If you don't laugh, you'll cry.  That has been my motto.  Well, this was one of those times.   


Recently I was on a trip down south to visit my kids for the holidays.   Since my kids are spread out in four different states, I decided to get the most bang for my buck and see as many of them as possible.   The journey began as I flew to see my son and daughter-in-law in North Carolina. From there I took a bus to South Carolina to visit my daughter and her family.  What should have been a four hour trip turned into 6-½ hrs as the bus broke down halfway there.  There's a Bible verse that says, “‭‭Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”  Needless to say, not one of my favorites.  Joy is a choice and with joy, you can laugh.  So, when the bus broke down, I decided to make the best of it, even when the lady behind me chose to change her daughter's dirty diaper and the fumes were overwhelming and when I hobbled off the bus with my bad knee to go find something edible in the dollar store.  I ended up finding a generic lunchable with bologna and cheese.   I couldn't bring myself to read the ingredients.  (Actually part of me enjoyed it but that's our secret).  What got me through was keeping my mind on where I was going…being with my family and seeing the smiles on my granddaughter's faces.  For that, I would've climbed a mountain.


The next leg of the journey involved another bus ride to Georgia a week later.  After a nice visit with my oldest son and his family, he dropped me at the airport and this was where the “count it all joy” was going to make or break me.


Since my knee was in rebellion, I arranged for a wheelchair to take me to my gate.  If any of you have flown from Atlanta, you know this is one of the biggest airports in the world.  When I arrived at the wheelchair assistance area, there were many people in front of me.  I literally sat there until 10 min before my flight was boarding waiting for an escort.  My panic level was very high even though I was assured I wouldn't miss my flight. 


When we arrived at TSA security, the line wasn't terribly long but the woman in front of me didn't have an acceptable ID and the line stopped moving.  It gets better.   We finally got around her to another agent and proceeded up to the conveyor belt where I placed my shoes and suitcases so they could be scanned.   I stepped through the body scanner and waited for my things.   My plane was now boarding.   As my belongings came out of the machine, I quickly grabbed them only to find one of my shoes was missing!  I think I went into shock.  I searched other bins coming down the belt but my shoe was nowhere to be found.   I was on the verge of hysteria.  Count it all joy?  Since I didn't have any other shoes, I knew leaving was not an option.  Thankfully, they searched the machine and found it a few minutes later but the clock was ticking.   We had to take two elevators, a train and race through hallways.  As we rounded the corner to the gate we found an empty waiting room.  All the passengers had boarded.   As soon as she saw us, the agent at the gate said, Oh I thought my ladies were going to miss their flight!   We made it with minutes to spare.  Count it all joy.


When I arrived at my assigned seat, there was a gentleman sitting in it.  At this point, everything in me wanted to grab him by the shirt collar.  Count it all joy.   Instead, I politely informed him he was in the wrong seat.  After giving me a deer in the headlights look, he moved over.  I sat down and took some deep breaths to calm my racing heart.   


I've told this story many times.  I realized I could share it with the frustration and anger that I felt at the time but it wasn't going to do me any good to revive those feelings.  Instead I decided to count it all joy and bring joy to others by giving them a good laugh…the part about my shoe was the highlight.


Life is hard.   There's no way around it.   We are all on our own journeys, some longer than others.  Our stories are being written but we can choose how they end.   If you know me, you know mine has been of paralyzing anxiety and fear.   I don't want my story to end that way.  God doesn't want it to end that way.   My pastor said yesterday we need to say this to ourselves, “I'm not where I want to be but I'm not where I was.”   A year ago, I would've never thought I would be flying all over the country let alone by myself. For me, it's about accepting the hard things I can't change and knowing I'm never alone.  It's about believing there's always a light at the end of the tunnel even if I can't always see it.  “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:5.   The light is Jesus and because of Him, I can count it all joy. 








