Tag Archives: humility

November 5, 2026 · 4:00 AM

I Cry

I originally wrote “I Cry” in June 2020, during a season of tremendous uncertainty and upheaval in our nation and our world. Six years later, I reread these words and realize that, although circumstances have changed, the heart behind them has not. I still believe we need humility, respect, compassion, peace, and, above all, God’s presence in our lives. So I decided to leave this reflection nearly as I wrote it then, because it captures what was on my heart at that particular moment.

Usually, tears bring me to write. Something that touches my very core. Something that moves me. Something that triggers passion, or emotion – a memory, a thought, an image, or a prayer.

Lately, I’ve been silent. Silent in writing. My drive for writing once ignited with words and expression within the depth of my soul. It had to be released by putting pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, but now nebulous and dim from what it once was.

I admit that year brought shock, uncertainties, and even dread. My tears flow. Lord, what has happened? God, what is happening?

America: the land of the free and brave! Are you still among us?

I sang “America the Beautiful” as a child:

America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

I also remember belting out “This Land Is Your Land” with my classmates, proud to belong to a country big enough for everyone. And who can forget standing in school together singing “Let There Be Peace,” believing peace could begin with each of us?

Lord, I can’t speak for others. No one can walk in my shoes. I certainly cannot walk in their shoes, nor would I want to. We all have our own crosses to bear. But please lift this burden from us and lighten the load, I pray. You are a God who is able. But even if You choose not to make the pathway easier, or the roads brighter, then help us as individuals and help us as a nation to allow ourselves to put God back at the center of our lives, at home and abroad, and within our own families.

I chose You, Lord. Whether I understand things or not, whatever tomorrow may bring, I know that I need You more now than before, and that has not changed. Your Word says there is a season for everything under the sun. Although I am not liking the season we are in right now, I know that You’re not a God of confusion but of peace, for You are merciful and Your love is never-ending.

Humility, respect, patience, and compassion are places where we can begin. Heal us, oh, Lord. We are sick; we need a healer. Please heal our hearts. Please heal our land.

“It is the LORD who goes before you.
He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you.
Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Six years later, I am still praying this prayer. Some of the uncertainty has changed shape, but the need for humility, for peace, for God at the center, that hasn’t changed at all. I don’t have a tidy ending to offer. I only have this: He is still faithful. He still goes before us. And so I keep choosing Him, one day, one prayer at a time, for myself, my family, and my country.

Whatever this season has meant for you, hope or heaviness or both, the prayer is the same. If you’re praying it too, dear reader, you’re not alone.

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Filed under Faith, reflection

Tagged as America, compassion, Faith, God, healing, hope, humility, peace, Prayer, reflection

September 17, 2026 · 4:00 AM

The Day My Shoes Made Me Feel Less Than

Some moments in life stay with you. Not because someone intended to hurt you, but because of how they made you feel.

Years ago, I went in for a job interview. Before the interview even began, I noticed the person who would be interviewing me taking a hard look at my shoes. They weren’t expensive, but they were clean, and I had done my best to look presentable. Maybe I read too much into it. Maybe I didn’t. But in that moment, I suddenly felt like I didn’t measure up.

I eventually got the job, but that moment stayed with me.

Later, someone I worked with was talking about the great deal they had gotten on their sports car. They mentioned the amount of money they had saved and asked if I thought they’d done well. All I could think was, what do I know about sports cars? If I had that kind of money, I could pay my rent on time and have groceries!

Another time, a grandchild of someone who worked there asked me, “Have you ever been to Paris?”

When I answered, “No,” she looked at me in complete surprise and said, “You’ve NEVER been to Paris?”

Although it stung, I smiled and answered her. She was just a child. I’m sure she wasn’t being rude. She simply couldn’t imagine someone who had never traveled there.

Looking back, I don’t believe any of these people were trying to make me feel “less than.” They were a little insensitive, maybe, but mostly they were living the life they knew.

What struck me each time wasn’t unkindness. It was a kind of blindness, being so at home in their own life that they couldn’t imagine mine. And I’ve had to ask myself: how many times have I done the same thing to someone else, without ever realizing it?

Still, those moments taught me something I’ve never forgotten: we don’t always know what someone else is carrying.

The person standing beside us may be worried about paying rent, buying groceries, caring for a sick family member, or wondering how they’ll make it through another month. They may smile, show up for work every day, and never say a word about their struggles.

That’s why humility matters.

