Natalie Ryan

God already knows the desires of our hearts, but he wants us to ask. Our loved ones know that we love them, but it feels good to hear and to say. God enjoys our heart-to-heart conversations with him too.

Italians—and other southern Europeans—practice “the sweetness of doing nothing” with much of their lifestyle. They emphasize our God-given gift of rest.

God would bend over backwards, would go to the ends of the earth, would walk through fire, would ride through a storm, would die for the sake of you. That is an inexplicable, reckless, unrepeatable love that is so mind-boggling that only the heart and soul can begin to grasp it.

There’s no such thing as a “private” decision or “yes” simply because of the ripple effect of everyone around and yet to come. Your “yes” to help someone today can touch everyone else whom that person encounters today too.

What you do in quiet moments matters. Many have gotten in the habit of being on the phone or social media instead of participating in a hobby, exercise group, or reading. You become what you surround yourself with.

After losing someone, I wish desperately to be able to pick up the phone to call them, to hear their voice. I can at least see their face in pictures.