To the thousands of men and women who gave their lives so that we could be free, I can never thank you enough. Freedom is never free. Someone always pays the bill. It was brave men and women – brave in ways I find almost unimaginable – who paved the way for us to be free to date and marry who we want when we want. They made it possible for us to choose where and how we want to live. It is because of them that I was free to make so many relationship mistakes. Freedom is so ingrained in our American culture that most of us have no idea how valuable it truly is – to the point that many are … [Read more...]

Embracing the truth sets us free. The truth can be unkind, unloving, and unconcerned with feelings, but it is still the truth. From age twelve to twenty-one, I seemed compelled to hide from the truth – the truth about myself, the truth about my actions, and the truth about love. The television drama version of love seemed more appealing to me than waiting for real love. What child likes to wait for anything good, after all? At times, I wonder if relaying my past mistakes will do any anyone any good – and I wonder that mainly because I am not sure it would have done me any good. I read I … [Read more...]

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln This tremendous and true statement made by Abraham Lincoln reminds me of the following Bible passage, James 1:13-15, which has been running through my mind a lot lately: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when … [Read more...]

Have you ever broken off a relationship only to receive a backlash from his or her family and friends? As if they believed something had to be wrong with you for not wanting to be with their beloved brother, sister, son, daughter, cousin, or friend? It is understandable to feel anger towards any man or woman who hurts a loved one; but, sometimes break-ups are necessary, even when they cause confusion and anger among the entourage. After all, choosing a life partner is not as easy as choosing a friend. You can technically have as many friends as you want without violating any laws. If Susie … [Read more...]