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John. That’s what I was supposed to be called. My mom loved the name. It had been her father’s, John “Jack” Rossiter. She looked forward to calling me Jack, and I don’t think my father had much say in the matter. Then, when she was packing a bag to go to the hospital to have me, my sister, Mary Lou, started to cry and carry on. The only thing that placated her was the promise she could name me. She knew I was supposed to be John. But instead, she suddenly conferred the name Edward on me, after her favorite uncle, and, well, a promise is a promise, so I was Edward. John became my confirmation name. By then it was too late to call me Jack. John, Jack, Edward.…

THE MOST IMPORTANT TO-DO I walked into the kitchen and saw my 18-year-old daughter, Julia, mixing muffin batter. “Chocolate chip muffins for me and banana nut for Dad,” 11-year-old Nathan said with a grin. The following afternoon, at the end of her shift at the grocery store, Julia picked up milk and other items she knew our family needed. The next time she went to work, she got groceries for my mother-in-law, who lives across the street. Over the next week, Julia unloaded the dishwasher, made dinner and swept the floor—things I normally would’ve done—all without being asked. On Friday, I saw Julia’s to-do list on the kitchen table. The last item caught my eye: “Do something nice for someone else.” I flipped back through the notebook. Every day’s list included…

I have played in many memorable concerts over the years as a professional violinist. None meant more to me than the one I was about to play at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. The sanctuary hummed with voices that afternoon as concertgoers arrived and took their seats in the pews. To my amazement, the church was nearly full. Ushers had to run to the office to print more programs. I’m always a little keyed up before performances. That day, I could barely contain my emotions. I had organized this concert. I’d asked the musicians, sent out invitations and selected the music, a mix of well-known composers (Bach, Brahms) and lesser-known contemporary pieces. Most important, I had brought the guest of honor, sitting in the front row and looking no less…

Years ago, my friend Steve introduced me to the practice of offering 10-second prayers. A pastor who has built numerous churches by focusing on outreach, Steve discovered that asking someone—especially a stranger—“May I pray with you?” almost always resulted in a “No, thank you.” But when he offered a 10-second prayer, a yes was much more common. The promise of a brief prayer seemed to disarm people and assuage their fears of an awkward situation. Encouraged by Steve’s example, I tried it. It worked. I can’t boast a 100 percent success rate, but I did discover that people welcome and appreciate a short, purposeful prayer, even in public settings. On one occasion, my church was giving a concert in a park, and people stopped to listen. I noticed a woman…

I was unpacking groceries that fall day when my husband, Tony, told me the devastating news: His sister, who hadn’t been well, was in intensive care. As I tried to make sense of the situation, I mechanically put away the things I’d bought—the milk in the fridge, the chips in the top cabinet. Tony said he needed a long walk and headed out. I kept right on organizing and cleaning. The kitchen might have been spotless, but I was a mess of confusion and despair. I took a deep breath and went to the dining room, where I dusted the framed photos of my grandparents and their parents and my husband’s parents. I picked up each portrait, studying our family’s faces. In 1911, my great-grandmother came to America by herself…

“We’ve got a problem here, folks,” our mechanic said over the phone. “What is it?” I asked. My husband, Matthew, and I had dropped off our truck for an oil change a couple hours earlier. We’d made an appointment with our usual mechanic, Randy, and decided on using synthetic oil, which requires a change every 5,000 miles, as opposed to 3,000 miles for regular oil. Though synthetic oil was the more expensive option, it seemed like a good investment considering how much we traveled. “One of my guys put in the wrong oil,” Randy explained. He’d been out of the garage for a test drive and left our oil change to one of his employees. The other mechanic had put in the usual oil—the standard blend. “Now you have a…

Many caregivers can relate to the following experience: Their loved one with dementia barely speaks and has no clue where they live or what year it is. But then an old song comes on the radio and their loved one is suddenly singing along—word for word. “Music is powerful,” says Lakelyn Eichenberger, Ph.D., gerontologist and caregiver advocate at Home Instead. “People can hold on to musical memories for a long time because they are held in a different part of the brain.” Listening to music has also been shown to reduce anxiety and agitation in people living with dementia. Here’s how to make a meaningful musical encounter. Avoid overstimulation. Dr. Eichenberger notes that you should limit the number of competing noises in the room. “If you are playing a concert,…

