By Rachel Larkin God's Brave Women - Rachel's Story Pain shot down my leg as I left my parents’ home on my morning walk. After a week of bed rest from another slipped disc in my back, I was keen to breathe and move. Home schooling paused while healing took place. As I crossed the road, I took in a large breath, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” I released the air in one long exhale, “I shall not want.” I desperately needed my morning walk and talk with my Father. As I struggled to s

By Rachel Lee God's Brave Women - Rachel's Story Growing up, I had fond memories of hot, summer days spent at the local lake, learning to swim at the instruction of my father. My dad loved to swim, and he was a great teacher too! He offered patient assistance, affirmation and the occasional correction, when I was in need of further guidance. He gave me the knowledge I needed and the kind of confidence that comes only with practice. I was not afraid to go out into the deep end

By Melissa Thomforde God's Brave Women - Melissa's Story When I originally agreed to write for the Brave Women series, I had a plan in my head; a plan to talk about my abusive childhood, my first marriage, the adoption of my son, the unexpected gift of meeting my second husband and having a daughter after 15 years of infertility… and how God had been present in each of those places even when I wasn’t aware of it. His loving hand was there, guiding me, protecting me, when no o

By Misty Oerther God's Brave Women - Misty's Story After every storm, there comes a rainbow. Thank you Lord for this promise of hope. October 27, 2015 was as gut wrenching as it was glory-filled in my life. You see, October 27, 2014 was the day, we lost our son - John Karl Oerther VI - on what should have been his first birthday. No one on earth knew how I would react or function, let alone me. Our sweet boy celebrated in heaven, while we “celebrated” here by remembering him

God's Brave Women - Kristine's Story To me, there is a beautiful balance to bravery. I have been labeled “brave” by the world at times when I am the most weak, and the irony is not lost. I am either fresh from a trial, or I am raw from reliving the journey through the flames. Learning to see myself as brave has been a quest for harmony between blindness and sight. For me, intentional blindness to fear and uncertainty is the first step in protecting myself from inaction. I can

God's Brave Women - Heather's Story I was humming a tune in the vitamin aisle when the text came in. Why do we remember the details? The fizzy tablets in my hand, the cart of food, the parking space. Words on the phone were distorted by poor reception and disbelief. The few that reached me came tumbling in at the turn onto Broughton Road – “tumour … they say there’s nothing they can do.” There must be some mistake. We were having coffee on Monday at 8pm. It was in the calend

God's Brave Women - Debbie's Story God will not waste your pain. I believe that statement because I have experienced it so many times in my life. I had a rough start. I grew up the youngest of seven, in a home with parents who were doing their best, but had many problems. This made it difficult for them to provide a stable environment for myself and my siblings. I was orphaned at 4 and was moved from Indiana to Illinois into a children’s home where I would live most of my chi

God's Brave Women - Erin's Story I have walked down many hard roads. There have been times in my life when I could only take the next step because my God supplied His miraculous strength to move me forward. Six years ago, I carried my last baby for 24 weeks. Twelve of those weeks I knew she wasn’t going to live. A few years later I found myself pacing the halls of a packed children’s oncology facility, staring my greatest fears in the face… waiting for my oldest daughter to