Serenity in Suffering

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Come Rest Awhile!

How thrilled I am that you stopped by! Please stay a bit and get acquainted. Sometimes you just need a little space to breathe. I’ve created a peaceful place of rest among friends where you can feel safe, seen and heard. Please take a moment to look around and find some encouragement or advice!

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Latest from the Blog

  • shadow of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, the beauty of shadows
    The Beauty of Shadows
  • purple advent candles in evergreen wreath, advent series: light in unexpected places
    Advent Series: Light in Unexpected Places
  • Thanksgiving place setting, orange napkin, wine glasses, pumpkin, inviting peace to the table
    The Taste of Peace: Seasoning Every Table with Gentleness
  • square plate of gingerbread leaf cookies, apples, the quiet seasoning how small graces change the atmosphere
    The Quiet Seasoning-How Small Graces Change the Atmosphere
  • footprints in the sand, Eyes on the shepherd: walking in step with the spirit
    Eyes on the Shepherd: Walking in Step with the Spirit
  • close up of cup of coffee with heart in the cream, finding God in a cup of coffee
    Finding God in a Cup of Coffee
  • silhouette of woman facing toward light, turning toward the light when darkness falls
    Turning Toward the Light When Darkness Falls
  • woman in white dress looking over lavender fields, the patient art of becoming
    The Patient Art of Becoming
  • sunset over lake, purple flowers in foreground, When God Waits for You
    When God Waits for You

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    Hi I'm Donna

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    Welcome to Serenity in Suffering; a safe place to be heard, known and experience personal growth and freedom in the hard places of life.

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    • The Beauty of Shadows
    • Advent Series: Light in Unexpected Places
    • The Taste of Peace: Seasoning Every Table with Gentleness
    • The Quiet Seasoning-How Small Graces Change the Atmosphere
    • Eyes on the Shepherd: Walking in Step with the Spirit

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    The Peace of Wild Things
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    What song is creation singing to you today? A gor What song is creation singing to you today?

A gorgeous overnight snowfall drew me outside early, while the sun peeked through the snow laden branches of the trees.

A true winter wonderland!

I felt like a child taking it all in! Having grabbed my 35mm camera on the way out the door, I captured stunning photos of the pristine white blanketed trees and gardens.

Then in a breath-taking moment, I looked up and saw these berries on a snow-covered limb; so magnificent!

As I stood in awe, Isaiah 1:18 flooded my mind, "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool."

The Light of God's unfailing love captivated me anew. Enjoy this poem I wrote afterwards!

A Silent Song of Love

Soft morning light, a gift of snowfall brings,
‘neath sacred canopy, silent song sings—
There above my head, scarlet drops
of berries bled, from snowbound limb,
Sins, though scarlet, now made white in Him—
a timeless truth made real again.

Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Light" poetry challenge for December. Where we look for light, snap a photo, and write a poem!

#serenityinsuffering #december #advent #lightoftheworld #forgiveness #poet #poetry #hope #faith
    Have you ever had a sanitation worker say they app Have you ever had a sanitation worker say they appreciated YOU? Or that they were glad to meet you?

My encounter with light today was with "one of the least of these". 

The same two men take our trash away week in, week out, year in, year out. In all kinds of weather.

One drives, the other collects. They do not have a fancy truck or equipment. If we run late getting the can out to the curb, they come up and get it.

They are not the best dressed, well-groomed men you have ever encountered.
While I wave when I see them, I never met them face to face until today.

Each year I find a special treat for them and compose a card and a gift of money for them for Christmas. I suppose I feel they are among society's hard working but rarely appreciated people.

I generally package it nicely and leave it on top of the trash can, so they see it. But I ran late this morning and thought I had time.
During my prayer time I heard them arrive much earlier than usual, so I grabbed the gifts and ran out into the 10-degree morning coatless, to give them their gifts.
The young man who collects, was standing in the street, and before I handed him the gifts, he smiled a toothless grin and said, "I appreciate you." Speechless, I handed him the gifts and thanked him.
Still smiling he said, "I am so glad I met you today". He then hopped on the truck and was gone.

