Articles by Gary Roe

Jackie's Story: Hang in There, It's Worth It

[dropcap2 variation="coffee"]J[/dropcap2]ackie couldn’t hear me at all. In fact, she couldn’t hear anyone. We got her a hearing aid. The next visit, I bounded in, asking, “Hey Jackie. How’re you today?” “Huh?” she responded. “How’re you doing?” I repeated, a little...

Let's Do Something Better Than the Right Thing

[dropcap2 variation="coffee"]D[/dropcap2]oing the right thing. Doing the next right thing. Sounds good. What’s the right thing? How do you know? There are times when it’s difficult for me to know what the right thing is – especially when there are several right...

The First Step to Love

[dropcap2 variation="coffee"]L[/dropcap2]ove. We say we need it, that it makes the world go round. Yet we seem to be confused about what it is. Agape is a word translated “love” that rarely appears in classical Greek but permeates the New Testament. It describes the...

Leonard's Story: Just Show Up

[dropcap2 variation="coffee"]L[/dropcap2]eonard’s cancer was spreading rapidly. Once a scholarship athlete, a decorated veteran, and a very active man, he slowly lost control of his body. He went from a cane to a walker to a motorized scooter. He piloted that scooter...

Where Those Ugly Emotions Come From

[dropcap2 variation="coffee"]U[/dropcap2]nevaluated thoughts cause all kinds of trouble. When you don’t guard the gate, any ridiculous thought can roam around free. The next time you’re angry, frustrated, confused, or anxious, stop! Take a deep breath. Stop...

What Our Faces Say About Us

[dropcap2 variation="coffee"]F[/dropcap2]aces are important, aren’t they? They are the first line of expression, often revealing the heart beneath. They are the portal through which we meet and interact with the world. Everywhere we go, we look for yes faces. We go in...

Mildred's Story: The Ugliness of Loneliness

[dropcap2 variation="coffee"]M[/dropcap2]ildred’s room was a deep, dark cave. She’d sit in her recliner facing the window, curtains drawn. “Hello, Mildred. How are you?” “Alone, like usual,” she’d respond. “That’s my life. But I’m fine.” Loneliness is epidemic. We...

How Obstacles Can Become Your Best Friend

[dropcap2 variation="coffee"]"D[/dropcap2]o you believe I am able to do this?" This is the question Jesus asks two blind men who are pleading with him to restore their sight. "Yes, Lord," is their simple response. They dared to hope. They pursued. And the miracle they...

This Will Make Your Day – And It's True!

[dropcap2 variation="coffee"]A[/dropcap2] number of years ago, I attended a wedding rehearsal with a western theme. When you entered, they stuck a name tag on you that read “WANTED,” with your name printed underneath. I smiled. I loved it. I keep that nametag in my...

Louellen's Story: Daring to Live with Great Delight

[dropcap2 variation="coffee"]A[/dropcap2]t ninety-two, Louellen’s mind is sharp and her smile contagious. You’d never guess her life is littered with pain. “Hello, Gary. It’s so good to see you!” she’ll say, often planting a kiss on my cheek. One day Louellen tilted...