Emily Parke Chase
As this new year started, I began pursuing a personal Bible study on the topic of compassion. Professional counselors have always emphasized the need for empathy. But what was the difference between the two terms? What did the word “compassion” truly mean? Webster told me that compassion referred to “suffering with another, having sympathy or …
Read More Compassion and EmpathyIn June, I learned that my newest book, Standing Tall After Falling Short, was chosen as a finalist for non-fiction book of the year 2013 at the Golden Scroll Awards ceremony. These awards are sponsored by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA). The honor is especially cherished because the judges are my fellow authors …
Read More Golden Scroll AwardsAs of May 31st, I retired from my role as pregnancy counselor with Bethany Christian Services. I loved working with my fellow staff and serving my clients, but the stress of dealing with administrative work became overwhelming. The time came for someone younger to step into my position. So now I am watching the …
Read More Transition and ChangeAfter over twenty years of working with the local pregnancy resource center, I retired several years ago. Then I began working half time as a pregnancy counselor with Bethany Christian Services, adding a few more years of service there. But in May I plan to retire for the second time. There are still more books …
Read More Retirement ReflectionMarch is shaping up to be a busy month of speaking for me. In addition to speaking at pregnancy centers and at schools, I’ll be speaking at the 18th annual Real Alternatives statewide conference on March 27th. Real Alternatives provides life-affirming options to young people facing unplanned pregnancies, a passion I have shared for over …
Read More Real Alternatives ConferenceCan you imagine not being able to breathe, think, see, smell, hear, taste or feel anything? You would be like a hard rock or a lump of clay.
Read More Advent 2013: Day 24When our daughter Prisca was a little girl, she and her best friend Katie liked to fish in a local pond. They added bait to the hook, threw the line in the water and waited patiently for a nibble. The fish did not jump out of the water into their hands. The girls spent …
Read More Advent 2013: Day 23Gene and I have only met Kelsey once but we pray for her daily. Our son John’s sister-in-law, Kelsey, has cancer. She is a lovely young woman, full of life. She loves the Lord. She has a wonderful husband and beautiful little daughter. Yet she is fighting pain and the effects of chemo …
Read More Advent 2013: Day 22A year ago I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. It is especially bad in my hips and, knowing that one of the dangers of this disease is broken bones due to falling, I talked with my physical therapist about balance exercises. She asked me try standing on one foot with my eyes open. I …
Read More Advent 2013: Day 21Why do prisons provide a condemned man with a lavish meal the night before he is to die? Believe it or not, you can go on the Web and find photos of men on death row next to the last meal they chose to have before facing execution. The meals requested varied from …
Read More Advent 2013: Day 20