I was born a city girl and knew nothing of farms, gardens, and animals except from television and books.  I had two dogs while growing up, but after childhood never really cared about the animal kingdom. I had no idea I was marrying a man who had such a heart for animals and people in trouble. Read More→

She shook the package tagged with her name.  She turned to her brother, “Mike this has to be clothes.” “Don’t know, Mom didn’t take me shopping for that one.”  Mike squeezed and shook the secret treasures.  It was two weeks before Christmas and our two teenagers were home alone. Read More→

“If it’s a girl, we’ll name her Joy, if it’s a boy we’ll name him Stephen, but I like the name Faith for a girl, we really don’t know yet, Mom.”  My daughter’s voice reflected the dilemma of new parents, what do we name the baby?  She didn’t want to know its gender, but my son-in-law found out and leaked the news to me.  I knew the baby would be Stephen, but my lips were sealed.

We’re left to imagine whether Joseph told any of his relatives about his encounter with an angel before the birth of Jesus. He had so many of his own doubts at first, I imagine he kept quiet.  His extended family might have asked, “Why are you calling Him Jesus?  Whose side of the family are you naming Him after?” Picture their surprise to have the Messiah within their own family tree. The awe and wonder of raising the Savior of heaven and earth surely surrounded Mary and Joseph.

What then shall we call this Child?  He will be called Immanuel, “God with us,” a name for all sides of earth’s family.

Jesus, Name above all names!

Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord!

Immanuel, God is with us!

Blessed Redeemer, Living Word!

–Naida Hearn

1974

In my hometown church of Calvary Moravian, the Christmas Pageant was a huge event. There were auditions for Mary, the Wise Men, and the Shepherds. Every girl wanted to wear the satin costumes of the angel choir. Read More→

Long ago, the journey of a young couple took them on a dusty road.  They didn’t travel by automobile and there were no stores to buy clothes for their newborn baby. There were no gas stations because their donkey ran on hay and water. Obediently, they trusted God’s direction without a global positioning system. Read More→

With little money and a husband with the disposition of a cheetah in tight shoes, my late mother-in-law qualified for sainthood long before she traveled to meet her Maker. Read More→

 I’d like to give you a little of my ecumenical background. Some people think I have “Pew ADD,” from changing churches.  Seriously, it is my belief in God and my personal relationship with Him that are important, not my denomination. Read More→

When I imagine the place in my life that has given me the most peace, it is the seashore.  My Camelot is a small barrier island on the coast of South Carolina, Edisto Island.  When great storms have churned up around me, I imagine myself walking the shores of the bay and the ocean of this crown jewel of our coastline.  Jesus is there with me; he always did love the water!