Faith-Filled Moms

Chronic Pain is Not My Life Sentence – by Tamika Collick

As we stood there looking at the x-ray of my spine, I saw what looked like “Jenga” in the shape of the letter S. My orthopedist sat back in silence, looking at the screen while my husband Darian and I fearfully waited for him to say something. While my husband may have been confused, I… Continue reading Chronic Pain is Not My Life Sentence – by Tamika Collick

The Wait for My Healing and Strength – by Shemeika Hudson

Before I was diagnosed, I lived what most people would call a normal life. I worked full-time, was involved in all my kids’ activities, attended church regularly, enjoyed date nights with my husband, drove where I needed to go, and cooked for my family – I had no idea that there would come a time… Continue reading The Wait for My Healing and Strength – by Shemeika Hudson

How God Transformed My Pain Into Purpose – by Christina Clardy

It all began with an accident – tripping over my husband’s crutches. An avid basketball player, my husband was healing from ACL surgery after someone fell on his knee in a game. In a month, the pain in my knee grew from aching to shooting pain. Fiercely independent, it took me a long time to… Continue reading How God Transformed My Pain Into Purpose – by Christina Clardy

Losing My Hair, But Finding My Purpose – by Tabitha Williams

Looking in the mirror, all I could focus on was my bald head. Not my eyes, my smile, or any of the other physical features I was blessed with.  As much as I tried, I could not pull my eyes away from the place where my hair had once been. Pain stabbed my heart and… Continue reading Losing My Hair, But Finding My Purpose – by Tabitha Williams

God Provides for Me as I Provide Care for My Family – by Bonita Bell

While working a full-time job that I loved at the Franklin Institute, my life was interrupted in 2001 as I unexpectedly became a mom.  After my son Walker’s biological mother, who was my cousin, passed away, his aunt started caring for him. After she also passed away, Walker came to live with me at age… Continue reading God Provides for Me as I Provide Care for My Family – by Bonita Bell

Only By His Grace – by Danielle Carruth

The feeling of her gentle hand on my left elbow as she said, “We are holding out hope” will never leave my memory.  What did that mean?  Was I about to become a widow raising three daughters on my own?  What was “their hope?”  Was it the same as my hope?  It was the day… Continue reading Only By His Grace – by Danielle Carruth

Through It All, We Are Still Blessed – by Diahanne Harmon

My husband Wendell and I met in church. I enjoyed my career in the field of my degree, and God blessed my husband with acceptance into the Carpenter’s Union after 3 tries. After being told I would never carry a baby to term, God supernaturally blessed us with a son and a daughter. We vacationed… Continue reading Through It All, We Are Still Blessed – by Diahanne Harmon

Caring for My Mother and Sister, Only Through God’s Strength – by Victoria Ballance

My father was my biggest teacher on how to care for my mother. He taught us to always respect her and ensure she had what she needed – we couldn’t talk back or disrespect her, or he would deal harshly with us. Growing up, I went on occasion when my mom took us, but I… Continue reading Caring for My Mother and Sister, Only Through God’s Strength – by Victoria Ballance

Learning to Trust God, Even When I Don’t Understand – by Natasha McSeed

I met my husband Larry in college, while we were both counselors at a summer youth program. Larry attended the University of Delaware, and I attended Lincoln University down the road. After clicking instantly, we became friends and seven years later we were married. Shortly afterward, we moved to Ohio for Larry’s job. Even though… Continue reading Learning to Trust God, Even When I Don’t Understand – by Natasha McSeed

Having Faith in God’s Timing – by Tameka Roebuck

My story consists of having not just one, but two children born with congenital conditions. “Congenital” is of or relating to a condition present at birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment, especially in the uterine environment. My daughters were born sixteen years apart, both premature. My oldest daughter Faith was born four weeks… Continue reading Having Faith in God’s Timing – by Tameka Roebuck

The Healing I Needed for My Journey – by Tiffany Scurry

Imagine knowing from the time you were a little girl that you would have a child with special needs.  You would have thought I would have been more prepared when KJ arrived. I always wanted to have a son, so I was elated when I heard those three words during my sonogram, “It’s a boy!”… Continue reading The Healing I Needed for My Journey – by Tiffany Scurry

From Brokenness to True Beauty- by Amanda C. Clark

I came into the world dead. Born prematurely via an emergency C-section/caesarean, I weighed 1 pound and wore Cabbage Patch Kids doll clothes to fit my tiny body. Confined to the neonatal intensive care unit for four months, I was diagnosed with Holt-Oram Syndrome, a genetic condition that is associated with a mutation in the… Continue reading From Brokenness to True Beauty- by Amanda C. Clark

There’s No Plan B When Standing in Faith – by Pastor Monica Gardner

The road to a gold medal isn’t as glamorous as one may think. There are so many challenges, obstacles, and huge hurdles to overcome. I know this all too well being the parent of a two-time Olympian, who won a gold medal in Rio 2016 and a silver medal in Tokyo 2020. The long, hard… Continue reading There’s No Plan B When Standing in Faith – by Pastor Monica Gardner

