“Mom, I need you to pray with me about something.” It’s the first thing she says to me—she who is both daughter and sister by grace, she standing framed by the car window, the afternoon sun making her hair all blazing light. Â The breeze rushes in, stealing the heat. I smile, nodding. Â “Okay. Â What shall […]
“Good government…what is that, anyway?” Kevin says this as we unwrap for the day, as he laces his shoes, puts his keys in his pocket. Â He saw the sign while running, his breath coming hard, the knit cap on his head a dot bobbing down Fall streets, his thoughts lost in the loud chatter of […]
The day Fear lays my friend flat, pressing her back, her head on the hood of my car, the day her tears dot the pavement at our feet, Adam is the only one who knows what to do. And it has nothing whatsoever to do with what he lacks. Adam and I have a routine […]
It makes perfect sense to me that God brought me here, beside a clear, turquoise sea that shines like burnished silver, iridescent in the day’s dying light, to remind me to be available to Him.  Every day, He asks me to be available, waiting, watching, surrendered.  The doing remains His, the surrendering entirely mine. God gave us […]
She sits, curled on my bed, the polish on her toes slightly chipped, and she reads, absently pushing an errant blonde wisp back from her forehead. I am struck by her beauty, the beauty of having her near. The reading has absorbed her, first her Bible, then the devotional book we gave her for her […]
It’s time. I glance at my watch and sigh, not ready to stand, not ready to gulp the last of my coffee and sit the mug by the sink, not ready to see Kevin off to work, not ready to help Adam brush his teeth. Â Not ready. Â Never quite ready. Upstairs, we stand in the […]
Sunday, she jams all of her money into a fish. Â Three dollar bills, 2 quarters, 5 pennies, 9 nickels, and one dime—I watch her push it all deep inside with two fingers, hurried, urgent. My mom gave her the change purse for just this purpose. Â That one dime lodges in the innards of the fish […]
Adam has a crush on a beautiful little girl—the fine-boned, blue-eyed daughter of one of my best friends. They arrived at the beach on a Wednesday afternoon, and we stood on the front porch to receive them, wrapped in the thick heat and humidity of the island. Â The screen door snapped shut against the frame, […]
First light. I sit on the porch facing the street, salt glaze on my finger tips, the house silent behind me. I peel back the skin of a banana, staring at the collection of water bottles at my feet. For a moment, I feel jealous of everyone inside, sheets laying lightly on their skin, sleep […]
Tuesday morning, I run into the newborn sun, gold and yet untarnished. I wake early, get out while the breeze rushes cool. Â I think of Riley, breathing my heart to God, whispering thanks. Â 5th grade graduation happens today, but I’ve been thinking about it for weeks. Â I know, it seems silly to feel so much […]
“Your public speaking ability radiated your passion for Jesus. There was a true sense of comfort and peace as well as joy and truth.”
“Having Elysa speak for us has been such a blessing. She speaks with such a level and ease and comfort. It is like sitting across the kitchen table with your best girlfriend and a cup of coffee. Elysa has such an incredible passion for God’s Word and it is apparent as she speaks with great knowledge and understanding. We at Essex Village have had the pleasure of seeing God’s handiwork in Elysa throughout her life. She has allowed the Potter to mold her and make her His Workman.”
© 2025 —Elysa Henegar