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Dana Rongione 06/11/2026 Dana Rongione 06/11/2026

The Grace of Jesus in the Waiting

I'm an introvert who cries at commercials. Insurance commercials. Dog food commercials. Once, a mattress commercial got me. Nobody has ever explained why a mattress sale should require tissues, but there I sat, sniffling on the couch like a woman with a deep, personal connection to memory foam (which, actually, I am).

Over the years, I've gotten the message loud and clear that this is a problem.

"Toughen up."

"Don't be so sensitive."

"It's not that big a deal."

I've even said it to myself in the mirror: Pull it together, Dana. Nobody wants a leaky redhead.

So when I recently read John 11, it stopped me cold. Let me set the scene because it's one of the most dramatic in the Bible.

Lazarus is sick. His sisters, Mary and Martha, send word to Jesus with one of Scripture's most tender messages: "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick" (John 11:3).

Dana Rongione 17/12/2025 Dana Rongione 17/12/2025

God’s Unstoppable Love

As we explore the meaning of Christmas, we must discuss the motivation behind the entire story. Why would God, who is perfectly self-sufficient and glorious, send His only Son into this messy world? The answer is simple, powerful, and utterly life-changing: Love.

The Nativity wasn't a political move or a tactical strategy; it was the most dramatic act of love ever performed. The whole reason for the manger, the star, and the eventual cross is captured in that one famous verse:

John 3:16 (KJV): "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Dana Rongione 09/10/2025 Dana Rongione 09/10/2025

Holding Onto Hope During Life’s Drizzles

Oh, the weather in Wales can be as unpredictable as my fibromyalgia! For the month of October, we are dog-sitting for some friends, which means there are two dogs underfoot, two dogs to feed, two dogs to walk, and two doggie schedules to work around. Well, today, Jason is working at the Community Luncheon Club, which leaves me on dog duty for the day. I had resigned to the fact that I was not likely going to get much accomplished, but I was leery about how and when to do our daily walk. That brings me to the Welsh weather.

The entire morning has been drizzly, so I knew it would likely be a wet walk. Still, I was hopeful.

Dana Rongione 02/10/2025 Dana Rongione 02/10/2025

A Funeral Wake-Up Call

Last week, I attended my first funeral in Wales, and despite being warned of what to expect, I walked out of the chapel feeling utterly devastated. The experience left me with a heaviness I hadn't anticipated.

I understand that funerals are occasions of sadness and mourning, and for that reason, I typically avoid them as much as possible. But this one affected me differently than I expected. What saddened me most? Was it the crowd of people waiting outside the chapel, not because there wasn't room but rather because they refused to step foot inside the actual building? Or was it the minister who presented the message that nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God; therefore, we can rejoice that we will all be reunited in Heaven?

No wonder it's so difficult to reach these people with the gospel!

Dana Rongione 17/04/2025 Dana Rongione 17/04/2025

Are You a Bummer Lamb?

I was watching an interview with Christian author Sheila Walsh the other day when she began talking about "bummer lambs." Having lived in rural Wales for a few years, I've learned quite a bit about sheep farming, but this particular term was new to me.

A bummer lamb, as it turns out, is a lamb that has been rejected by its mother. Sometimes, the ewe has twins and can only feed one. Sometimes, the mother dies during birth. And sometimes, for reasons only the sheep know, a mother simply refuses to accept her baby.

When this happens, the shepherd steps in. He takes the rejected lamb into his home and hand-feeds it. He keeps it warm by the fire, wraps it in blankets, and tends to its every need. The shepherd essentially becomes the lamb's parent, giving extraordinary care and attention to this tiny creature.