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Keep a Fierce But Compassionate Heart
My husband knows I love to write so, he bought me this new journal for Christmas. I’ve filled many over the past few years. Somehow it seems fitting to start it on this cold, blustery winter morning just before Valentine’s Day. He thinks I was born with a fiery spirit. Though how do I keep…
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Ask Me Who I Am
Ask me who I am. In the short bio for my website, I give a brief answer to this inquiry. “Dr. Suzanne Montgomery is a Family Physician, Mom, Author, lover of gardening, hiking and Jesus (not necessarily in that order).” This is by no means a complete inventory of my identity. Instead it gives a…
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Beauty Rises from the Ashes
My daughter Rozie recently sent me a picture of a flowering bush growing up through a crack of hardened volcanic rock. She shot this photo on the Big Island of Hawaii. Not so long ago, Kilauea erupted, spewing ash and lava, wiping out everything in its path. But nature is tenacious. Beauty rises from the…
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Miracles Evolve Daily
Miracles evolve daily yet we don’t often recognize their significance. Every morning the sun rises then sets again in the evening. We count on it’s regularity. By the light of it’s rays, flowers emerge from seed in the ground while busy bees produce delectable honey through collecting its pollen and nectar. Amazing! All around us,…
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20/20 Vision
Call me 4 eyes. I’ve worn glasses much of my life. The only way for me to have 20/20 vision is to don corrective lens since I am severely nearsighted. Some people wear glasses as a fashion statement. To me they are a necessary essential for my life. I first realized this while attending Miss…
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On the Path to Rest and Recovery
Christmas is over. After weeks of preparation, I breathe a sigh of relief. Even though I enjoy all the smiles and laughter of the season, I’m ready for a break. After opening all the presents and consuming rich holiday meals, everyone struggles to return to their own normal routine. We bemoan the fact that our…
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Time: The Most Precious Commodity
Time. It’s the most precious commodity. Yet often we appreciate it the least. People seek after wealth and fame but let time slip away. Even though we all understand that our days are numbered, we waste much of what we’re given. Only when life brings difficult circumstances, do we suddenly recognize the priceless value of…
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Watch for a Sign
Our world is full of signs. There are signs to warn us as well as signs to inform us. So many messages telling us all kinds of things besiege us. We tend to ignore most of them. Unfortunately, ignoring a traffic sign may earn you a ticket or worse. But what if someone told you…
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Planting Trees: A Pure Act of Faith
For several years now, instead of putting up an artificial tree for Christmas, my husband and I decided to purchase a live tree. But rather than cutting down a pine, we go to a local tree farm for a balled tree so we can plant it later. Yes, it’s a lot more trouble. In order…
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The Secret to Contentment
It’s Black Friday. This infamous day of shopping follows closely on the heels of Thanksgiving. Isn’t it ironic that as a society we celebrate gratefulness one day then materialism the next? We are quick to thank God for what we have but then rush out to buy more. Clearly thankfulness doesn’t equate with contentment. When…
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Be Kind
Be Kind. Like sweet honey flowing from the comb, kindness satisfies an inner hunger. My tongue longs for its rare flavor. When someone opens a door for me or a stranger pays for my order, it sets my heart aglow. Nothing on earth affirms me like an unsolicited act of kindness. The one who chooses…
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Missing the Better Part
As Halloween comes to a close and we roll into Thanksgiving, the race is on. Tis the season for busyness. For women it’s particularly taxing. If you’re anything like me, you long to bring a smile to your family’s faces and make the holidays bright. But at what cost? In the process, am I missing…
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Mindful of the Little Moments
It was a small sign. We would have missed it altogether if we kept hiking along the trail. But my husband and I were ready for a break and the bench looked inviting. As I approached it to sit down, I paused to read the plaque attached to the back. It said simply, ‘Life is…
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Drawn Toward the Flames
Who doesn’t enjoy relaxing in front of a fire? Both humans and animals are drawn toward the flames. It’s warmth and everchanging hues hold us captive. When Indian Summer fades and the crisp evenings of late fall begin, we huddle together around campfires once more. Sparks climb high into the darkened sky while hot dogs…
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Everyday Epiphanies
Revival broke out on the highway this morning. While driving down I-65 into the city, God decided to show up in a mighty way. Beams of sunlight pierced through the cloud covered sky as I headed to Simon Cancer Center. It felt as if He sent a message just for me. Let me take your…