As I stood in the street crying, I was overwhelmed with the love I saw in his eyes. And after I went inside, I knew I had met Jesus.
Here is the poem I wrote afterwards:

I Saw Jesus Today

I saw Jesus today.
Scraggly hair and unkempt beard
at first pushed me away.
His dirty clothes and untied boots
my step did hesitate.

But as I placed my meager gift
into His calloused hands,
His toothless grin engaged my heart
and drew me near to Him.

His eyes locked mine, as He spoke
the words I know I’ll ne’er forget,
“I appreciate you and I’m so glad 
we met.”

As tears filled my eyes, supernatural
Light and Love my heart did overwhelm.
And there I stood this cold, gray dawn undone.

Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Light" poetry challenge for December. Where we look for light, snap a photo, and write a poem!
    Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Li Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Light" poetry challenge for December. Where we look for light, snap a photo, and write a poem!

A poignant encounter with light moved me deeply on my last shift at the Inpatient Hospice Center.

It was my honor and privilege to feed an older man with end stage Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. As expected, he was only semi-engaged, with the same expressionless eyes these patients often have.

Still, as I care for them, I am always drawn to their eyes. The eyes are a window to the soul, and I often read there what cannot be expressed.

Praying for him, I saw a searching look there each time he met my eyes, which brought tears to my own.

Then unexpectedly, his wife arrived. She swept into the room full of life and joy, kissing his face all over, while asking him if he knew who she was.

I cringed like I always do when I hear this question asked an Alzheimer's or Dementia patient. Trained to care for them, I know how that question causes the patient anxiety.

He shook his head "no", but then she laughed, and said "who else comes in here kissing you like that?"

And for just a split second I saw the light come into his eyes, and the barest hint of a smile on his lips. He then stretched his arm toward her and received another round of kisses.

Through my tears I thanked God for a moment of light, even in the shadow of death. As it would be inappropriate to snap a photo of them, I share this one instead. Enjoy the poem I crafted afterwards:

Eternal Embers

There is a light
which glimmers within—
A light no disease
nor death can dim.

Kindled by two hearts
joined as one,
an eternal ember
stoked by love.

There is a Light
which Love made flesh—
A Light no darkness
nor death can arrest.

Kindled long ago
in eternity past,
an Eternal Ember
Whose love burns steadfast.

Do you know the Light which became flesh?

#serenityinsuffering #serenity #december #poetry #poet #shadows #light #unexpectedlight #hope #faith #godslove #lightoftheworld
    Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Li Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Light" poetry challenge for December. Where we look for light, snap a photo, and write a poem!

I had a truly delightful encounter with light while rushing through the mundane task of picking up a forgotten item at the local grocery store.

As I rushed through the door, these purple poinsettias captivated me.

Not only is purple my favorite color, but I have never seen a purple poinsettia! Yet there they sat in all their unexpected beauty.

Of course I picked out one for myself, and so delighted with my find, I chose another for a friend. So not only was my dreary day suddenly filled with light, but I found even more joy in sharing that light with someone else.

Enjoy my little haiku inspired by this gorgeous little plant!

Delight

Sometimes light peeks through
  the unexpected beauty
  of purple petals.

#serenityinsuffering #serenity #light #delight #poinsettias #advent #joy #hope #poet #poetry
    Welcome to Week #2 of the Advent Series: Light in Welcome to Week #2 of the Advent Series: Light in Unexpected Places! 

Is midnight a time of fear or loneliness for you?

We often fear midnight, the hour of silence, of loneliness, of waiting. 

Many a night’s sleep comes only as a longing for me. The dark, lonely hours stalk me rather than enclose me in rest. 

But Advent brings a new understanding to the dark hours of night. 

Advent whispers that midnight is not the end, but a sacred threshold.

Through the eyes of Advent, I see midnight as the womb of the dawn, the place where hope forms unseen but unstoppable.

