Category: Hope

Grace · Hope · Love · Uncategorized

Umerited Favor

Alyssa DeLosSantos2 Comments

  My first vivid memory of selfish behavior was in first grade. The classroom was dark-we were supposed to be outside playing. I crept into the room and went straight for my teacher’s desk. There I found the small box containing paper boy and girl cut outs. I quickly shuffled the cut outs around until…… Continue reading Umerited Favor

Hope · Love · Uncategorized

Close Enough to Ask

Alyssa DeLosSantosLeave a comment

With great expectation he asked and believed that his mother was listening. When we arrived at his birthday party, he enthusiastically pointed out one package and told me he knew what it was. “How?” I asked him.  His response was simple…“Because I showed my mom what I wanted and it was this shape!” His words…… Continue reading Close Enough to Ask

Hope · Love

Motivated by Hurt

Alyssa DeLosSantos5 Comments

He was a sitting duck. Alone. Separated from the pack, and always at risk of attack. His name was David. I was 8 years old when we first met. We were grade school classmates. I can’t remember all the details of his story, and now in hindsight, I’m not sure I can remember much more than…… Continue reading Motivated by Hurt

Hope · Love · Uncategorized

Wake Up Call to Love

Alyssa DeLosSantos3 Comments

The alarm had been set, but what woke me were his panicked words… “Alyssa, it’s 6:00am.  You’re late.” I loathe mornings. Really. My body requires extra time to “warm up”, and my enthusiasm hibernates until sometime after 10am. I was scheduled to meet a friend at 6:15 that morning.  There was no way I could look presentable, grab…… Continue reading Wake Up Call to Love

Hope · Uncategorized

Powerful Influence

Alyssa DeLosSantos2 Comments

His question was innocent…motivated by an authentic curiosity. My hesitation was surprising…motivated by a lack of introspection. On a rare occasion, I have an “open window” with my teenage son. Studies and sports, appointments and chores, these consume most of his time. This night, however, was different. With an unusual margin of time, He sat next to me as…… Continue reading Powerful Influence

Hope · Uncategorized

Lean Into the Turn

Alyssa DeLosSantos6 Comments

It eludes me. No formula will explain the mystery. I can wait for three minutes, water running continuously, before it turns from cold to hot. Although I only have the hot water handle turned on, freezing water flows from the tap. After a few months of living here, I determined to take the win in…… Continue reading Lean Into the Turn

Hope · Uncategorized

Pharisee to Follower

Alyssa DeLosSantos4 Comments

Crap shoot:: A gamble. Unknown. Unpredictable. No “sure thing”. Many days remind us, with every passing hour, that we are fallible and that life is filled with the unexpected. The phone call or email that caught us off guard…a disgruntled employee or employer…a relational mishap. The ice skater laces up her skates anticipating a great…… Continue reading Pharisee to Follower

Hope · Uncategorized

Do Not Worry

Alyssa DeLosSantos7 Comments

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet…… Continue reading Do Not Worry

Hope · Uncategorized

Letting Go and Falling…Forward?

Alyssa DeLosSantos5 Comments

Not long ago, I was invited to speak at a women’s retreat for one of our church campuses.  I wanted to be super spiritual and say I’d pray about it, but mostly my heart and mouth were long past saying yes, without the praying. Let me clarify, I stepped out of my job last year…… Continue reading Letting Go and Falling…Forward?

Hope · Uncategorized

Tongue Tied

Alyssa DeLosSantosAside1 Comment

I love single moms. I have been a single mom. I feel called to remind single mothers that although their family status may have changed, they STILL matter.  I learn all manner of lessons from these courageous women. Just the other week, while sitting in worship, I had a moment of pure joy.  My family… Continue reading Tongue Tied