Ashlie Miller

By Ashlie Miller

February may be the shortest month on the calendar, but many of us would agree that no month flies by as quickly as December. My children may hold exception to that as they anxiously await Christmas Day, and those gifts wrapped in the Comics section of the Salisbury Post no longer taunt them. (Sidenote: The paper is actually sturdier than many rolls of gift wrap, and it is easier to determine if tampering has occurred.)

We know it’s coming. We have the entire year to prepare, yet by November, we often find ourselves bracing for an overly packed schedule, leaving little time to soak in the season. Tremendous efforts go into planning for merriment, and we often find ourselves rushing around to enjoy it. In the end, we are content with just being happy for a moment. Perhaps this is why the marketplace has mostly shifted gears from wishing “Merry Christmas” to hoping they can at least assist in making “Happy Holidays.” But that is for another column. 

So, how do we make this season merry? Or should we ask if it is too late and if we should settle for happiness?

Many homeschool moms know the secret to thriving during the holidays, thanks to something called “Christmas schooling.” Themes abound for unit studies on the history of Christmas, celebrating around the world, exploring Christmas carols, or even The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Instead of teaching routine lessons to children with visions of sugarplums dancing about in their heads, we get hands-on experience with the best of the holiday season – making crafts, baking, packing shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse, and so much more. Our busy-ness is merry-making and sharing with others. 

Refreshment in learning is not only for the children. Hillsdale College offers a free online study on The Christmas Carol this season, which I am enjoying. I often am awake very early – something I did not always see as a gift. Instead of lamenting an early rising, I have captured the time by the tree and a gas-log fire with video lessons. Along with Advent devotions and a yearly Bible reading plan, my morning is already a little more merry. Throughout my daily chores, I can put an old Christmas vinyl on the turntable or listen to a podcast featuring a seasonal radio drama. 

Reconsidering our calendars can also bring refreshment. A night off is not a hole that needs to be filled. If you are planning to host an event, and someone in the home is sick, it is OK to cancel or reschedule after the holidays. Sometimes, a canceled event is a gift to others who love you but need an unscheduled evening. 

And those things we planned to do but couldn’t make the time to enjoy? Those are great for the week after Christmas – an often neglected week in our culture – still considered the holiday season for many. 

Can you make time to redeem the coming weeks with cheer? The choice is ours – we can survive the hustle and bustle with a Happy Holiday or slow down and reclaim a Merry Christmas!

Ashlie Miller has found many lovely resources for a season of enjoyment. Email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com for some suggestions or to share some!

By Ashlie Miller

Last week’s white dusting either met you with delight or an eye-roll. “Marked safe during snowmageddon,” quipped some on social media. “A real snow has to be at least 3 inches,” I heard another say. Yes, quite true, not a real snow. Yet, like many mothers, I awoke early enough to lay out snow clothes – a thick coat, snow bibs worn only a couple of times even before they became hand-me-downs, layers of socks, and water-resistant gloves. The night before, I had grabbed some discounted chocolate croissants at the local grocery bakery. This would be just the refreshment needed to begin our December, and yes, it would be a “snow day,” or at least until it melted by lunchtime. We are homeschoolers, after all.

I stepped into my children’s rooms and slowly pulled back the window shade, asking them to lift themselves enough out of bed to spy out the frosted window panes. Confusion – “I thought you had put white cotton balls outside! – collided with delight – “Can we go out now?!” They were eager to make snow cream, snow angels, snow forts, and snowballs and go sledding, so they scurried to pile on clothing, coats, and boots. Mind you, it had been 1038 days (depending on whose count you rely upon) – so memory was distant and faded of exactly the quality and quantity needed for each activity. “I hope it stays until Christmas!” soon became replaced with “I hope it lasts until tomorrow!”  

I took the youngest adventure-seekers out into the woods because we know that Narnia is out there when it snows. Treasures always await us in even the lightest blanket of snow. Everything looks more mysterious and magical. That walk did not disappoint. Little brother wanted to hit things covered in snow to watch it drift whimsically upon himself and the ground. Big sister wanted to be surrounded by untouched snow, so her aggravation with a wriggly brother was understandable. 

Upon returning back to our warm abode, realization of how precious and “like a breath” this snow really was hit hard. As I went inside to prepare warm nourishment, a downcast little boy soon came in looking much forlorn. “It’s already melting,” he said in a somber tone. So sad, he could not be coaxed to go back outside. 

