by Kathy Brasby | Jun 3, 2025 | Listening
Sometimes you march confidently on my smooth path.
Sometimes you tiptoe through the tangled weeds.
You let yourself get distracted and your toe hits a rock you didn’t expect.
Try this instead: recognize your fatigue and frustration. Rest when you’re tired.
But even on the days when you wander off my path, when you let discouragement and despair roll in like a thick fog, allow me to restore you.
I am with you when you swing your arms boldly on my clear path. And I am with you when you stumble in confusion because you wandered into a swamp.
Let me revive you in those days.
Because I will always be by your side.
I will never forget this awful time,
as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”
Lamentations 3:20-24
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved.
My book, Cutting Through Despair: Dare to Hope, expands the idea of trusting God in hardships.
Another resource for Christian women in grief is Grief2GreatDay.
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by Kathy Brasby | May 29, 2025 | Listening
God’s Sweet Melody
About a year after my husband, Matt, died, memories of his hospitalization flooded my mind one morning. I wrote to God: “Lord, today I feel the heaviness of grief and loss. Tears prickle my eyes. Please help me. I’m not even sure what to ask for, but I’ll wait for your words.”
I sensed God’s presence:
You long for the sweet notes of a violin or the beautiful harmony of a choir. Harsh notes grate in this broken world. There is no perfect song in this world and no getting away from your loss.
What I give is not escape from discord and brokenness, but steps into the one love that is never broken: my love.
You hurt because you love, but the gift of love is also a treasure.
This world is raspy and rough, and your heart is raw and wounded. Let the tears come when they will.
But have you noticed that with the pain comes the memories–of love and joy and sweet relationship?
This world’s bitter tones need not win. They need not steal away those loving memories.
Remember that I whisper words of perfect love. I am the sweet violin notes, the beautiful choir harmony.
I am the sweet melody of love. And much more.
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you
Deuteronomy 31:8
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved.
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by Kathy Brasby | May 20, 2025 | Listening
As you walk forward, feel the smooth path beneath your feet. Smell the fragrance of new grass. Taste the dewy air that settles around you like a warm hug. Listen to the songs, the birds, and crickets and shuffling of small animals in the grass.
You do not walk alone. I have never left you and my creation reaches out.
And if remembering my love is still difficult, look to those who’ve chosen to journey with you.
Others have sent you notes of support and love. Embrace those as gifts from me.
I am here. I will catch you if you stumble and I will hold you close. I am with you, even in the valleys of darkness and death. I never leave you.
Let my creation embrace you.
“For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
The wild animals in the fields will thank me,
the jackals and owls, too,
for giving them water in the desert.
Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland
so my chosen people can be refreshed.”
Isaiah 43:19-20
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by Kathy Brasby | May 14, 2025 | Humor, Newsletter, Stories
Having lived in the Great American Desert all my life, I get excited when I see water.
Here on the plains of northeastern Colorado, we use an eyedropper for our water breaks. Tumbleweeds carry canteens. Fish have to adjust to breathing sand part of the year.
That’s why, on my vacation to North Carolina, I was busy making googly eyes at the enormous Tar River (it looked like the ocean to me) and all the boats at the docks.
I nearly missed the day’s highlight.
My friend didn’t miss our highlight. She lives in North Carolina and so was more jaded about water and fishing boats. (She and her husband celebrated our tumbleweeds when they came to Colorado, though. Just sayin’.)
We were on a boardwalk on the water’s edge when a man stepped out of a sailboat tied at the dock and called to us.
I Almost Missed Our Highlight
My friend stopped. I was shooting photos of boats and water and I almost missed the big moment.
This man had a crushed white shirt and equally rumpled khaki shorts. He pointed to a furry ridge on the eastern horizon. “See that island? It’s Goat Island. Privately owned.”
“Woo hoo!” I figured we were going to get some great insider information.
He studied the island for a moment. “You can’t go out there anymore. But I have a documentary about it coming out on Netflix next month. The guy who bought the island is a friend of mine.”
This was getting more interesting. A surprising gold mine for my curious tourist brain.
I Was Fascinated
“There used to be a tunnel out to it, but that collapsed.” He looked back at us.
“Oh, who built the tunnel?” my friend said.
“Blackbeard. We had to use submersibles to get to the island.”
Wow, the ancient history of the East Coast is fascinating. Blackbeard. A movie on Goat Island. This was better than the names painted on the fishing boats.
Then the man leaned out a bit and pointed at me. “You have an amazing glowing spirit around you. It’s so strong that I can see things about her.” He nodded at my friend. “She’s Pocahontas, you know. And she has a very important life decision to make today.” He stared at her. “Be sure to take that seriously. It’s life-changing, what you need to decide today. Very important.”
Then he waved his hands in the air. “Well, after all that, I need to go smoke some more grass. Maybe two.” He turned and disappeared into the cabin.
Big Decision Time
We both gawked at the boat for a moment. “So what’s your big decision going to be?” I said to my friend.
“Hmmm. Big decision.” She twisted her mouth to the side.
We never found out about the Netflix documentary on Goat Island or the collapsed tunnel built by Blackbeard. But my friend’s big decision found us a place that served tasty fish for lunch.
Water adventures are amazing!
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by Kathy Brasby | May 14, 2025 | Listening
Plan a day to walk in my sunshine.
The days lengthen, and the sun sends warmth. Winter’s snow is gone and buds pop in bright colors. Today, the air wraps around you like a tender embrace.
Walk in the sunshine and sing our songs together. Sing of love and mercy and strength.
Step forward with courage. Smell the crisp air of spring. Of newness and of life.
You begin the walk into this year without Matt. It’s a new year for you, though.
Let the sunshine kiss your cheek and let the wind brush back your hair. Lean into a warm embrace. My loving embrace.
Plan a day in my sunshine and my love.
“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.
Isaiah 54:10
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved.
Another a grief resource for Christian women. God wants to comfort us in our grief.
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