DEBRA TORRES AUTHOR
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Finding My Patience

8/31/2020

 
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The storm was a big one, and the plants on my balcony still look a little ragged from the wear.
My potted fern had taken a tumble from a high plant shelf and still was a little squatty.
And there are leaves strewn across the wooden planking.
But for the most part – all survived.
 
The one thing I noticed though is that my little ornamental garden rock with the word “patience” on it was gone.
 
So many times, I’d looked out my bedroom window from my “prayer chair” frustrated about something – or someone – and I’d seen that little rock.
 
“Patience” it would whisper to me.
 
I would take a deep breath. You’re right God. Patience. I will wait. Again.
 
But now – the patience was missing.

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How to Focus on God in a Distracted World

7/28/2018

 
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I had asked the man if he had a few minutes to talk. Something had been bothering me and I needed a few minutes of his time. Maybe he could help me figure it out.

“Okay, I’m ready,” he said. But I could tell he wasn’t.

And as I shared what was in my heart, his eyes kept drifting back to his computer screen.

It’s okay, I said to myself. He’s giving me some attention. He can do two things at once. But there was something inside me that just couldn’t buy that.

Was he hearing what I was really saying? If I stopped talking in the middle of a sentence and walked out of the room, would he really even notice if I was gone?


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Be the Change

6/30/2018

 
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The new Schwinn sat there outside our office window for three long months. Someone bought a nice bike, carefully chained it to a trashcan, and then walked away. Leaving it there—for good.

My co-workers and I saw the bike daily and, since it sat near one of the main entrances to our building, so did everyone else.

During the last few storms of winter, we would watch the snow pile up on its seat.

​And, in rain—we wondered if it would start to rust. At times when I passed it, I thought could see a little mold beginning on its nicely cushioned seat.


Speculations about the bike bounced around our office at times, as we tried to guess what happened to the owner. Were they abducted? Did they just forget where they'd left the bike? Or maybe they just couldn't fit it in their car when they left the area.

Sometimes the Schwinn would take to leaning away from the trashcan, making it difficult for people to pass. And this is when it bugged me the most. What was such a nice bike doing sitting out in the weather getting in everyone's way?


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How Safe is It ... Really?

6/13/2018

 
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by Debra Torres
There was something in the cabinet that someone was trying to keep safe. It was in a shared office kitchen, but the creamer in that cabinet wasn’t for all to use. Thus the chain, the padlock, and the paper clip.

Yep, the paperclip.

That was the funny part. If you look closely at the image above, you’ll see it. The last link of the chain is connected to the padlock with what looks like a twisted paper clip.

I thought it was a funny site. How secure was the creamer, really? Who did it keep out? Probably anyone who wasn’t strong enough to untwist a paperclip.

I laughed at that and even took a picture with my phone. But the more I thought about the paperclip lock, the more I realized that I often do the same kind of thing in my own life.

And maybe you do, too.


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Press On and Keep Parenting

8/28/2016

 
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By Debra Torres
Out of the early morning mist the deer bounded swiftly across the road far in front of our car. And I told my husband to watch so he wouldn’t miss its beauty.  

But my appreciation quickly turned to alarm as I saw that the deer wasn’t alone.

Two twin fawns trailed her, and the mother obviously hadn’t factored in the extra time it would take for their little legs to get across the road. 

Oncoming traffic was rapidly approaching and was almost upon the two little creatures when a car swerved and one fawn slipped and hit the pavement hard.  ​​

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That Blue Balloon

8/6/2016

 
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By Debra Torres
​It hung there in the dead tree across from our balcony all metallic and shiny.
A forgotten balloon half deflated stuck just high enough to be out of reach for all eternity it seemed.

And I hated it.
When I sat out in my balcony looking out into the lush green in the spring and summer there it would be for me to see.
​And in the winter, when the trees were bare, it would be there still. Silver on one side, blue on the other. Ready to distract my eye during my prayer time.
Sometimes I would spend my time in the balcony thinking about how I could get the balloon down. And a number of schemes would play through my head.


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Will You Dance?

7/4/2014

 
Tragedy? God can help.









​





By Debra Torres
It was a perfect time for a bike ride. The early evening air wasn’t too hot and the sky was still a bright blue.
I took two of my children on the ride and slowly we made our way up and down our rolling Pennsylvania hills.

There was one hill though, that I wish we had never attempted to go down. One hill that, in hindsight, we should have quit on and turned back.

But I guess it was a path that we were supposed to take. One God would use to teach me a painful, but important lesson.

My son made his way down the incline at breakneck speed. Enjoying, I’m sure, the smooth sense of “flying” you can get that comes with a good hill.

But my daughter wasn’t so fortunate.

She hadn’t been feeling very well on the ride, and we’re not sure if she fainted on her way down or simply lost control of her bike. Either way ...


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Be Contagious

6/27/2014

 
Evangelism Devotional












By Debra Torres
The little doctor in his spotless white med coat surprised me with his big personality as he skillfully tended to my daughter’s broken finger.

We had never met this doctor before, and at first impression I quickly judged him to be quiet and soft spoken. And when he left to go look at some x-rays I let my eyes survey his examining room.

You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their stuff I think. And I was surprised when my eyes landed on a neat display of “Our Daily Bread” devotionals on his sink counter.

When the doctor came back in, our talk easily turned to God. While the man diligently worked on my daughter’s hand, he shared his testimony with me and we spoke about church and what it meant to be a contagious Christian.

Churches that are exploding with people have it right, he told me. 


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This Little Light of Mine

6/17/2014

 
This Little Light of Mine Devotional
One thing I pray for my children is that they would be salt and light to those around them. 

My heart’s desire is that others would see a difference in them – that somehow, in some dark moment, my kids would shine the light of Christ’s love into someone else’s life.

           
Light is something I think that we tend to take advantage of when we have it. But when we don’t, well, often we can be lost in the dark.

I remember once when my boys were small and we took them on a “night hike” offered by an area park. At nearly dusk, a small group of us set out with a seasoned guide.

My young boys each sported green plastic lanterns that made cricket sounds when the switch was turned on.

The hike leader pointed out some amazing things that I ...


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Maybe Today Lord

5/30/2014

 
Thoughts about Christ's Return















By Debra Torres
​The young ladies and gentlemen in our high school’s prom court looked strikingly regal in their long gowns and tuxedos. 

Standing on raised platforms up on the stage, they created the 

perfect picture for the on-looking crowd of parents, relatives and friends.

I’ve been to a few promenades now, and I know the routine. The presentation of the prom court is always a nice finishing touch to the event.

But things went a little off schedule this day. And something happened that I think I’ll remember for the rest of my life.


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    Amish Fiction Author and Blogger:

    Debra Torres
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© 2022 Debra Torres - All Rights Reserved - Many Amish Images Courtesy of Jim Fisher - Book Cover Images Courtesy of Doug Miller
Photos used under Creative Commons from Steve Olive Photography, sidewalk flying, freakyman, jeffreyw, JD Hancock, Nathaniel KS, lilCystar, mikebaird, ˙Cаvin 〄, jczart
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