ride to the children’s hospital (a 45-minute ride). We FaceTimed the people she wanted to see: Papa, grandma, Luke (her cousin), and eventually she asked to stop talking and just sing.
We arrived to a level 1 trauma children’s hospital. There were 20 people of all of different pediatric specialties in the room moving around quickly. A social worker was on me like honey in a hive. Once the social worker assessed Nate and I, she let the other kids in the ER room. She helped care for the kids, getting them snacks and settled. Jack (9-year-old brother) said she was the nicest lady he’d ever met. The social worker was so good with Lily, getting her excited about a blanket she would get to keep, that she would have breakfast in bed, and get special jammies.
Krista and Lily
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While wheeling Lily to her room, Lily said “all the doctors are so nice.” There were lots of concerns over her, one being her bladder and bowels since she wet herself when the truck rolled over her. There was blood all over her vulva . She refused to use the bed pan or the portable potty . She was put on bed rest until morning when the pediatric orthopedic surgeon looked at her x-rays and injuries.
The next day, the pediatric orthopedic surgeon came in.
He said to Lily, “Where do you hurt?” She said so sweetly “I don’t really hurt anywhere”.
He said “Well, aren’t you super woman.” She giggled. Nate and I said,
‘She’s a miracle.”
He agreed.
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They found one broken pelvic bone that would heal on its own. They gave her a walker and released us. The only medicine they gave her was a dose of Tylenol.
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I had a burden to go back to camp as a family to hopefully close the door to fear and find the woman who ran over her and let her know Lily would be ok. I would never want to be in her shoes and I would personally have a hard time living with myself never knowing the end of the story.
Going back was hard, and healing. Seeing Lily’s chalk art drawings, the smashed chalk, reliving the horrible memories.
Thankfulness and gratitude gets me through. I don’t try and push them away, I let it come in waves. Knowing I get to hold her makes the healing salve of gratitude cover the horror and pain of memories and thoughts of what she endured.
That night, Lily slept great. She woke up and played monopoly with all of us (a game we started the day the truck drove over her).
She said, “I have no pain. I don’t even feel like I have a broken bone”.
I can’t tell you what a miracle this feels like when I saw the accident and see her bruises, tire marks across her shirt, road rash, and bruised swelling all through her back and spine.
When we got back to Indiana, Lily’s dance pictures were waiting for us in the mail. I reminded her she would be back dancing in no time! She fell asleep watching Dancing with the Stars with me and Kate.
Nate and I were taught in counseling to ask God where He was in traumatic times or wounding memories. Nate and I both prayed and we both had pictures and answers. I saw and heard God say:
“I was holding her head in the palm of my hands.”
Nate felt like God said:
“I was moving her out of the way.”
Lily is all smiles and says she has no pain, even though her body tells a different story.
Today when I asked her if she felt anything when the truck rolled over her. She looked at me and pointed to her head and said:
“I felt God here. It felt like feathers.”
I was in tears when she spoke these words. I pray Psalm 91 over my children.
Psalm 91 tells us..
“He will cover you with his feathers, under his wings you will take refuge.”
I’m grateful to God, the One who not only holds the world in His hands and moves mountains, but holds my daughters head and moves her little body.
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Here’s our favorite song, Tremble:
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Today Lily is seven years old. It’s been exactly 3 years since her accident. She dances, runs, smiles constantly, and brings joy to all who know her!
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Lily and Kate7 year old LilyDancing Queen
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I share this story to reinforce a few things:
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1. Pray scripture over your children.
Psalm 91 is a collection of verses that our family has prayed for generations. It specifically says, “He (God) will cover you with his feathers, under His wings you find protection.” God answers our prayers! It’s especially powerful to pray Scripture.
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2. Sing songs of faith.
Find songs to sing with your family that will build your faith.
Below is a song called ‘Lily’s song’ – it was one of her favorites because it had her name. She would sing along to these words:
I will not die, I will live. I will tell of the works of the Lord and sing of his wonders.’
The Bible tells us that our days are appointed. We don’t have to live in fear of the future. God has a plan for your life and the lives of each of your children and His plan is GOOD.
“Your eyes saw my body even before it was formed. You (God) planned how many days I would live.”
Psalm 139:16
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
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Cousins
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Thank you for the miracle you performed for Lily and for the ones you perform in my life (and the lives of my children). Help me to trust you and not fear the future. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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Psalm 91 – Insert your name and pray this for yourself and your family members. I challenge you to memorize it.
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a] 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
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Thank you for reading this beautiful, miraculous story! I hope it encouraged you. Please share.