Humility isn’t only about how we see ourselves. It’s also about being aware of others. It’s remembering that our experiences aren’t everyone’s experiences. It’s speaking with kindness and recognizing that what feels ordinary to us may be something someone else has never had the chance to know.

Those memories have made me more careful over the years. I hope they’ve made me more compassionate, too. I know I may not always get it right, but they taught me to be more mindful of the burdens others may be carrying.

The Lord has a way of teaching us through the uncomfortable moments in our lives. Sometimes He uses them to soften our hearts instead of hardening them.

When I think back to those shoes, I don’t remember feeling angry. I remember feeling invisible. “Less than.”

I never want to make another person feel that way.

May we be people who notice others, who speak with humility, and who remember that every person we meet is fighting battles we may know nothing about.

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He shall lift you up.” — James 4:10

May we never be the reason someone feels “less than.” Instead, may we reflect Christ’s kindness by seeing people, valuing them, and treating them with humility.

El día que mis zapatos me hicieron sentir “menos”

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Filed under Faith, life's lessons

Tagged as awareness, compassion, dignity, Empathy, encouragement, Faith, Grace, humility, Kindness, perspective

May 3, 2025 · 8:00 AM

A Thorn in the Flesh

We all wrestle with struggles—some visible, some hidden. But can they serve a greater purpose?

Recently, I had the opportunity to fly to Miami and visit with loved ones. We helped celebrate my sister’s birthday. I met up with my daddy, step-mother, and sister, and stayed with them at a hotel. We enjoyed an excellent meal at a popular Cuban restaurant. The next day, we planned a fun outing. We met up with one of my brothers, his lovely girlfriend, and my beautiful nieces. While driving there, we heard a thumping noise that didn’t sound good coming from under the minivan. We stopped, got out, and discovered that we had a flat. We weren’t going anywhere. Locating the spare tire was frustrating, and unlocking it took even longer. Then we searched for the closest tire repair shop, wasting more time sitting there. We finally arrived two to three hours later, hot, cranky, already tired, and hungry.

At the fairgrounds, we walked around and got snacks. Then we stopped to watch a show. A man and his dog were performing tricks with a frisbee. We decided to climb the bleachers for a better view. Using the bleachers as stairs, I tripped and fell on bleacher number one, landing on my knees. I got up and fell again on bleacher number two. Ouch! Lord, have mercy on me! My brother ran to help and steadied me to finally sit and watch the rest of the show. When we left and reached our vehicle, I yanked on the car door latch to open it. I quickly found the door was still locked. I injured my finger while pulling on the handle! I still can’t bend my middle finger a month later— you can imagine how that looks!

1 Corinthians 12:7

On Sunday morning, we visited my brother’s church. Instantly, I was drawn by the pastor’s message when I heard him speak on having a thorn in the flesh. The pastor said that thorns drive us to humility. Yeah, I certainly was all that. I had fallen and landed on my knees in front of everyone.

A thorn in the flesh can derive from various situations for different people. It can mean a piercing and troubling situation, person, or task. And I’m here to tell you that thorns don’t feel so good. They prick. And they hurt! But can they show us that in our weaknesses, God becomes strong?

The pastor also mentioned that God uses brokenness in our lives. We indeed throw broken things away. But I was reminded that God will use broken pieces and broken people. Broken people know how much they need God! Our thorns in the flesh remind us of our need for God’s strength, and not on our own strength.

After the service, I determined to focus on the positives of my mini-vacation. I got the chance to get away for the weekend. I rekindled precious memories with siblings. I also spent some quality time with Daddy, who will soon turn 92 years old, God willing. His health may be declining, but he was still active and engaging with me. We ate our meals together and shared stories. One night, I brought him his favorite café con leche to the room from a restaurant nearby. He was so happy. I mentioned how he had been really eating well. He looked at me with that endearing twinkle in his eyes, leaned close, and said, “I did it for you.”

It’s always been difficult to say goodbye whenever it’s time to leave my family in Florida. This time was no exception. My stepmother cried. My sister cried. I cried. Thank goodness Daddy and I spoke earlier, and he was asleep already!

My brother dropped me off at the airport. I checked in my luggage and went through customs. I sat alone in the cold lobby, reminiscing on all that had occurred over the weekend. It wasn’t long before the airline announced several delays. These delays put my flight three hours behind. Then, the dreaded word ‘canceled’ blared over the loudspeaker. Although the airport was freezing, at that moment, the tension rose. Tempers flared with heated words from passengers and staff. Four hours later, I paid an extra airfare to fly home on another airline. I had to get off and switch flights before arriving home the next morning. The trip cost more than I had budgeted, not to mention missing an entire day of work. At that moment, I felt weary, defeated, and broken.