Something so beautiful, long-awaited, and refreshing was now gone. Anticipation has a way of doing that to us, doesn’t it? Once the waiting is over and the event arrives, do you ever feel sad, asking yourself, “What do I do now?” Last year, I felt the weight of that immensely. It made me read the passages in Scripture differently when the disciples had to say “goodbye” to their greatest friend – Jesus. Somehow, I more closely resonate.

Although Advent reminds us of God coming to earth in a tiny, perfect, human form, it also reminds us of another anticipation we have as Christians – the return of Christ. And unlike our earthly anticipations that, once met, still leave us wanting, this will be perfect inhabitation in a perfect world forever with our Creator and Savior. It will no longer “always be winter but never Christmas,” as Mr. Tumnus the faun tells Lucy in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. What a blissful, most wonderful time of life that will be!

Ashlie Miller and her family make the most of snow, rain puddles, and rainbows in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Were you among those waiting for Mariah Carey to “thaw” and ring in the Christmas season with her “All I Want for Christmas”? Perhaps you like to stick to Christmas carols reminiscent of Charles Dickens, or maybe you prefer to stick to true Christmas hymns. 

I love songs that build upon the timeline of Christ’s arrival. Some artists have entire projects dedicated to the Advent season. In the last couple of years, I have added two songs to my playlist I would not have cherished in my earlier years. Artists Andrew Peterson and the group Poor Bishop Hooper each have songs based on Matthew 1 – Christ’s genealogy. Lyrics to Peterson’s “Matthew’s Begats” and Poor Bishop Hooper’s “Christ” may read like very boring songs to kick off the Christmas season, but for a true Advent season, they appropriately begin December. 

Today, in our modern experience, genealogies are intriguing to explore on websites like Ancestry.com and perhaps fun to watch unfolding on shows like PBS’s Finding Your Roots, but other than to fill in our family history, we do not do much with them. However, the gospel of Matthew begins by showing the significance of preserving genealogies for the Jewish people. This disciple of Christ establishes His legitimacy to claim the throne of David, fulfilling the prophecy of the “anointed one” and the promise of the long-standing covenant with Israel as His chosen vessel. God was sending Jesus to bless the entire world through Abraham’s descendants. 

But let’s zero in on some of the individuals mentioned in Matthew 1. I encourage you to take time to get acquainted with them. Consider a son of Jacob (Judah), who had, in his youth, sold another brother into slavery. God humbled him when he failed to care for a neglected widow in his family, an error he inadvertently corrected, leading to a transformation in his heart. Next on the list is this widow (Tamar) who had to resort to deception to gain her rights to be cared for and provided for. We see Rahab, the prostitute, who knew the Israelites had access to the God she wanted to know. She is the mother to Boaz, who is the kinsman redeemer to Ruth, a Moabite woman – a forbidden people – representing people God was making a way to forgive and include by sending Jesus. Then, we see “the wife of Uriah” – such a mark on the family legacy; it is almost too much to mention her (even though it is David who marred her name). If we saw these people at a family gathering for nobility, we would question – “Who invited them?” 

We see several kings listed and come to Jechoniah – a wicked king, so sinful that his family was cursed. It would seem all hope was lost for fulfilling the prophecy of an “anointed one” to come from a cursed, evil ancestry, even if it came from the line of David. Yet, God’s sovereignty is not limited to those who would seemingly put an end to His plans. 

Wow, what an overwhelming thought – God’s devotion to Himself and His plans at which He is always working; His unfailing love for humanity! Can you make that personal at the dawn of this Advent season? Look at your life and character choices over your lifetime, over the last year, or perhaps even the previous week. How has God shown you unfailing, steadfast love? Can you see your inability to gain or earn His love and promises? Take a look at Matthew 1, maybe listen to the songs, and begin your Advent season with humble reflection and worship. 

Ashlie Miller and her family live in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Is this a demanding season for you? It seems to be for many of us. Maybe everyone needs your input or your listening ear while you struggle to find time to vent your frustrations and worries to someone. Your schedule is busy with purposeful but also exhausting events. The children are especially busy, needing you as chauffeur or as a nurse to administer lots of TLC as they work through another cold or stomach bug. With a schedule limiting evenings at home, it feels like the list of chores needing completion – dishes, clothing, basic cleaning – keeps building up untouched. Days at the office seem incredibly demanding – particularly right before the holidays and vacation. And to top it all off, the 15+-year-old vehicle needs a new ABS, engine, or tires, and you had hoped to use that money for something else.

