W. MARK WHITLOCK
Author
Silence. We never expected silence.
For now, we estranged Christian parents must live among the past of our memories, the now of the separation, and the not yet of God’s sovereign will.
Find hope, encouragement, and community here.
Nine Recordings to Help Us Celebrate the Semiquincentennial
These recordings will stir your patriotism, make you think about the grand experiment that is the United States, and perhaps move you to be more involved.
A Prayer about Time on a Beloved Stranger’s Birthday
A birthday prayer for the moments we can’t have—her cake, her hug, her joy—and the God who holds both of us across the distance. Pray this raw, honest prayer with me as we grieve estrangement on our child’s birthday.
What Would an American Flag Say?
As a Boy Scout, I participated in many flag retirement ceremonies over the years. I wrote this ceremony imagining what an American Flag might tell us.
Between Shadows and Light: A Prayer on Father’s Day for Fathers Estranged from their Children
Fathers estranged from one or more children on Father’s Day feel many emotions. While Father’s Day is already more of a forgotten holiday, this Sunday in June brings the pain, grief, and loss into stark focus.
Field of Dreams will endure as one of the greatest baseball movies of all time. James Earl Jones delivers one of his most iconic performances. The lines from the movie will echo in dugouts and around dinner tables for generations. But at the heart of the movie...
Counting Days
Thoughts for Estranged Christian Parents on the Passage of Time When our children were born, you and I started. We counted days. Then weeks. Then months. At some point amid tantrums, pull-ups, and sippy cups, we started counting years. Let’s close our eyes and...
The Best 70 Songs to Get You Ready to Celebrate Thanksgiving Day
Your soundtrack for cooking, greeting guests, and getting through Turkey Day. Yes, Virginia, there is music for Thanksgiving. When my parents bought their dining room furniture in the 1960s, the store gave them a framed print of The First Thanksgiving 1621 by American...
Five Ways to Build Community in Your Neighborhood
A number of new neighbors have moved into our neighborhood and, with the number of houses for sale, more will be moving in. I long to be a good neighbor and to live in a friendly and giving community. I started thinking about ways we could introduce ourselves and...