The pastor that morning illustrated that we are living in this flesh. Yet, as Christians, we also have the Holy Spirit. So it’s up to us to starve one and feed the other. The one who starves tends to lose; the one we feed tends to win. Let’s learn to rely more on the Holy Spirit so that we feed our inner man. Through this, we gain power in our weaknesses.

In retrospect, I had experienced a few unpleasant thorns. Yet, I realize that God desires to shape me for something greater. Thorns cause frustration, but I believe it will lead me back to the realization that God’s grace sustains me.

Lord, I know you’re trying to teach me something here. My flesh says: Can you hurry up the process so I can learn it and move on?

My spirit says: Help me in my weakness, Lord. May I rely more on you and be reminded that I am complete in you. I thank you, God, for your grace.

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Filed under Faith and Spirituality, Personal Stories

Tagged as 2 Corinthians 12:7, brokenness, Christian Life, Faith, Family Time, God's Strength, Grace, humility, Miami Trip, Thorn in the flesh, tribulations

November 28, 2021 · 8:36 PM

Thanksgiving – 2021

Reflecting can be a good thing. Last year, on Thanksgiving Day, I remember feeling sad and a bit irritated. The reason: we were not able to have our regular holiday family gathering due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. My emotions floundered all over the place. I did my best to focus on the positive. I even wrote this message to my family and friends:

To be honest, I’ve been bummed out for a couple of days. I will miss our traditional family Thanksgiving Day celebration at home. It has always filled my heart with so much joy. Instead, I must choose to focus on what I have. I will count my blessings. I give thanks and glory to God for all in my life!

Even on my worst days, He loves me! I have known Him in the valley and on the mountaintops. While I love being on the mountaintops, trudging in the valleys was where I grew closest to my Lord. I learned that the God on the mountain is still God in the valleys.

I am thankful He has given me health, provision, and shelter. He has also given me a loving husband, a beautiful family, and wonderful friends. He has made many dreams come to fruition.

I am a work in progress. Thank you, Lord, for not having given up on me. I know You’re not finished with any of us yet.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess 5:18

Jump over to the present:

I am happy to report that this Thanksgiving holiday was special in many ways. Yes, I am genuinely grateful for my loved ones. I glanced around the table as we celebrated the holiday with prayer, food, and fellowship. I caressed my eyes over each face representing my family. And I realized: Mary, you’re not alone anymore. You see, as a kid growing up, I once felt alone and rejected. In fact, I often felt insignificant, always on the outside looking in. I had many insecurities and felt much like a second-class citizen. It took many years into my adulthood to experience inner healing. I finally received a breakthrough in my personal life. I decided to put my story to pen and paper. Then I published my book, “Running in Heels: A Memoir of Grit and Grace.”

Thanks to my youngest daughter’s prompting, we did something different this year. We each held a strip of paper with questions, taking turns reading aloud and then answering the questions. This was epic because the questions prompted us to dig deep and share heartfelt answers.

As I listened to the different ones share, I felt immense gratitude. My heart was full upon hearing my children speak over me. I wasn’t prepared for this raw reaction, nor was I prepared for what I would say when my turn came. I found that I could share my heart with thankfulness and humility. I blessed each of my children and grandchildren, expressing to them what I appreciated about them. I blessed my husband for being the man that he is. I also blessed him for accepting somebody else’s children. He stepped up to the plate, another man left on the table. And finally, I turned to my mama. I expressed my undying love for her. Our relationship is complex, regardless. I also asked her for forgiveness for getting short-tempered with her. I assured her that I will always be her little girl.

We are all flawed, but we can rise above stinking thinking and look beyond ourselves. Look at others, really see them, and love them. I thank the Lord for making all things new—His mercies are new every morning!

Thanksgiving 2021
“Family is the best thing you can ever wish for. They are there for you during the ups and downs and love you no matter what.”
“A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.”
“The best time for new beginnings is now. Thank you Lord, for new beginnings.”
“Let’s be thankful together. Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.”
“So, there is this boy he kinda stole my heart- he calls me ‘Mimi.'”
“Granddaughters are angels sent from above to fill our hearts with never ending love.”
“Always remember whose daughter you are. Stand tall and straighten your crown.”
“Happy Birthday to my beautiful eldest daughter, more like a sister to me.”
“Thank you, Lord, for Your bountiful blessings.”