Sometimes, when we are tired and overworked, we miss the time to pause and wonder, falling into a pattern of complaining. “I don’t think I can listen to another person and provide an answer or an undistracted, understanding listening ear!” “Do the kids have to go to that social gathering to connect with friends?” “This house is such a mess! Why do we have all this stuff?!” “Why do they always need me so much this season?” “Why can’t we get a new vehicle?”

I’ve heard words like that even exit my own lips. Sadly, some of my closest friends have, too. It isn’t that we are even guilty of complaining a lot, but we find that one person we can vent to. A dear friend reminded me during one particularly emotional and heavy season when friends needed my empathy and encouragement, and I wasn’t sure I could help one more person – “What a blessing that they feel they can come to you and that you have something to offer them.” Ouch. Yes, what a blessing that they see a patient, ready-to-listen person who may offer them hope, even if inside, I feel quite differently. 

Those children who are wearing me out physically and sometimes emotionally – we were never sure we would get to have one – but five?! And to have a husband – an only child himself – who was happy to expand our family to such an unfamiliar limit for him? Amazing! That house that never gets to be picture perfect is a testimony to a full home with lots of life (“Where no oxen are, the manger is clean…” Proverbs 14:4). Our vehicles have not entirely worn out – reminding me of the sandals the children of Israel wore for 40 years in the desert. And as I catch my breath between it all, turning the corner of another birthday, I can celebrate having the strength and energy to keep up with family, ministry, and friends. 

I could complain. I have complained. Scripture gives stern warnings and stories about complaining (read up on those Old Testament Israelites!). But I can learn from them and remember that the things I complain about are the answers to someone else’s as-of-yet unanswered prayers. Maybe when I run out of things to give thanks for this week, I’ll instead write out a list of things I complain about and turn those into things to thank God for. Maybe you can, too!

Ashlie Miller counts her blessings and tries to minimize her complaints in Concord, NC, where she and her husband raise their family.

By Ashlie Miller

Is Thanksgiving about giving thanks for what we have? “We’re blessed,” we say, often remarking on our surroundings and provisions. But this year, maybe we see other reasons to be thankful because of what is lacking. We really do know many who have lost everything – and that is not hyperbole. What do these people have to be grateful for? Better question – how are they able to seem happy after such destruction?

We were discussing gratitude at our home recently when my husband shared a quote and video from an interview with Michael J. Fox, the famous actor from the 1980s and 90s, who has been living with Parkinson’s for 30+ years. Fox says:  “With gratitude, optimism is sustainable. If you find something to be grateful for, then you find something to look forward to, and you can carry on.” A link between gratitude and optimism. 

Later in the week, my children and I were studying a unit on giving thanks, comparing “happiness” and “gratitude.” How are they similar? How are they different? How are they linked? The illustration was vivid – observe most small children when opening gifts. You will likely see a pursuit of happiness chasing more happiness as they toss aside the unwrapped gift for what is still hiding beneath the tree. “Is that all? Is there another gift? Who is that other gift for over in the corner?” Gratitude may not be genuinely present beyond a parent reminding them to “say thank you.” And so, the child seems more spoiled and discontent than happy. Our lesson taught us that hunting for happiness does not successfully lead to gratitude. 

On the other hand, many of us can think of a cheerful soul who leads their life with gratitude. Each day begins with seeing good gifts from above hidden in the middle of a tragedy or turbulence. The grateful person is the happy person. Or at least they are joyful since we know that happiness is based on circumstances, and joy is more profound.

But what about when you don’t feel like giving thanks? Or do you not like your present situation or the future on the horizon for an indefinite period? What then?

Consider what radio host and ministry founder Joni Eareckson Tada says about gratitude: “God isn’t asking you to be thankful. He’s asking you to give thanks. There’s a big difference. One response involves emotions, the other your choices, your decisions about a situation, your intent, your step of faith.” If you are unfamiliar with her, I encourage you to learn more about her story and the life-altering accident that led to a life of suffering and gratitude. It really puts this quote into perspective.

