Debbie W. Wilson

Refreshing Faith

How to Better Communicate with the Sensitive

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Today, I’m passing on some insights from my wise husband. Now here’s Larry.

I peeled for weeks after a day at a Southern California beach. Having grown up in Phoenix, I was no stranger to the sun’s burning rays. What I didn’t know is that my body could burn under pleasant temperatures.

My sunburn left me hypersensitive. I didn’t want anyone to breathe on me let alone pat me on the back.

Did you know we can become emotionally sunburned? Emotional sunburn makes us extra sensitive to casual interactions with others. Ironically, the times I’m most sensitive may be the time I most need healing truth.

Perhaps you’re trying to relate to someone in a highly sensitive state. They jump to defend themselves, deflect your input, or lash out when you try to help. To better communicate with the highly sensitive, remember:Continue Reading

How a Storm’s Anger Revealed God’s Angels

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Rain poured—as expected. In the early evening the wind suddenly picked up. The crepe myrtle branches outside my kitchen window swirled as if agitated in a giant washing machine. Whoa! I’d heard Hurricane Michael wasn’t bringing strong winds.

I strode to the front porch to check on the larger trees near our house. A giant gumball tree leaned precariously. “Ginny,” I yelled to my daughter.

The tree tilted toward her parked car. She needed to move it fast!

We have a circle drive, in our wooded front yard, where our kids park their cars. Because of the warnings around Hurricane Florence we moved their cars to protect them from flying debris during that storm. But Hurricane Michael wasn’t supposed to bring much wind.

I should have taken notice when the governor declared a state of emergency. The storm’s anger stunned me. So did God’s angels.Continue Reading

What Do You Trust—Commitment or Connection?

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Have you noticed, commitment goes only so far? I decided to give up sugar—for a while. That night my husband came home with three large chocolate bars and said, “Your favorite dark chocolate is on sale.”

I promised to hold my tongue and say only encouraging words. Well, that didn’t last long!

Every personality carries inherent strengths and weaknesses. People who feel strong in an area emphasize commitment to overcome flaws. Jesus highlighted connection.Continue Reading

Whose View of Freedom Are You Living?

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My husband and I zipped along I-95 South heading home after a wonderful visit with friends and family in the DC area. We’re pretty sure this section of interstate never sleeps. Occasionally, wanna-be race car drivers cut in and out too close for my comfort, but most drove courteously. I marveled at how a tight space could hold so many speeding vehicles. That changed when we reached an area marked, “Warning: Unmarked Pavement Ahead.”

Without the lines between the last two lanes, the space that had held four lanes of traffic shrank to three. The benefit of marked lanes was apparent. The markings that limited the space of each car increased everyone’s speed and safety. I imagined I-95 without marked lanes and cringed. Then I thought of our culture. In the name of freedom, we’ve erased limits that ensure our liberty and protection. We all suffer as a result.

Defined limits provide safety and ease even in a crowded parking lot. In a populated world we need clear boundaries to prosper.Continue Reading

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