ARTICLES BY COLLEEN CHAO
September 29, 2006 You use pain so wisely,With infinite care,Knowing right whereTo push and pull and tearAnd break and burnUntil I’ve finally learnedWith all my being to yearnFor You only. Merciful undoing:This pain sets me free.My blind eyes now can seeUnspeakable mystery—This death leads to
When I was a child, my mother passed along to me a deep appreciation for the life story and writings of Elisabeth Elliot. As a teenager I read her book Passion and Purity, convinced that my own Jim Elliot was right around the corner. In
Singleness is a long hike up a steep hill. Those who have navigated its precipices have stories to tell of it. (It’s that kind of hike. It’s that kind of hill.) While I didn’t hike nearly as far as some, I spent 34 years on
We met when we were gangly 8- and 9-year-old girls. Our small church and a mutual love for rollerskating were the only bonds we needed to forge a simple friendship. Had you asked us back then if we’d still be friends 32 years later, Karen and
I penned this almost eight years ago in the midst of a desperate season, when I was hungry for the Word and a quiet space to process my hurting heart. A small booth in the back corner of Panera Bread became my sweet refuge that
Seven years ago I sat in a coffee shop, looking across the table at a handsome man named Eddie. He was not quite a stranger to me, due to weeks of long phone conversations and shared group activities—but he was a huge risk. And I
When my son was only a few months old, I had a mother-of-four walk by me and say, “Oh, I remember the days of only one child. Enjoy it—you have it so easy!” She was right, you know. Mothering one child is enjoyable, and it
I was 31 and it was Christmas Eve when we had The Talk. Everyone thought we were the perfect match. So even though I put on a happy face, my heart reeled as he told me we should “just be friends.” We wished each other a merry
This Sunday, you will not be far from my thoughts, dear one. With every fiber of your being you long to be a mom. You were made for motherhood, and everything within you cries out against your barrenness. I remember. I was 35 when I
Years ago, God gave me a simple mental image that helped me persevere through long years of singleness. I pictured a treasure chest where my tears were stored and turned into eternal reward. By imagining each tear of anguish counting for eternity (see Psalm 126:5),
September 29, 2006 You use pain so wisely,With infinite care,Knowing right whereTo push and pull
When I was a child, my mother passed along to me a deep appreciation for
Singleness is a long hike up a steep hill. Those who have navigated its precipices
We met when we were gangly 8- and 9-year-old girls. Our small church and a mutual
I penned this almost eight years ago in the midst of a desperate season, when
Seven years ago I sat in a coffee shop, looking across the table at a
When my son was only a few months old, I had a mother-of-four walk by
I was 31 and it was Christmas Eve when we had The Talk. Everyone thought we were
This Sunday, you will not be far from my thoughts, dear one. With every fiber
Years ago, God gave me a simple mental image that helped me persevere through long