The idea that we are to give thanks to God whether or not we feel thankful is countercultural to us today. But I pray our friends in the mountains lead the way in giving thanks, letting gratitude be a lens that leads toward optimism, and blazing a path to something more than happiness. 

Ashlie Miller and her family live in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Like many parents of young children, I took my youngest two children and a neighbor to the Cabarrus Arena’s Touch a Truck event last weekend. In addition to touching the trucks and other vehicles, there were many opportunities to express gratitude – even though that was not our plan for attending. There were also a lot of opportunities to receive candy or marketing swag – stress balls, pencils, frisbees, and the like. Rather than telling my kids to say “thank you,” I try to lead with, “What do we say to someone who gives us something?” We also tried to thank each civic member for their contribution – often unseen or considered – to our daily lives. Thankfully, by now, more often than not, they remember to do so without much prompting, but like most humans, in a sea of candy and freebies, it is easy to walk with a sense of entitlement, leaving the gratitude behind. 

It seems we need a reminder to be grateful in our own country these days. Last year, I discussed the space between the skeletons and the trees – Thanksgiving gets crowded out. We are a people with a flair for the sensational. Both Halloween and Christmas fulfill that for many. Do we know what to do with a much quieter holiday with less fanfare? Is it a necessary holiday anyway?

Have we forgotten that the days of our nation’s conception were moments of gratitude – surviving fatal winters, accepting help and advice from native Americans, and being in a place that promised many freedoms? We have. But we are not alone. Did you know that it was not until 1863 – the middle of the Civil War – that a lady named Sara Josepha Hale implored the current president to establish a nationally recognized day of Thanksgiving on the same day for all states? Guess which president conceded to her requests for a day of common unity built on gratitude and gathering – President Lincoln. Of course, this was amid our nation’s saddest times – with brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor. Lincoln likely was already searching for something to repair the breach, to be a balm. Mrs. Hale’s letter led him to the proclamation of a day where shared experiences of gratitude and acknowledging a reliance upon an Almighty Power was an excellent place to start. He was right.

Would President Lincoln remind us of the same need for this moment of shared gratitude and gathering this Thanksgiving? We need it more today than most of us realize or would concede to. Already, I see Christians and non-Christians alike spewing hate and disgust at those across the aisle, or more closely – down the street – because of differently expressing their right and privilege to vote. I have even read resolutions not to share Thanksgiving with those of differing opinions.

How does something like gratitude help us? In the grand design of life and history, it brings us all to an understanding of who we are, or more importantly, who we are not. It recognizes we are all vulnerable and dependent on someone, though many do not yet know Who that is. For the Christian, the gratitude goes outward and upward. All we have is a gift from above. Even all the things we have that we do not want are gifts if they bring us to a place of humility, contentment, and recognition that we can live through any season or election result that comes our way. That’s worth giving thanks for.

Ashlie Miller and her family enjoy friendsgiving and Thanksgiving meals (and day-after sandwiches!) in Concord, Salisbury, and NC beaches. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

At the expense of offending lovers of spring, summer, and winter, I submit the following: 

Of all the seasons in the South (at least in NC), it seems that most of my friends are the most vocal about their love for autumn. Perhaps it is because the agonizing heat finally subsides – or at least hints at the prospects. Maybe it is because avenues of trees create a cozy canopy with flecks of gold or deep reds carpeting the walkway. “It feels like walking through a favorite movie,” I read someone post. Of course, the accessories of loose sweaters, favorite jeans, flannels, maybe a book, and a warm cup of tea or coffee add to the aesthetic. We cannot forget the long bucket list of seasonal must-dos – apple orchards, pumpkin farms, corn mazes, fall festivals, hikes, and road trips. 

Many of us must remember another essential part of fall – preparation for rest. We know the squirrels, chipmunks, and less adorable creatures are preparing for rest. However, it is not uncommon to hear a child pipe up with the misconception of plants dying as they lose their leaves. I confess I have fallen into the accidental slip of the tongue when speaking of plants “dying” in the fall. Of course, they are not dying but merely preparing for rest. 

To add to the confusion, the autumn landscape serves as an unfortunate backdrop to things that truly do resemble death – ginormous skeletons, ghosts, monsters, and cobwebs (both real and purchased for decor). I will be thankful when the landscape no longer has to compete with the symbols of the macabre or occult and can gleam more brilliantly as the jewel-toned shades of scarlet, amber, and topaz. 

