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Loss of youth – the day Dan died I felt like I aged a few decades. I’d dated Dan since I was 16. I miss hearing the day-to-day of what’s going on at his office, of how his company was growing and seeing all that his company accomplished. After making this list of secondary losses, I realized there’s another important list.

And though my prayer life has come a long way, I still catch my thoughts drifting mid-prayer or remembering to pray as a last resort. Yes, we can get up an hour earlier every day and devote that time to prayer or take a day to fast and pray for a specific need. But when the Spirit moves us to pray, rather than responding with the prayer-hand emoji and scrolling on, we can stop and lift up that person and that need right then and there. Praying the Word keeps our mind from wandering, anchors our prayer in God’s truth and helps us pray the will of God.

I’ve gone through seasons when I struggle to have a quiet time. Some days, I can’t get my mind around complicated Bible study, and I can’t focus long enough to journal or pray elaborate prayers. When I don’t know how to pray, the Psalms offer words I can read aloud to God. I’m giving away a copy of Betsy de Cruz’s new book More of God: A Distracted Woman’s Guide to More Meaningful Quiet Times.

As a children’s author with a unique perspective, I asked Christie to share her story of anxiety flares in grief and 4 steps to calm anxiety. What if a car turns quickly onto our road and doesn’t notice the kids playing there? It’s not truth. Standing behind the fire station that day, I reminded myself of this truth: God helped me through my sister’s death, bringing peace and joy in the midst of my grief.