My email inbox has been Out of ControlTM for as long as I can remember. (And I was an early adopter of email. As in, my first-ever email address ends in “@aol.com”!) My intentions have always been stellar. I truly do want to respond to everyone clearly … graciously … and above all, promptly. But for decades, there’s been a vast difference between my ideal email response vs. my real email response. My knee-jerk reaction to most emails is to assure myself:   I’ll just deal with it later. In that moment, “later” simply means: when I’m thinking more clearly when I’m feeling more confident ..read more

My app says, “Your order is ready for pick-up!” But there is no tall extra-whip mocha for Cheri on the bar. I glance from my cell phone to the Starbucks counter and back again, as if looking back and forth will cause my drink to magically appear. And then I see it. I’m standing in the Starbucks on the corner of Main Street and Colorado Avenue. My order is ready for pick-up at the Starbucks on the corner of Main Street and Coronado Avenue. It’s only ten minutes away, but I’m already running late for one last visit with my father before making the 8-hour drive from my hometown in southern Calif ..read more

The Accident happened on a Sunday 7 years and 51 weeks ago. It began when the vehicle I was driving — my husband’s SUV — was at a full and complete stop.  And I was 100% at fault.  Here’s the story in a nutshell: It was a typical spring evening, with the sky painting the clouds every possible shade of pink and purple. I’d paused at an intersection five minutes away from home, waiting for the light to turn green, when rapid motion outside the passenger window startled me. Now it was just a car using the shoulder to pass me and make a perfectly legal right turn on a red light. B ..read more

“Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10a (NIV)  Standing in front of the pastry display, I feel confident. When the barista asks, “Would you like something to eat with your drink?” I will respond politely, yet firmly: “Why yes, thank you. I’d like a Michigan Cherry Oat Bar, warmed up please. And if possible, I’d just love the one on the bottom left corner. In the front.” I am even ready to help with … “No, not that one”  “Not quite…almost”  “Yes, that’s the one!” … in an encouraging yet no-nonsense tone of voice. But when my big moment arrives, I feel convicted ..read more

This morning’s Lectio Divina session over Christ’s words in John 14:15-27 was so powerful, I just had to share it with you. CLICK HERE to download the 3-page PDF that includes: the scripture passage the reflection questions for each reading ample space for journaling All ready for you to print and use. Feel free to follow along with the video … pray-cess the reflection questions on your own … whatever feels like the best fit for you! The post God’s Truth for Tender Hearts: Immersing in John 14:15-27 appeared first on Sensitive and Strong ..read more

Every week, I engage in Lectio Divina — re-reading the same passage of scripture three separate times, journaling my responses to specific reflection questions after each reading. I love immersing in scripture in this way. It taps into our HSP need for deep processing … or “pray-cessing” as I’ve come to call it. Frequently, after the 2nd or 3rd reading of a passage, I draw a quick T-chart with the left side labeled “God” and the right side labeled “We.” Then, in the left column, I jot down the key words/phrases from the passage that tell what God does. And in the right column, I write the key ..read more

I spent the first week of January gutting my home office. Again. I wish I could say it’s only the 2nd or 3rd time I’ve ever needed to do so. But no. The attempt to get myself organized once-and-for-all has been a life-long struggle for me. It dates all the way back to childhood, when my mother — who was Born Organized — would glance into my bedroom and declare, “Cheri, just looking at your room, I feel messy!” Over the years, I’ve lost count of … … the number of times I’ve tried to get my act together — and remember where I put it. … how many organizational systems I’ve purchased, set up ..read more

What began as “quick 2-block walk” has turned into a 1.5 mile slog across a shadeless bridge in the high-noon sun. I’m with a group of friends in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on what we later learn is The Hottest Day in All of Recorded Human History. And I’m facing what feels like a lose-lose scenario: If I force myself to walk back across the bridge with everyone, I’ll pay for it the rest of the day. If I don’t, everyone will think I’m a wimp. Although I’ve lived where summer temperatures rise above 100 degrees much of my life, back home in California I could always say, “At least it’s a dry heat ..read more

 “As an HSP, do you find it harder to see joy … to find the good, especially when overwhelmed by negative emotions? If so, what do you do to pull yourself out of the negativity?“ This question was posed by a member of The Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe recently. It sparked such a wonderful discussion, I wanted to share some of the highlights here. #1: Take a Walk “If I’m in a real funk what helps is a walk on my own — nothing by like nature to calm the nervous system!” #2: Live in the Moment “I too have difficulty finding joy, and I do think it’s related to being an HSP for me. T ..read more

Take a quiet little year-end retreat with the 5 gentle questions in this Reflection Guide. They’re based on Psalm 36:7-9 and focus on God’s ABUNDANCE — the December theme in The Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe. Feel free grab a journal and favorite pen … or simply enjoy pray-cessing these questions in whatever way comes most naturally to you. In the video below, I walk you through the questions and share my own reflections along the way. (Note: This video is excerpted from a group Reflection & Discussion Zoom call in The Sensitive & Strong Community Cafe. Because the Cafe is pri ..read more