As we dust away or throw out those cobwebs, take a moment to reflect on preparing for a season of rest. What a novel idea lost in our busy Western culture – a desire many crave but have buried deep within their souls while attempting to be more productive. In all except the extreme climates, autumn is a rule of nature – a time for shorter days, harvest, migration, and early days of hibernation. We would be wise to take note of this preparation amongst the more humble species. 

Consider the many health benefits that arise from this season. Though gaining an hour of sleep this weekend will throw many into havoc, the extra sleep is helpful to most of us. I love to get into “comfy clothes,” as we call them, at home and read books or play board games after an early supper. I am more likely to go for longer walks or attempt a game of pickleball with my sons. Perhaps I will nosh on one of the many apples from the orchard we visited or busy myself in the kitchen making chicken noodle soup from scratch to boost my immune system. I embrace a little more relaxation and feel my stresses melt away (or at least have a soothing outlet). I do not think it is only because I recharge best as an introvert that I feel at my best in this season. I believe it is part of the laws of nature. 

The long for rest is a gift from above. Rest is good. And for those who believe in Christ as Lord, there is a promise of lasting rest. It will be better than the coziest autumn and snuggliest of winter months. It will be a life-giving time of service, not just a respite from weariness. 

Ashlie Miller and her husband make time for restful moments with their family in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Recently, my family of 7 embarked on a vacation to visit a couple of different sailing vessels, which anyone will tell you is more of a trip than a vacation. We had not planned to create a seafaring-themed adventure, but homeschool studies of the Titanic and a desire to revisit a familiar museum made a trip to the Titanic Museum in Tennessee and the Ark Encounter in Kentucky a workable plan.

It wasn’t until looking into the review mirror of our trip home that I realized the unexpected juxtaposition of these two tours within the same week. Both were feats of design and engineering but contrasted vastly in intent and responses. 

We first visited The Titanic Museum. Although it was not a depressing tour, there were many elements of sadness. Upon entering the ship, we each received a ticket as a 2nd or 3rd class passenger who journeyed on that fateful voyage and a brief description of who they were. We took guesses based on information we gathered or surmised as to whether we would be among those who survived the tragedy or sank to a tragic demise.

Hosting 2,240 people, the size of the Titanic was astounding – much larger than the dimensions of Noah’s Ark, which housed a pair of each kind of known animal. This epitomized man’s skill, knowledge, and experience, promising new hope for those moving across the sea. Rumors abounded of the ship’s indestructibility. Although the museum only presents a half-boat, one can imagine the opulence and luxury in the 1st class decks and the more modest living quarters for the 3rd class passengers. One encounters the icy-cold waters and the steep incline of a sinking ship before the tour ends with passengers looking at the wall to see if they survived or drowned on that dreadful night. Then, you conveniently exit through the gift shop. 

The Ark Encounter is built so you can experience the full-scale size and engineering wonders, which house so many animals and accommodate Noah’s family for those many months on the boat. For although it rained 40 days and nights, they lived onboard for over a year. As you look at the information and life-size models, you become a believer that an ark like this could be built and maintained by God’s design. It is a remarkable museum for an impressive boat – nothing had ever existed like this before in human history. But it did not promise the luxury and opulence that the Titanic would one day hold. 

Did you know that the base ticket for a 3rd class passenger would exceed $1,000 in today’s money? That was a hefty fee for a typical Irish family coming out of the potato famine, looking for work being replaced in the industrial age, and longing for a new opportunity. It would have taken many years and lots of intentional savings to afford passage for one, much less a small family. Yet, many did, with hopes of something better. Life was hard, and many wanted and needed hope.

One exhibit aboard the Ark Encounter shows life before the flood and why Noah prophesied a flood – “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). But rather than a false promise for a chance at a new life, Noah ensured salvation from destruction – a rescue. It was an offer the people around Noah did not know nor believe they needed – salvation from themselves and wrath. It was a free passage – no strings attached. Yet they mocked, and all refused. Every Ark tourist knows this, so there is no wall of remembrance to see if a historical character survived. Instead, sightseers are challenged on how they will live this life – as one pointed toward the promise of eternal life or as one choosing their own will and path, leading to future destruction. 

We left our time on both ships with memories and deep reflections rather than sadness or hopelessness. You may never have a chance to take a cruise and wonder about your safety or even visit these museums. But we all have a choice to make regarding a great salvation that has been offered to us. Choose wisely, and don’t delay!