“He created all the nations throughout the whole earth.” —ACTS 17:26 (NLT) I still remember the look the gal at the bank had when she asked my occupation and I proudly said, “I run cows.” Her nose wrinkled, and she held my application away from her immaculate suit with manicured, mile-long fingernails. “Why?” she blurted. “It’s so dirty!” That memory from my college days leaped to mind recently as I helped sort calves in the corral after a thorough rain. The mud was almost knee-deep. The calves had the advantage—unworried about losing their boots with each step. But we got the job done and kept our socks fairly clean in the process. Everything else got splattered—the grit in my teeth wasn’t tasty, either. I wondered about that banker gal. Which of…

WHO SHE IS Betsy Ayrea Delfine of Elkhart, Indiana, developed Soup of Success in 1997 and directs it to this day. The faith-based nonprofit teaches critical life skills to Elkhart County women through an intensive 20-week program, which is focused in part on learning the business of selling soup across the United States. Betsy is passionate about helping women; working in a domestic violence shelter, she had grown disillusioned that her clients often had to choose between going on welfare or returning to an abusive relationship. Then came this opportunity to empower women. “God definitely led me here,” she says. WHAT SHE DOES Betsy leads a staff of seven, four of whom are graduates of the program. The team works with each class of 8 to 12 women in what…

Prayed for the return of my daughter’s dog. Simple—but we wouldn’t have had any hope without prayer. We were able to get him back, thanks to Jesus.—VANESSA I live in a group home. Earlier, I requested “safety.” This week, I signed some papers. I’ll be moving to my new place!—STARLA My life’s had a lot of bumps lately, but my God has shown up and shown out on my behalf. Thank you, Lord.—SANDY H. I asked for prayers for my son who has ADHD to pass his driving test. Praise be to God—he passed!—ELIZABETH From our readers and website visitors. Send your answered prayer to submissions@guideposts.org.…

In 2013, Disney released the animated musical Frozen. Its signature song—“Let It Go”—was an instant classic. It wasn’t just Idina Menzel’s astonishing voice but also the song’s powerful message: Sometimes to move forward in life, you need to let go. Have you felt hurt, angry—maybe even frozen—when things haven’t gone the way you hoped and prayed for? How do you cope when a relationship ends or a longed-for opportunity doesn’t materialize? Do you stew in anger or regret? Shut down and shut out the world? Or do you hang on tighter? After all, society bombards us with messages to never give up. I’ve clung to people and situations, thinking, God, don’t ask me to give this up. But when I let go—and let God take over—I’m reminded that his plan…

 Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Hispanic Heritage Month starts September 15. Guideposts is celebrating all month long by recognizing some of the extraordinary Hispanic men and women who have shaped our world. From painters and poets to astronauts and actors (and Nobel Prize winners!), learn about influential Hispanic Americans at guideposts.org/hispanic-heritage Early Christmas Shopping Let Guideposts be your one-stop shop. Whether you’re searching for devotionals, Christian romances, cozy mysteries or our special holiday edition, The Joys of Christmas, we’ve got plenty of meaningful gifts for your loved ones. Visit guideposts.org/shop for amazing deals! Reach Out We value your loyalty. Customer Service is here to answer your questions or comments as well as help you manage your account and subscriptions. Contact us at guideposts.org/ecares. Subscribe Get even more inspiring Guideposts stories—from celebrity exclusives…

“Each one of you has the power, will and capacity to make a difference in the world. You should go through life knowing, ‘I am somebody.’”HARRY BELAFONTE, 95 “I’m just the kid with the camera. It’s God’s love and goodness that changes us.”JIMMY DARTS, who posts videos of his random acts of kindness for his 8.6 million TikTok followers “I like to live life looking forward, not looking back at the past. But there has been something beautiful to see in hindsight. Jesus was near to me in the dark season even though at the time I felt so utterly alone.”JULIE MANNING, from My Heart: Every Beat Surrendered to Our Unchanging God “I always try to think, ‘What is the upside to having your life turned upside down?’”KAREN DUFFY, hospital…

What you do for your spiritual well-being I sabbath once a week. For 24 hours, I don’t do any work, to rest myself emotionally and physically. A surprising detail about you I’m not nearly as humble as people have portrayed me to be. In reality I am fighting pride a lot, every day, all the time. Best advice you’ve gotten From my mom: “Do your best, and trust God with the rest.” I can be anxious and want to control things. Favorite Bible verse Joshua 1:9 has helped me in tough times. Find a longer version at guideposts.org/jeremy-lin For more on this story, see FAMILY ROOM…

