This Christmas is hitting me especially hard. With Christmas just one week away and the number of COVID cases continuing to rise, I feel bereft of family and friends and beloved traditions of seasons past. Participating in church services online are a wonderful grace in this season, but it is not … [Read more...] about Making the Most of This Christmas
Blog
Welcome to the New MaryYerkes.com!
I’m celebrating the launch of my newly designed website, and I hope that you’ll join me! It’s been a long time since we talked, and so much has happened. I moved from Virginia to a small hobby farm in North Carolina, which I share with a friend and three miniature donkeys, 30 chickens, and eight … [Read more...] about Welcome to the New MaryYerkes.com!
What the Church Needs to Understand about the Chronically Ill and Disabled
“I left the church because there was no place for me.” “The church only cared about what I could do for them, not how they could serve me in my time of need.” “When I could no longer serve because of my chronic illness, the church abandoned me. Although no one actually said it, the message I … [Read more...] about What the Church Needs to Understand about the Chronically Ill and Disabled
Can We be Grateful in Suffering?
Suffering is universal. It is not a question of if we will suffer; it is simply a matter of when. For many, the problem of pain is a stumbling block, causing them to question the existence of a loving God. Others, just yield to the pain, allowing it to define and, at times, consume them. But for a … [Read more...] about Can We be Grateful in Suffering?
Can Art Heal?
Friends, this is a post a wrote several years ago that is speaking to me in this season. I hope it speaks to you, too. Can tapping into our creativity help us transcend chronic pain and illness? Can art heal not only our bodies but also our soul and spirit? Questions like these have been part … [Read more...] about Can Art Heal?
Harnessing the Power of Place
Not long ago, during a time when stress and fatigue had taken their toll on my body, I booked a weekend away at a local bed and breakfast. Nestled in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I watched breathtaking mountain sunsets, delighted in deer frolicking in the woods, and sat for hours in a red … [Read more...] about Harnessing the Power of Place