By Ashlie Miller

How do you make sense of the last 4+ years? Or let’s narrow it down to just 2024? Do you have more recent events in mind? Maybe you have been on edge with the political climate. Most of us are still very sensitive after friends and family have been devastated by Hurricane Helene. You may not even need to look further than your own address to find yourself asking God:  “What are You up to? Why are you allowing __________? Why are you not intervening in __________?”

The psalmist King David had many opportunities to ask such questions. We read lengthy psalms of his ponderings, but nestled within the book of Psalms is a concise psalm that beautifully reveals a man who is calm in extreme realities for which he does not have answers. 

Psalm 131

Verse 1

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;

 my eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things

 too great and too marvelous for me.

As we look at things happening in our lives, it is tempting to expect answers to our questions about complicated things. It can be all-consuming. We can become anxious or hardened when we cannot comprehend or find access to answers. After all, at least we seem to get a story or explanation – even if it is misinformation – for almost everything. Google or social media seem to have at least molded our minds in that way. But David can live with the unreconciled mysteries. He knows fully well that wrestling with some questions could still leave him wanting or unable to grasp peace and understanding.

Verse 2

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

 like a weaned child with its mother;

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

David is poised with a presence of peace. How? He has learned to fully trust God, even when no answers are available or accessible for an undisclosed reason. He chooses to trust God – that reveals strength. It is not a lethargic, uneducated, unrefined blind trust. It is a response built on experience and relationship. Like a weaned child who has matured to the point of self-soothing and patience in the presence of his mother, David rests in what he knows is true about God’s love, care, and nature through his relationship with Him. That is all he needs. 

O Israel, hope in the Lord

 from this time forth and forevermore.

This may seem like a haphazard add-on to a psalm to the modern reader, but it is more than that. The king set the tone for the kingdom. Israel often lived in a holding pattern – a place of waiting and little explanation. Here, as in other psalms, David encourages the people of Israel to wait patiently and expectantly in the Lord because He has repeatedly proved Himself. While we wrestle with life’s hard questions and the mysteries of God, can we apply the psalmist’s lessons on His sovereignty?

Ashlie Miller and her husband, Chad, raise their family in Concord, NC.

By Ashlie Miller

By now, you have heard of many creative ways to support Hurricane Helene victims in our state. Many artists have joined together to hold concerts or create an album to raise money for them. The devastation has inspired musicians and singers to write songs based on their sorrow and care for a place they call “home.” No doubt those who have or had a home in that tragically hit area have written the most touching songs. 

I think the song that has touched me most is from a video shared on social media of an anonymous man in the Asheville area dressed in a dingy t-shirt, sweatpants, and a pair of slides covering his feet. After a relief worker brings the residents immediate aid, one recipient regrets that he cannot offer something to express his gratitude. Then he remembers what he does have – a gift of song. Grabbing his fiddle, he breaks into melody – perhaps a mixture of lament and overwhelming gratitude.

Thanks to autotuning and big collaborations with well-known writers, almost anyone can write or play a good song. The music from the heart, often a hurt heart, is most meaningful. This is not a new thing. One can open 1-2 Samuel in the Bible and read selected chapters in the Psalms to see the stories that prompted the greatest songwriter (King David) to write some of the most celebrated and sung songs. As I read the Psalms, I often skip past the chapter’s introduction (or song) to get straight to the poetry, but there is so much life in the simple notations (if your Bible has them). I am amazed at how many psalms David wrote while escaping the hand of Saul or other enemies, trapped in a cave, or even struggling with his own sinfulness.

David often uses his personal stories of God’s goodness in tragedy to set a pattern of praise that others can follow to write songs of gratitude and praise. It reminds me of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 where Paul says that because of God’s great love and comfort for us as believers in our afflictions, we are able to comfort others in any affliction – even messy, catastrophic ones.

We are already witnessing this in so much of our Appalachia family – stories (and songs) of grace and courage, sadness and woe, and hope and rebuilding. Many of them are still waiting to hear the music. 

Do you have a song birthed from a storm in your life? It may be time to share it with someone currently in a storm or just coming out of one (literally or figuratively). Help them to find their song through your encouragement, even if you survived a very different storm. 

Ashlie Miller and her family reside in Concord, NC but have many friends and family in western NC. Our prayers and support are for them now and down the road.