There is a common belief that comedians use humor to deal with or even cover up pain they can’t otherwise process. That may be true in some cases. I’ve known a few comics like that. But not me. I became a comedian because I loved to make people laugh. It made me feel good, and it made the audience feel good. That’s a pretty great gig to have in life, a blessing I’m grateful for every day. But I also fell in love with something else: drinking. I’ve been sober now for two years and counting, two years in which I’ve suffered three of the most devastating losses of my life in quick succession. How did I survive those blows to the heart without alcohol? That’s what I’m here to…

‘‘Mom, I’ve got something important to tell you,” my 18-year-old daughter, Willow, announced at the end of one of our calls. “But I can’t tell you over the phone.” She hung up, leaving me in suspense. She would be home from college in a week for Thanksgiving break—but that suddenly seemed so far away. Willow and I were close. What was so bad that she had to tell me in person? Was she dropping out of school? Was she in some kind of trouble? Her dad and I picked her up two days before the holiday. My bubbly daughter was quiet on the four-hour drive home. I sent up a quick prayer. God, help her feel comfortable talking to me, and help me accept whatever it is. The next morning,…

I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. The 45-minute drive from my mom’s place in Maricopa, Arizona, to my apartment in Gilbert felt longer by the day. Miles of dry, dusty land dotted with scrub grass as far as I could see. Nothing stood out. Even the occasional house seemed to fade into the flat, featureless landscape. A landscape as desolate as my life. I’d driven this lonely stretch of road hundreds of times in the months I’d lived in Arizona. I had moved with my teenage daughter from our home near Chicago to care for my mom. Her cancer diagnosis had come around the same time my stormy 23-year marriage ended. I’d thought I would help my mom recover her health. I’d wanted a fresh start, a chance…

Everyone stresses out sometimes. A few years ago, my stress became intolerable. I realized I needed a spiritual solution for a problem I could no longer manage on my own. I’ve always been a high-stress person. I was sexually abused as a child, and that trauma affected my whole life. My fears take the form of a type A personality. I plan. I’m hypervigilant. I want everything safe, under control. Imagine how I felt when a mass shooting occurred at my kids’ school in 2012. My kids survived, but it was as if all my worst fears had come true. I doubled down on my protective instincts. Worried about absolutely everything. Somehow I managed until four years ago. By then, all three of our kids were out of the house.…

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 Sometimes I want to call the apostle Paul “Impossible Paul.” He gives us one short sentence with three commands that seem impossible. Until I try them. Rejoicing, praying, giving thanks. I have found it helpful at times not only to “give thanks” but to write down what I am grateful for. Make a list. Be specific. One time, when I feared I was sinking into a bottomless pit of depression, I took out a pen and paper and wrote. And wrote. By the time I looked up, I had almost filled the page. I was going to be okay. Let us come into his presence with thanks giving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of…

BLANKET OF PEACE I lay down on the gurney, and a nurse spread a thin blanket over me to keep me comfortable. “You’ll have a short wait before we can do your ultrasound,” she said. She started an IV and then pulled a curtain around the little cubicle to give me some privacy. “Just try to relax until then.” When a recent colonoscopy had revealed a cancerous tumor, I wanted it out of my body as soon as possible. But the doctors first needed to develop a treatment plan based on the stage of the cancer. The endoscopic ultrasound that day would reveal how serious my condition was. What if the cancer had spread? Covid restrictions had prevented my husband from keeping me company before my procedure. Once the nurse…

Jeremy Lin (Positive Thinker, page 18), the first Asian American to win an NBA championship, reflects on his landmark 2012 season with the New York Knicks in the HBO documentary 38 at the Garden. The film, which premieres this fall, looks back at the “Linsanity” that set in after the undrafted Harvard grad scored 38 points against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden in 2012, sending the Knicks to the playoffs. Jeremy’s biggest supporters have always been his family. He considers his older brother, Josh, a hero. “He modeled how to be a man—not in the way that society defines it but to love God, love others, be humble.” His “prayer warrior” mom has encouraged his faith life. “I try to be intentional about blocking off time with…

UPLIFTED I was diagnosed with cancer in late 2019. One day, I picked up the October 2019 issue of GUIDEPOSTS. My friend Peggy had surprised me with a gift subscription. The magazine was full of inspirational stories. Judy Reardon had been angry at God after a lung cancer and COPD diagnosis; Karla McIntyre’s husband had fought back from a coma, harnessing his competitive spirit. Each story concluded with a resolution of the narrator’s pain and challenges as God stepped into her life. I am these folks, I thought. Feeling angry over limitations. Hoping I can fight back. Not believing myself smart enough to make the best care choices. Telling God, “I can’t do this.” The positive endings of those GUIDEPOSTS articles have lifted me up. The people who share their…