Category: Faith and Suffering
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Perspective in suffering
As I’m writing this, I’m recovering from Covid and have spent the day looking after my daughter who has also been unwell. Apart from having bone ache, a sore throat, a mild cough and a fever, it has not been too bad. For that, I am thankful. Yet, these illnesses…
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The Blog is Back
Welcome back to The Mustard Seed – the blog that I have been crafting since 2011. I had a break over the summer to think and pray about the next steps of my writing. Of course, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away during this time, so I popped back…
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Stop. Look. Listen. Live.
Can you imagine for a moment that you are unable to see or hear anything? In order to navigate through life, you would have to trust those around you to be your eyes and ears. If you tried to do everything without any help, you would be stumbling in the…
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The Queen’s Hope
As many celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign this weekend, I thought it fitting to write about her hope and faith in Jesus Christ. During the pandemic, many looked to the Queen to deliver a message of hope for what seemed a very hopeless time for the nation when…
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The Mental Health Coal Mine
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 May 2022) and the theme is ‘loneliness’. Even though feeling lonely can make us more at risk of mental health problems, I would also say mental health problems can make us feel lonely. As I write this, I am almost five days clear of…
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One Year On From A Stem Cell Transplant: Easter Reflection
The 20th April 2022 will mark one year since I had an autologous stem cell transplant. I remember my emotions a year ago. It was the time where I felt most alone and afraid in my entire life so far. Nobody could experience the high dose chemotherapy and the suffering…
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Ruth’s Roundup – March 2022
When I get a moment (they are few and far between, but few is still something, right?), I tuck into a book, read an article, come across a thought-provoking message and think, this needs to be shared. Ruth’s Roundup is a post released once a month where I will share with you some…
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A Refuge for Refugees
Seeing the images of so many from Ukraine fleeing from the fighting and displaced from their homes is painful to see. Young children clinging to their weary care-givers, looking for somewhere safe to stay, leaving their home behind – it’s hard to imagine, let alone write about. One story showed…
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Life update: Welcome to Wales!
Hello from Wales! Our family relocated to Cardiff at the end of February which is why the blog has been unusually quiet for the last couple of weeks. It’s so great to be back writing again. It’s raining outside and the background noise is the sound of moving traffic on…
Ruth Clemence 