by Jill Pearson
I remember the day we planted the tiny spruce tree in our front yard. Tears fell as Dave dug the hole and I gently loosened the roots and placed it in. We stood up, brushed off the dirt, and said a prayer over the knee-high evergreen, chosen as a memorial for a baby I had recently miscarried. Fifteen years later, the spruce soars 25 feet and brings a wistful smile to my face.
If I turn to face the opposite direction, I spy a gorgeous magnolia bush, bursting with prolific pink blooms. A compassionate friend from out-of-state had this plant delivered after we lost our 7-year-old dog, Bullseye, who died in my arms following a brief illness. The plant has flourished, and my friend’s kindness has inspired me to give similar gifts.
There is a sense of sacred redemption when something blooms and grows in the wake of loss and grief…
…which brings me to our May theme, How We Bloom. This month, we celebrate women who have bloomed by the grace of God under challenging circumstances. We hear from Sara Chaco, who has broken generational curses to bloom as a wife, mom, and child of God. Ann Sheperdson shares the challenge of being uprooted from sunny Phoenix to frigid Minnesota, and Denise Songstad describes how she has learned to bloom and thrive as the mom of a special needs son.
Melissa Meyers reviews a new book by Calvary’s own Jody Pederson, regarding her life as a missionary in Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sue Nelson and Kailee Kolade give us a glimpse into their lives in our Faces of Calvary post. We honor Mother’s Day with a fun article from mother/daughter duo, Kelsey and Teresa Haugen, and we round things off with two delicious recipes and a “bloom where you’re planted” story from Ingrid Ansell.
May is also the one-year anniversary of The Stir. Boy, how time flies! As I browse the archives, I delight in all the stories that have edified us and built a sense of connection and community. We’ve published more that 125 articles, from testimonies and devotionals to recipes and book reviews, all written by Calvary women. And we still have SO many more women to tap!
We are taking off the month of June and will meet you back here in July! In the meantime, BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED!
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit”
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Jill Pearson is co-editor of The Stir, wife to Dave, and mom to three young adults who have flown the nest but are easily lured back with an offer of dinner. She owns and operates Riverwood Studio, an art education business, and finds creative ways to serve at Calvary.
1 thought on “How we bloom…a May welcome”
Thanks Jill for this beautiful welcome, and Congratulations on one year of the Stir! WELL DONE LADIES – THANK YOU!!