By Jamie Roach In my years walking alongside families and teenagers, I’ve come to believe that one of the deepest longings of a child is to be seen, loved, and accepted just as they are. The digital world presses hard…
By Mimi Keel What story is your family living in? This question has been shaping me lately, especially through the influence of St. Francis and the Franciscan community I visit each year. Each year, I have the joy of spending…
By Kurt Rietema “Bienvenidos!” Olga called out enthusiastically from her front door as a group of middle schoolers and I stumbled out of a van. Olga was as bubbly as she usually is volunteering at Youthfront Neighborhood’s food distribution, but…
By Kara K Root There are many reasons not to go to church. Life is busy.Church is awkward.Choosing one feels overwhelming.Will they ask for money?What if I don’t know what to do there?What if I don’t agree with their beliefs?The…
By Jamie Roach At the heart of the Christian story is this truth: God is self-giving love. Not distant. Not passive. But present—actively meeting us in our need. And parenting, in all its messy beauty, is one of the clearest…
By Haley Majernik “I want to see a giraffe eating a leaf!” That was my 5-year-old’s animated response when I asked what he was most looking forward to on our upcoming trip to the zoo. We were planning a small…
