by Emily Wierenga | Sep 4, 2013 | #imperfectprose, bike, children, confidence, doubt, hurt, imperfect prose link-up, love, pain, parenting, redemption, training, trust
Aiden asked us to remove his training wheels this week. He’s three and a half and he’s growing weed-like and it scares me, but we took the wheels off.And that first night, Trent bent low and guided the bike long down the hamlet road, back and forth and... by Emily Wierenga | Aug 27, 2013 | cutting, ER, faith, hope, hurt, invisible, knife, pain, prodigal magazine, scars, school, self-harm, story, teenager
DISCLAIMER: This story contains strong imagery surrounding self harm. If you or someone you know is suffering self abuse please seek council, and tell someone you trust. Search for the best resources in your area here.... by Emily Wierenga | Jul 17, 2013 | #imperfectprose, blogging, camping, God, homeless, hungry, hurt, imperfect prose on thursdays, Jesus, pain, street people
Kasher is chanting on the top of Trent’s shoulders, and it sounds like a monk’s song. We’re camping at Snaring River where we tented back when I was 39 weeks with the same boy. There are no flush toilets here. No hot showers. Just the bare smell of nature,... by Emily Wierenga | Jun 19, 2013 | anger, devotion, fear, hurt, imperfect prose on thursdays, listening, loyalty, marriage, silence, submission
(by Brandee Shafer; paintings by Connie Kottman)When our marriage counselor Adam recommended a process of communication called reflective listening, I was raring to go. Confident, too, because–if I had a Native American name–it would be The Communicator. I... by Emily Wierenga | May 7, 2013 | child, children, cry, God's face, heart surgery, hurt, joy, loss, miracle, mother teresa, motherhood, pain, sorrow, suffering
Lucas George is just over a month old and he was born with two major heart defects. His heart is now beating on its own, which is a miracle, but up until recently, he could not keep any food down.He was chubby when he was born.And his mother–Trent’s... by Emily Wierenga | Apr 30, 2013 | anger, blogging, community, criticism, dialogue, feminism, hurt, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Jesus, michelle derusha, prodigal magazine, servanthood post
“It’s not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;...