Handle With Care

If you've ever owned a greyhound or spent time around one, you know they are gloriously fragile.

Not in spirit. In skin.

A greyhound's skin is extraordinarily thin. There is very little fat or fur between the outside world and the muscle beneath. What would be a minor scrape for a Labrador can become a significant wound on a greyhound. A small bump. A brush against a rough surface. An accidental nip during play. Things that most dogs would shake off can leave a greyhound needing stitches. In fact, up to 25–30% of greyhounds have a condition that makes them prone to excessive bruising and bleeding, even from minor incidents. Greyhound owners quickly learn that what looks like nothing can actually be something, so they handle their hounds with gentleness, awareness, and care.

Now, doesn't that sound like some people you know?

Dana Rongione 13/03/2026 Dana Rongione 13/03/2026

Are You Walking Past Your Miracle?

Picture this: a room full of lovely ladies, a painting lesson in full swing, and a punch table front and center. My dear ministry partner had worked hard to create not one, but two delightful punch options for our Community Ladies' Luncheon last Saturday. She blended, stirred, and taste-tested with the dedication of a seasoned chef. And the result? One punch turned the most gorgeous shade of coral you've ever seen. It was bright, cheerful, and practically hollering, "Come drink me!" Every woman in the room floated toward it like a bee to a flower.

The other punch? Oh, bless its heart. Somewhere in the blending process, the colors had a disagreement, and what emerged was a murky, grayish concoction that looked—and I say this with all the tenderness I can muster—exactly like dirty mop water. Nobody wanted anything to do with it.

Dana Rongione 06/02/2026 Dana Rongione 06/02/2026

Prisoners in Their Own Armor

Have you ever dealt with a difficult person? You try to like them, help them, understand them, or accept them, but despite your best efforts, they just rub you the wrong way. Maybe it's a family member who always seems to have a sharp word ready. Or perhaps it's that acquaintance at church who bristles at every attempt at friendship. I'll confess, I've had my share of these challenging relationships, and more often than not, I've found myself frustrated, hurt, and ready to throw in the towel.

But this morning, something shifted. As I sat with my Bible open to Job chapter 41, reading about the fearsome Leviathan, God gave me an epiphany that changed everything. The passage describes this creature's impenetrable armor: "His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.

Dana Rongione 05/01/2026 Dana Rongione 05/01/2026

Are You Ready With an Answer?

I recently watched a video from a YouTuber who makes his living as a content creator. In this video, he warned against telling people if you do YouTube for a living because many don't understand what that means. He shared a story about meeting friends over the holidays. When they asked what he was doing these days, he struggled to explain his job as a YouTuber. His excuse was that he hadn't anticipated the conversation and wasn't ready with an answer.

I had to laugh initially, but then it got me thinking. Here was a man who talks to a camera for hours each week, uploading content about his life and work, yet he couldn't provide a simple explanation when asked about his job face-to-face. The irony struck me. But before I became too smug in my judgment, the Lord nudged my heart with a convicting question: Am I any different when it comes to my faith?

Dana Rongione 06/10/2025 Dana Rongione 06/10/2025

The Sunflower’s Dance

Did you know sunflowers can dance?

While they may appear to be standing perfectly still, sunflowers actually make subtle, almost imperceptible movements called circumnutation. And even more remarkable, they grow in patterns that carefully avoid overshadowing their neighbors.

These aren't just plants selfishly stretching toward the light. They're dancing a choreographed routine that allows the entire field to flourish. Each sunflower adjusts its growth direction to prevent casting shadows on nearby plants. The result? Maximum sunlight absorption for the entire community.

This botanical ballet offers a beautiful picture of how the body of Christ is meant to operate.

In Romans 12:10, we're instructed, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." These sunflowers live out this scripture in their own remarkable way, preferring their neighbors by ensuring they receive adequate light.

How often do we, as Christians, position ourselves to cast shadows over our brothers and sisters?

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Handle With Care

Are You Walking Past Your Miracle?

Prisoners in Their Own Armor

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The Sunflower’s Dance

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Dana Rongione