The Story Behind the Devotional
As some of you may know, I live with bipolar disorder, a serious mental illness that has taken so much from me, including losing custody of my daughter when she was just two years old. She’s sixteen now and we’ve been separated for fourteen very long years. As painful as that experience has been, my first book Confessions for the Narrow Road: It’s Within You! was born out of that pain. I learned this practice of writing confessions of faith based on scriptures from the Holy Bible and it became an anchor for me to hold on to when life got tough. I’ve taken this practice and applied it to the scriptures that my mom sought God for every year for many years.
How it came to be...
A 50 year practice
Almost fifty years ago, my mom began a sacred practice of seeking God for a scripture to guide her year. I was intrigued by her practice as she shared the quilts she made with me where she stitched the scriptures for each year that she received from God to be her focus for that year. As part of my own spiritual journey, I decided to take most of 2022 to sit with these scriptures and write reflections based on these scriptures, as well as confessions which were my takeaways from the reflections.
Mom's Thoughts in the book
As I shared these reflections and confessions with my mom, she added something even more special to my process and shared with me what she learned from each of the scriptures she received from God. I have included her thoughts within the pages of this devotional. They are nuggets that anyone can take and use on their own journey. This devotional is unique in many ways not only because of the connection between mother and daughter and the lessons shared but also because of the beautiful nature photography displayed throughout the book. I took a very important trip with my mom in the fall of 2022 through the New England states to capture the fall foliage and the beauty of nature in each state. The photography is the backdrop for the confessions.
Built-in study guide
Additionally, the book has study guide questions at the end of each reflection to help the reader process the confessions further and make personal applications. You will be hard-pressed to find a devotional with so much richness that is both meaningful and inspiring. It will leave you thinking about the legacy you want to leave for your own children. More than that, it will jump-start the readers own relationship with God and how they seek Him for guidance.
My motivation
I share all of this because I want you to know where these spiritual practices came from and to help you understand that it’s possible to go through hell and back and still land on your feet when you seek God for guidance and trust Him with your life. I’ve been living with bipolar disorder for 20 years now and while it’s created many challenges for me, I believe that it’s my walk with God that has saved me and given me the strength to keep fighting and to get to a better place in my life. I am now in seminary school, studying to become a prison chaplain and while in school part time, I am working part time as a caregiver and managing this book launch. None of this would be possible without God’s grace and His very personal guidance in my life. I want you to know that this devotional, while very special to me and my mom, could be just the lifeline you need as you walk through the darkness, trying to find your way to the light. Let Confessions for the Narrow Road: A Journey with My Mom be a light that leads you to walk on the narrow road with Jesus.