A Long Lost Friend ~ #Article #Magazine #Writing ~

Such a wonderful, beautiful and full-of-talent community I live in - and now we have our own magazine. Thanks to the vision of Chris Terrell, owner of How It Works and the Heart of Anacortes, and the design work of Ken Davenport - we have created the inaugural edition of Anacortes Magazine. 


Being a part of this is a blessing, and writing my feature article was a great experience. To see it in print, with the photographs of the children I wrote about, was an inspirational moment in my life. 

Please open the link to read "A Long Lost Friend" by Ronda Rae Franklin. (pages 19, 20 & 21)

I don't know the way, but won't you walk with me?

No, I do not know the way 
in this life or to eternal life. 
But I know the one who does, and I pray I will 
do well in following Him 
from this day forward. 
I know I will stumble; 
I know I will cry; 
I know I will fall to my knees asking why.

But won't you walk with me 
as I follow the one who knows 
the beginning and the end, 
who gives new wisdom at every turn, 
who gives grace when I stumble, 
and who gives unconditional love and forgiveness whenever I ask 
in earnest prayer? 
Do be ashamed, do not be afraid 
to lay down your life and stand up for what you believe in, 
and walk with me.
©Ronda Rae Franklin
Photograph by Ronda Rae Franklin
Mother and Daughter
San Sebastian, Jalisco, Mexico

Love is Impervious to Sin

Do not allow the fear of sorrow to replace love with a complacent heart. You must realize that the love itself does not hurt – it heals. We are all imperfect by design of human nature, but love is faultless by the divinity of its creator. Love is impervious to sin, while we are not. You have only to decide if you're willing to risk the certainty of heartache from an imperfect person in order to experience the perfection of love. Trying to outsmart sorrow only leads to a lifetime of sorrow at your own hand. © -Ronda Rae Franklin

Photograph by Rachel Whitney

Fall sunset on Fidalgo Island

And Wear Forgiveness Like a Crown

Don't punish yourself for feeling hurt or even betrayed by the one that you forgive time and again. 

Forgiveness isn't forgetfulness - and it shouldn't be. 

As well, just because you forgive does not mean you have signed up to stick around for more. 

You're allowed to draw a line-of-love. 

The most important thing to understand is - whether or not you choose to keep yourself physically, intimately, or emotionally close to your loved one - the forgiveness sets you free but in no 

way does it offer a guarantee of a no-repeat offense. 

Do not forgive with expectations; 

that's not really forgiveness at all. 

Expectations we place on another imply a conditional love. 

Forgiveness must be, by definition, unconditional. 

True forgiveness takes practice, patience, peace, love, and faith. So offer yourself each of these things, including forgiveness, as you learn. 

~Ronda Rae Franklin

Photographer unknown