The Lost Sheep

By Eileen Glotfelty • May 11, 2026
A few weeks ago I shared about my estranged child. Mother's Day came and went without a word. I spent the day wondering/hoping I would hear something. I didn't expect a phone call but maybe a text. I told myself not to have any expectations, but I still did. I was almost angry at myself for thinking maybe this year would be different. This morning I sat here talking to the Lord. He wants me to be honest with Him so I didn't try to hide the sorrow and the rejection. I told Him I was hurt and I had to forgive my child once again. He reminded me that I had three other children who hadn't forgotten me and made me feel loved and honored, so why was the rejection of one so painful? It was then I remembered the story of the lost sheep. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, it's about a shepherd who has a flock of a hundred sheep. One of them goes astray and the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to go find it. It was a gentle reminder that He will never give up on my child and He loves Him more than I could imagine. In the same way, God will never give up on any of us. No matter how much we run or push Him away, He will never leave us. I needed that encouragement, maybe you do too.

The Prodigal

By Eileen Glotfelty • April 19, 2026
For those of you who have a prodigal child, you're not alone. What I mean by prodigal is a child who has turned their back on you and put up walls of defense. It came as a surprise, a shock actually. I should've seen it coming but after years of butting heads, I truly thought we were in a better place. The revelation came in a letter where thoughts and feelings were shared. I felt my spirit being crushed as I read it and my heart broke. I know I wasn't the perfect mother. I had struggles and behaviors that had followed me since childhood. I had resolved never to treat my children the way I was treated, but how many of us know that sadly it still happens, but in a different way. When you have a prodigal, it's not about forgiveness and reconciliation, it's about the pain they feel we've inflicted and they can't let go of it. I keep hoping that some day, things will change but there's no guarantee as it takes two surrendered hearts that are open to be healed. It's been four years now since I received that letter. I have grieved in a way I never have before and there were times I didn't think I would make it through. It's a different kind of grief because you know it can change but it's out of your control. It's been a process and I've experienced rejection, abandonment, guilt and shame but it brought me to a place where I knew it was going to keep me in a prison of pain if I didn't surrender it to God so He could heal my heart. The Bible has a story about a prodigal son. Even though the son went his own way and abandoned his father, his father never gave up hope. When the son had an “aha” moment and realized how foolish he had been, he humbled himself and returned home. This is my favorite of the story: “So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20 NIV” This is how God greets everyone who returns to Him, no matter what they've done. I pray I would react the same way with my son. If you have a prodigal, my heart goes out to you, but just know that God sees you and your child. He is working behind the scenes as He is a God of redemption and reconciliation. He will heal your broken heart and give you the strength to hold on.

You Are Enough

By Eileen Glotfelty • March 13, 2026
Today I had an errand to do on the other side of town. When I left my house, it was warm and sunny. As I drove toward my destination, I noticed dark, gray clouds up ahead. I had no idea it was supposed to rain. Thankfully I was in the store when the storm rolled in. It was literally a downpour complete with thunder and lightning. I remember thinking I wouldn't be going to my car any time soon. Unfortunately the extended time in the store resulted in some overspending. As I stood in the checkout line. I overheard one of the cashiers say. “I love thunderstorms.” As a child, I loved them too, especially if I was already tucked in bed for the night. I can't explain it but that was the time I felt the most safe. There was something peaceful amidst all the noise. I still feel the same way. Tonight another thunderstorm rolled in. The weather forecast said it could be severe with high winds. I wasn't afraid. In fact. If it wasn't so early, I would've jumped into bed. I had to ask myself why I felt such peace during a storm. I never really thought about it before. Was it the fact I knew that despite all the drama and noise, it would eventually come to an end? It's something I need to think about because my attitude is quite the opposite with the storms of life. I've spent most of my life just trying to survive the storms. Sometimes I've denied them, other times I've tried to run from them and there were times I tried to hide from them but each time, they stopped or moved on. I feel like I'm in a place right now where I need a reminder of safety even in the midst of a storm. Jesus wasn't afraid of the storm, He went right into it and walked on water. Peter got out of the boat and started walking toward him but as soon as he got distracted by the waves and the noise, he started to sink and fear tried to take over. Jesus was still there and when Peter cried out to Him, Scripture says Jesus immediately reached out and grasped Peter's hand and Peter was safe. So Jesus, the storm is raging all around. I'm reaching out to You. I've gotten distracted Lord. I need You. Make me aware when I'm sinking and meet me in the waves for You are my help and You are enough.