MY VICTORY VOYAGE || A Surrendered Celebration

In MY VICTORY VOYAGE I’m sharing various trials I’ve faced and how God’s faithfulness has carried me through. Join me on the 2nd Friday of each month in 2025 as we reflect on His restoration and grace.

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. — Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

Preface: This post comes from a deep place in my personal journey. I write it with humility—not to accuse or expose, but to process what God is teaching me about love, surrender, and the long road of restoration. If you’re carrying heartbreak of your own, I pray my story gives you courage to keep walking with Jesus—especially when the path is painful.

Turning 68 this month feels… surreal. Gratitude and grief swirl together in my heart as I reflect on the road I’ve traveled. I’ve lived a full life—one filled with sacrifice, joy, mistakes, forgiveness, and deep, enduring love. But there’s a silent pain that rises in me as this birthday approaches: the estrangement of adult children.

For years, all our children were distant. By God’s grace, one has come back to us. Their perspective, now shaped by the responsibilities of adulthood and parenting, has brought a gentler understanding to the years we labored to raise them well. They know now how hard it is—how easy it is to fall short, and how much love can live in the same heart that sometimes gets things wrong. But others still remain estranged with no children of their own.

This past Mother’s Day carried a quiet ache. When your role as a mother goes unacknowledged, especially by those you gave everything for, it can feel like being erased. I held my peace that day—but not because I wasn’t hurting. I was. It’s because I believe healing comes from the Lord, not from social media.

Some days, the ache feels unbearable. I made mistakes. I own them. But I also gave my life to raise my children with everything I had, doing the best I knew how to at the time. I set aside a college education, a career, and in almost ten years of homeschooling I poured myself into motherhood. I sacrificed my body, my dreams, and countless nights of sleep. I loved them fiercely. I still do.

And yet… here we are.

Even so, I return to the altar. Again, and again. I lay my children down with trembling hands and say, “Lord, they are Yours.” I ask Him to do what only He can do: bring salvation, correction, and restoration in His time.

Even in my sorrow, I am held.
Even in heartbreak, I walk in victory.
Not because everything is right, but because God is still good.
He has kept me. He is not finished.

As I reflected on the ache of estrangement and the quiet faith it takes to keep surrendering my children to God, this song became a balm to my soul.

Rescue by Lauren Daigle is a reminder that even in our darkest valleys, we are never alone. God sees. He hears. He comes for us. If you’re walking through heartbreak of your own, may these lyrics wrap around your heart like a blanket of truth and comfort. Remember:

You are not forgotten. You are not hopeless. You are deeply loved. 💛

THE TWELVE STEPS TO VICTORY™ || Step Eight || Willing to Make Amends

In The Twelve Steps to Victory column, we’re reframing the traditional 12 Steps with a focus on victory vs continually looking back at our missteps and failures. Each Step aligns with the months on the yearly calendar. This series publishes on the first Friday of each month in 2025.

“We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. — Step Eight 

Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31 NIV

🛤️ Victory Focus
In Step Eight, we turn our hearts toward others by becoming willing to make things right. This step is not about taking immediate action (that comes in Step Nine), but about cultivating the attitude of humility and readiness. We surrender pride, self-justification, and fear—asking God to prepare us to take full responsibility for the damage we’ve caused in our relationships. True freedom requires reconciliation, and reconciliation begins with willingness.

🪞Reflective Insight
This step often surfaces deep discomfort. Facing the wreckage we’ve caused—whether intentionally or unintentionally—requires courage and grace. Many of us have held onto bitterness, justified our actions, or lived in denial. But God does not call us to shame—He calls us to healing. Willingness is the bridge between conviction and action. We ask Him to soften our hearts and remove anything that keeps us from walking in truth and love. Healing in our relationships begins here.

🕊️ A Prayer for Step Eight

Lord Jesus, soften my heart and make me willing. Help me see others through Your eyes—those I’ve hurt and those who’ve hurt me. I lay down my defenses and excuses, and I ask You to give me courage to make things right. Create in me a clean heart. Prepare the way for reconciliation and lead me to walk it with humility and grace. In Your Name. Amen.

🖊️ Personal Reflection
Before we can make amends, we must first be honest—with ourselves and with God. Journaling is a powerful tool for that kind of heart work. As you prayerfully reflect on these prompts, allow the Holy Spirit to gently uncover anything hidden and stir a willingness within you to move forward in grace and truth. These questions aren’t about rushing to action—they’re about preparing your heart for healing.

      • Who have I hurt through my actions, words, or neglect?

      • Am I truly willing to make amends to each one on my list? If not, why?

      • What fears, resentments, or pride might be keeping me from this willingness?

      • How does Jesus’ love for me encourage me to love others—even those I’ve wronged?

🎵 Worship Reflection
As we grow willing to make amends, we must first surrender our right to stay hurt, to stay hidden, or to stay in control. True willingness begins with letting go—of pride, fear, excuses, and every burden we’ve been carrying. “Make Room” is a powerful worship invitation to do just that. Let this song lead you into a moment of open-hearted surrender, where healing can begin and the Holy Spirit can do what only He can do.