Sydney’s Story: “Happy—smile. Sad—frown. Use the corresponding face with the corresponding emotion!” urges Meg Ryan’s character in the 1995 movie French Kiss. Though this iconic scene endeared Meg Ryan to me forever, it always left me wondering, What about when...
Hannah’s Story: Two weeks after returning from my honeymoon, my husband confessed his continued use of pornography even in marriage. In an instant, my world turned upside down. Our newlywed bliss screeched to a halt. Instead of savoring those early months...
Kimberly’s Story: As new empty nesters, my husband Tim and I had recently been through some difficult years in our marriage. We were at a crossroads, asking, “What’s next?” Since our parents and adult children were all living on the east coast, we...
Emma’s Story: “I’m not in love with you,” my boyfriend said after over a year of dating. His words and the breakup that followed caused the world to shift under my feet. I could suddenly identify with Charlotte in Pride and Prejudice, twenty-something and...
Nancy’s Story: My sister Emily and I shared the same bedroom growing up and lived together after college. When she married and had young children, our relationship was fairly close. But after her children grew older and graduated from college, we only...
Anne’s Story: “2023 was a year full of God’s goodness!” I told my Bible study group early this year. They were shocked—because 2023 had continued my series of unrelated health catastrophes. Coming out of the summer of 2022, I was an active retiree,...
