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The ancient “road” in Israel is a narrow footpath that runs alongside a deep canyon—cut by water through the limestone of the rocky Judean hills—known as the Wadi Qelt.

Understatement warning! Stepmothering is hard. Not only are we the queens of accommodation and adjusting, but we do so while battling very difficult emotions. I certainly wrestled with a few early in my stepmom journey.

You have to grieve normal. I advised as she cried. You have to grieve normal. Or you’ll feel like you’ve died. He’s not what you wanted? She’s broken, you say? He’s medically fragile. She can’t learn to play?

It seemed a logical decision to make. I was nearing forty, and my husband and I would soon be launching a church plant in a new community.

After almost forty years as a dental hygienist, I’ve come across a few clever statements. These are two of my favorites: You don’t have to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep. Brushing without flossing is like washing your hands without cleaning between your fingers.

It’s been almost nine months since my husband, Alan, passed away suddenly while, thankfully, doing something he enjoyed—working on the lawn. When I think about that day, the pain still can hit me like a wave—or a slap—and the tears flow.

I don’t remember a thing she said, but the entire time she preached, I wept. The woman at the front of the church was older, probably in her mid-60s. We were new to the church, and when she was introduced, I grew tense with anticipation.

“Wait just a second…you’re telling me we have to climb up this waterfall just by holding hands with a bunch of strangers? No ropes or harnesses or anything?”