Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer Christmas

Advent For the Broken-Hearted

This devotional was adapted from a service that Mari wrote in 2023, created to honor the thrum of sorrow and loss that undulates beneath the largely cheerful Christmas songs sung throughout November and December.

Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer Prayer

“Will I Ever Be Happy Again?”

 “God,” we might whisper through cracked lips and aching heart, “is there any way, any chance, You could bring good out of this bad situation?” This is possibly one of the most powerful prayers you and I can every bring to God.

Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer Saturday Devotion

Fragile

Families handled grief in all kinds of ways, but fragile irritability was often the first stop. That is, after numb shock.

Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer Saturday Devotion

Homeless

She noticed the sticky note on the mirror, as she always did, and though the words were not from her religion, it was still comforting to know the woman who had opened her home to her was god-fearing.

Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer Saturday Devotion

Distress

She ducked her head down. He did not need her crying, he needed her hope, her can-do, he needed the mamá who had cheered at all his home games, who had thrown him a giant party when he graduated, who made over every new job.

Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer Saturday Devotion

Grief

She would just lie here today, she thought. Who cares? Not the one who counted. He was lying brain-dead in the hospital across town.

Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer Uncategorized

Child of Wonder

Child of sorrow, child of rain, There is no tomorrow, no more pain. Turn your silvered sail toward the light. Child of morning, child of night. Child of Wonder - Eric Whitacre