Tonda B Solomon

I love the LORD. I want to believe I do it well, but then I encounter new facets of His character that should be evidenced in my life. I find grace to continue. The many hats I wear along the way include wife, mother, Gigi, daughter, sister, mentor, and friend.

I know that establishing and maintaining a family in this world can be daunting, simply because individuals are ever changing. And families are made up of uniquely crafted individuals - each one valuable and imperfect. We need a perfect and holy God to hold us together.

Marriage is my heartbeat and I champion and cheer anyone who needs to be encouraged along the path to staying committed. My own marriage has survived the brutal beating of infidelity. Fifteen years recovered and it is daily about choosing to extend grace and forgiveness and love.

"LORD, You are able," has gained a legitimacy I would not have known apart from crisis. In calamitous beauty, He uses my crises to cultivate stamina for the rest of life's challenges, as I learn more and more about His ability and power in my weakest moments.

I've traversed treacherous paths with our four sons and relied on the goodness of God when their situations seemed hopeless. These men who were entrusted to my care...they are manuscripts He is writing and it is not my place to manipulate the story as it unfolds for His glory. It is mine to be their valiant prayer warrior and fiercely love them through the battles.

I've grieved the loss of hope deferred. It truly does make the heart sick, but it cannot destroy. And when our dreams appear to be dead, He tilts them toward His light and reveals they needed redefining. In all things, He is faithful. In God's economy, it can be said with confidence that all is well.

I have learned to trust myself when I say, "Jesus loves me." This love compels me every day to proclaim, "My what a God!"