Life in community with mothers, though not a physical mother myself, has opened my eyes to the beauty, pain, joy, and deep love manifest in motherhood. God entrusts to each mother something so precious, so weak, so perfect: a baby. This child longs for communion with her mother. She knows her mother by scent, by…
If living in the Maggie’s Place community teaches you anything, it teaches you a thing or two about women. I’ve been reflecting on this because, well, at present our house is home to eleven women. (Though the three baby gentlemen also deserve a shout out.) Here’s a few thoughts on the genius that is femininity.…
Everyone’s life is messy in some way. Lives at Maggie’s Place are frequently messier than average. Our moms are pregnant, homeless, and often scared and alone. Many have been abused or struggled with an addiction. They are working hard to accomplish goals like earning a GED, getting a job, and maintaining their sobriety while carrying…
“The smallest thing when done for the love of God is priceless” ~ St. Teresa of Avila It’s been a glorious two and a half months at Maggie’s Place and I am still in awe. I wake up every day with a sense of peace and pride to be an integral part of this delightful…
A few years ago I was on a mission trip to a remote part of Honduras and was struck by the beauty of simplicity. The people I encountered had a joy that came from the bonds of community, the beauty of their surroundings and a deep faith in Christ, despite their material limitations. Encountering different…
It is truly amazing how God gives us the wisdom and understanding we need at the moments we are not expecting it. After a particularly long, hectic and draining day, I sat on the window seat of the Corps bedroom, admittedly feeling a little sorry for myself. I was mindlessly scrolling through Facebook when I…
Death and life, destruction and renewal, pain and growth. We all experience these dichotomous but connected realities, but they are especially present in life at Maggie’s Place. By our very mission, we are a place of birth, new life growing and coming into the world. But our homes have purpose only because of the need…
When I was a tween I was obsessed with celebrities. I had pictures of my favorites all over my walls and could tell you a million factoids about all their lives. I idolized them because I wanted to be just like them: famous, attractive, important and rich. A few years later my focus had shifted…
“Last night was the first time I had ever blown out my own birthday candles or had birthday cake,” she said casually. “My mom was an alcoholic so, I guess she just forgot most of the time.” Birthday cake. Something I never thought of as a luxury. These are the words of a woman I…
Over the course of the day, I’ve had so many different emotions ranging from excitement and happiness to sadness, guilt and selfishness. An interesting day to say the least! I’m truly missing home since I just moved across the country to become a MissionCorps member at Maggie’s Place. All good stuff happened today. I had…