by Emily Wierenga | Sep 2, 2013 | abuse, apology, child abuse, children, faith, girl, hurting, mistreatment, poor parenting
Dear Little Girl,I was eating ice cream when I saw you.You had the saddest face I’ve ever seen on someone’s daughter and you were only seven. You were tiny as though you haven’t been fed properly. Your hair was pulled tight into a ponytail and your... by Emily Wierenga | Apr 24, 2013 | abandonment, betrayal, christian, church, Churchian, congregation, forgiveness, grace, hurt, hurting, Jesus, pain, people, salvation, suffering
Welcome to Imperfect Prose on Thursdays. Today’s post is written by IP team member Elizabeth Stewart of Just Following Jesus. Link up your posts below!I read the words and I see the wounds behind them. The words weep with hurt and ooze with the putrid... by Emily Wierenga | Dec 19, 2012 | adam lanza, arranged marriage, christmas, foster children, grief, hurting, imperfect prose on thursdays, love, newtown shootings, pain, sandy hook school elementary, silent night, troubled
when it is dark enough, you can see the stars. ~ persian proverbthey call it the spaceship song, and i don’t know why, but i sing it for aiden and joey anyway. “silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright…” and then joey is crying from... by Emily Wierenga | Jun 25, 2012 | a deeper story, children, crucifixion, death, Easter, God, hungry, hurting, Jesus, repentance, world
when i was a little girl in big plastic glasses and corduroy dresses, i would scrunch my eyes shut and imagine the crucifixion and try to feel the sadness i knew i was supposed to feel. i’d try to feel repentant but it was so much easier not to, because Jesus... by Emily Wierenga | Apr 16, 2012 | canoeing, hope, hurting, Jesus, love, pain, return, river, salvation, spring, world
trent talks about the river like it’s an old friend. it’s pregnant with spring, and we’re canoeing its curves. joey and aiden and opa and trent, through the fields, heading home. we stop to portage over fallen trees and when joey isn’t talking,... by Emily Wierenga | Feb 1, 2012 | children, giveaway, God, hurting, print, yahweh
“can we really do it?” trent says and he looks at me terrified, and it’s two a.m. and kasher won’t calm. “can we really take care of four boys?”the bedroom sighs, as though turning in its sleep and i’m jealous. it’s been...