Thoughts of midnight wake a certain mystery, stillness, even vulnerability. As a threshold, midnight marks closure and beginning, as one day ends and another begins, fostering renewal and reflection. 
Also, a time of introspection, the deep quiet of reverence provides opportunity for divine revelation.

While all these may give an accurate view of midnight, I prefer the view of midnight through an Advent perspective of duality. 

Viewed in this way, midnight becomes a balance between light and dark, life and death—good and evil highlighting the possibility for opposites to coexist. Emphasizing as well that transitions embody both ending and beginnings.

Check out my second post on Substack for my Advent Series, "Light in Unexpected Places", and uncover the true treasure of midnight with me from God's perspective. Link in bio!

#serenityinsuffering #serenity #advent #adventdevotional #midnighthours #fear #anxiety #waiting #darkness #suffering #hope #faith
    Are you weary today? My newest devotional, The Gr Are you weary today?

My newest devotional, The Grace of Gratitude: A 21-Day Journey to a Heart Transformed by Grace, is officially LIVE on Amazon! 📚💛⁣
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This gentle, Scripture-centered devotional invites you to slow down, notice God’s quiet mercies, and let gratitude soften your heart one day at a time.⁣
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Inside you’ll find:⁣
🌿 21 daily reflections⁣
🌿 Scripture-centered encouragement⁣
🌿 Heart-level journaling prompts⁣
🌿 A companion gratitude study section⁣
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If your soul has been craving rest, renewal, or a fresh way to notice God’s fingerprints in ordinary days—I wrote this for you.⁣
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✨ Grab your copy here today! Link in smart bio!⁣
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Your support—purchases, reviews, prayers—means more to me than I can ever say.⁣
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#serenityinsuffering #serenity #devotionals #gratitude #hope #faith #rest #grace #godslove
    Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Li Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Light" poetry challenge for December. Where we look for light, snap a photo, and write a poem!

A beautiful encounter with light happened for me as we attended the annual Christmas concert at Lancaster Bible College. I had no idea what the theme for this was until they handed me a program as I walked into the auditorium.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw "A Light in the Darkness", the very theme God has been speaking to me in various ways this Advent!

The program was a glorious presentation "from prophecy to promise", highlighting prophecies of Christ's birth and His soon return.

It was truly uplifting, filling my heart with renewed Hope as I celebrated the fulfillment of His birth, and the undisputed reality of His Second Coming.

Today's poem reflects those thoughts:

A Light in the Darkness

Even in the darkness
a heart for Hope yearns—
clinging yet to peace foretold,
hoarding prophecies of old.

Until Light pierces 
the matrix of mortal womb
becoming Love incarnate—
come to save His own.

Salvation walked among us
His life the light of men—
exchanging prophecy for promise,
Hope came once and will come again.

While you celebrate Christ's birth this Advent, how are you also reflecting on His soon return?

#serenityinsuffering #serenity #advent #december #christsbirth #nativity #secondcoming #hope #faith #redemption #poetry #poet
    Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Li Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Light" poetry challenge for December. Where we look for light, snap a photo, and write a poem!

Light greeted me this morning, with a gorgeous pink sunrise! Took my breath away when i opened the curtains!

Morning Magic

Magic moments greet me
just after the sun’s first
smile—
Caressed by color, a golden hour
where wonder waits sweetly,
Ere day my presence demands,
I linger, a friend of awe—
until at last we part,
your beauty in my hands.

What is one way the light of God's love met you today?

#serenityinsuffering #serenity #sunrise #december #lookingforlight #light #mornings #godslove #godslight #hope #faith #poetry #poet #advent
    Weary and looking for hope? Pray this prayer: “L Weary and looking for hope?

Pray this prayer:

“Lord of light and shadow, teach me to see Your presence in the places I fear. May the shadows of my waiting reveal the contours of Your hope, and may I rest in the shelter of Your mystery. Amen.”

For more encouragement in the shadows, check out my new post, "The Beauty of Shadows", link in bio!

#serenityinsuffering #serenity #weariness #grief #discouragement #anxiety #hope #faith #godslight #godslove
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