jennhesse

God Remembers the Barren, and So Should the Church

I walked in the door to a foyer teeming with children. My husband and I entered the sanctuary and sat down in the back, where I began counting the number of pregnant women in the pews around us. We had just moved to a new town and were trying out a church. My husband hadContinue reading “God Remembers the Barren, and So Should the Church”

Just As I Am: Accepting Our Limitations

“I’m just a mom.” “I’m just an employee.” “I’m just an introvert.” These statements downplay who we are or what we do. Maybe it’s intended to show humility. Maybe it’s masking feelings of inadequacy. Maybe it’s just an excuse. Though we use it as an understatement, no one truly wants to be “just” anything; itContinue reading “Just As I Am: Accepting Our Limitations”

Why I Identify with Michael W. Smith, Kevin from ‘This Is Us,’ and the Hulk

Long before the Chris Tomlin Takeover of modern Christian radio, those of us church youth groupies jammed to the kickin’ beats of Amy Grant, Petra, Steven Curtis Chapman, and everyone’s favorite “friend forever,” Michael W. Smith. A pop music crush for my sister and thousands of other WWJD bracelet-wearing teenyboppers, Michael W. Smith released oneContinue reading “Why I Identify with Michael W. Smith, Kevin from ‘This Is Us,’ and the Hulk”

Infertility Wrecked Me and Made Me Stronger

For a woman who is struggling with infertility, a pregnancy announcement has the equivalent effect of a kick in a man’s groin. It knocks the wind out of you, pierces your heart, and accentuates the weight of your empty arms. You’d think this reaction would disappear once you became a mother. When you’re almost 10Continue reading “Infertility Wrecked Me and Made Me Stronger”

How I’m coming to peace with Insta-sham

Scanning the socials several months ago, I stumbled onto some posts that nearly caused me to gag up my morning oatmeal. A group of intrepid mommy bloggers had published a book on all things motherhood, and the authors were fulfilling their due diligence promoting their work by re-posting readers’ photos. Every single image they sharedContinue reading “How I’m coming to peace with Insta-sham”