Tracy Ruckman

 As I begin writing this blog post, it's 10:41 pm on December 31, 2024. Goodbye, 2024 - Hello, 2025!  Each year, most of us have a tendency - perhaps an intentional habit for some - to reflect on the past year and plan for the new. I'm not one of those intentional people; any time I try planning anything, life happens that cause plans to change, so I've learned to be more flexible, awaiting what He has in store.  In God's refining fire, the trials and tribulations of life, we have a choice. A choice to lean into Him, to learn the lessons He has for us, or to turn from Him and try to do life on our own.  I was saved in my early 20s, but foolishly tried to lead life on my own terms for two turbulent decades. But Christmas 2005 changed me. Hitting rock bottom, I surrendered my whole being - my will, my way - to Him fully, no longer willing or able to do life without Him guiding my every step. Life didn't get any easier but my perspective changed, and that made all the ...

I lost an elderly friend yesterday. She was born six weeks after my dad, so I always felt a special connection to her. She was intelligent, kind, and creative. When I learned of her death yesterday morning, of course I was sad, but I also experienced immense relief and gratitude. My friend gifted me with one of her paintings, Summer Sun, a couple of years ago. She painted this one in her 80s, after much of her sight had diminished.  My friend had been in pain for many years – physically and emotionally. We’d talked a lot last year about Jesus, and she knew Him well, so my relief and gratitude came from knowing that now she is safe, she is well, and she is now living her very best life. She’s no longer in pain, has no more sorrow or heartache, no more tears. I imagine she’s already painting some masterpieces in Heaven, and that makes me extremely happy. I’ll see her again one day. I’m grateful for the Hope and Blessed Assurance we have as followers of Jesus. My friend’s emotional pa...

As 2022 ended, I had plans. Nothing extravagant, but perhaps a couple of adventures and a fall conference to prepare for and attend. But I quickly learned that God had other plans, and I’d rather be in His plans than anywhere else. I’ve not publicly shared this story for family reasons, but with this week’s milestone, the roughest part is over so I’m now able to go public and offer my support, encouragement, and prayers for anyone else on a similar trek. This new journey began 9 months ago. Armed with the full armor of God, a healthy dose of faith and hope, and surrounding myself with a small army of MIGHTY Prayer Warriors, I set out to do battle. The first week of February this year, I performed the monthly shower breast exam like I’ve done since … forever, I think. As usual, nothing out of the ordinary, but a few days later, on February 10th, when I was changing clothes, I glanced in the mirror and noticed a golf-ball sized knot at the top of my left breast. It felt squishy – like th...

As the holiday season approaches, we decorate, we plan, we remember. We have expectations that these special times will be filled with love, laughter, joy and excitement. But unfortunately, holidays are often bittersweet or painful for some, because we’ve lost loved ones, or because money is tight, or because distance separates us from those we cherish, or a terminal illness hovers, or a plethora of other reasons. This week, my mind has been on one of those other reasons, so I am summoning the courage to write for anyone else who finds themselves in similar circumstances. If you are one whose holidays and birthdays are sometimes difficult, please know you are not alone. Last week, in a group setting, one of my friends brought up the topic of what she called “the unmentionables” and that phrase fits the relationship I have with my younger son. Yesterday was his birthday, and while I longed to post happy birthday wishes to him on social media so everyone could celebrate him with me, ...

This weekend, a loved one’s niece and nephew (both teens) lost their father to a massive heart attack.  During the month of September, other fathers and mothers (many fathers and mothers) were incarcerated, separating them from their children for indefinite periods of time, changing those families’ lives forever, too. During the past week, people received terminal medical diagnoses, dealt with crushing financial hardships and struggled to pay – or couldn’t pay – for the bare necessities of life, senior adults have been forced to leave their homes because they could no longer afford mortgage or rent, and thousands have lost everything to a hurricane named Ian. So much pain. So much loss. So much heartache. So much uncertainty. All in such a short period of time. Yet the harder life gets, the more my faith strengthens and the more my hope grows. The harder life gets, the more I want to give people the same Hope that I cling to hourly. My Hope is Jesus Christ, and that Hope is recorde...

Last night Tim and I had the honor/privilege/opportunity/blessing to attend a weekly family support group affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness . The funny thing is: I'd NEVER heard of NAMI before this week, even though we've dealt with mental illness for a very long time. From one of their brochures: "NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI has over 1,100 affiliates in communities across the country who engage in advocacy, research, support, and education. Members of NAMI are families, friends, and people living with mental illnesses such as major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder." Tweet: Did you know 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. has a mental health condition? Find support at www.NAMI.or...