Thankfulness Amid Life’s Uncertainty – by Kimberly Garvin

Saadiq Yusef Wicks. I call him FACE because during his basketball career and even now if given a proper warm-up, focus, and opportunity, he will pull up with the prettiest outside shot…nothing but net. It was always beautiful to watch. On occasion, I actually miss shuffling him back and forth to basketball practices and the… Continue reading Thankfulness Amid Life’s Uncertainty – by Kimberly Garvin

The Blessing of Never Giving Up – by Shemeika Hudson

From the start, football was a big part of my family. My husband Matthew played in youth leagues, high school, and received a scholarship to play at Fayetteville State University. Matt shared his love for the sport with our daughter Jenia and our son JaJuan, who became Pittsburgh Steelers fans, just like their father. Matt… Continue reading The Blessing of Never Giving Up – by Shemeika Hudson

Even When Devastated, Give Thanks – by Tonya May Avent

“Excuse me but I think your daughter is hurt.” My eyes looked up from the book I was reading, across the field to the opposite side of the track where the long jump pit was located. It was an absolutely beautiful day, with the sun shining brightly and only a few clouds in the sky.… Continue reading Even When Devastated, Give Thanks – by Tonya May Avent

Healing for a Broken Heart – by Andrea Plowden

I knew Vernon was different the night I met him. I was in my late twenties and had moved from Atlanta to Jacksonville, Florida to work for a dot com company at the height of the internet boom. I traveled back and forth frequently to visit family and friends. I met Vernon in Atlanta on… Continue reading Healing for a Broken Heart – by Andrea Plowden

Always With Me: Through Sickness and Death – by Tina Akridge

From my teenage years, I had clear plans for my future. Following college, I would head to a big inner-city, probably New York City, to work for the Salvation Army. Children weren’t in my plans as a previous surgery led me to believe I wouldn’t be able to become pregnant. However, after meeting Mark at… Continue reading Always With Me: Through Sickness and Death – by Tina Akridge

From Harlem to Heaven: A Love Story – by Elise Minor

I met Sean in the early 80s when we were both sophomores at MLK High School in NYC. Like most high schools, the lunchroom was the social hub. Sean and his friends sat at the lunch table next to ours. They were funny but not obnoxious, well dressed, but not too popular. Sean stood out… Continue reading From Harlem to Heaven: A Love Story – by Elise Minor

Rediscovering Myself After A Great Loss – By Margaret Moses

I met Hillmon when I was nineteen, in a youth social club in Williamstown, NJ. This was in the mid-1950s; he and his siblings would drive over from Camden to the youth clubs in that area. At first glance, I had no idea of the love, friendship, and companionship I would experience after 61 years… Continue reading Rediscovering Myself After A Great Loss – By Margaret Moses

Navigating Life After Losing Your Only Child – by Zayda Santiago

I married my husband Rafael on February 14, 1987, which I lovingly call Love Day in honor of Valentine’s Day. It was very cold with snow on the ground, yet it was a beautiful day – the beginning of the rest of our lives. We were very young by today’s world standards. I was twenty-three… Continue reading Navigating Life After Losing Your Only Child – by Zayda Santiago

A Mother’s Journey Towards Healing and Peace (Loss of Child) – by Yolanda McKinney

On June 11, 1996, my beautiful baby boy, Cameron, was born.  When he was 4 years old, he was diagnosed with autism. In those early years, my husband Russ and I worked hard to take care of him, support him, and accommodate his special needs to ensure he had the best life possible. This didn’t… Continue reading A Mother’s Journey Towards Healing and Peace (Loss of Child) – by Yolanda McKinney

Lessons from Labor, Loss, and Life (Loss of a Child) – by Jerrice Moore

Labor Day had always been a special day to anticipate. Celebrating the end of summer and the last barbeque of the season – I could always remember the smell of the cedar planks and charcoal that we used for grilling. But after 2011, what Labor Day signified changed for me. Never again would I think about… Continue reading Lessons from Labor, Loss, and Life (Loss of a Child) – by Jerrice Moore

The Comfort of God After a Great Loss (Loss of a Child) – by Hazel May

My story began in 1969 when I married my husband, Tommy. He was an officer in the mortuary division for the United States Army, and we were stationed in Germany. We agreed not to have children for the first few years of marriage so we could enjoy each other. After we were ready to start… Continue reading The Comfort of God After a Great Loss (Loss of a Child) – by Hazel May

Accepting the Inevitable, Understanding the Purpose (Loss of a Child) – by April Lee

February 2, 1995, was both a blessed but confusing day. I gave birth to my first beautiful baby, however, I also received the worst news of my life. My son Alfred William Lee, III was born happy and healthy. I was surrounded by family and had all the medical staff I needed to feel comfortable… Continue reading Accepting the Inevitable, Understanding the Purpose (Loss of a Child) – by April Lee