Rev. Tiffany McDonald

Stolen October

Originally posted on running the dream living with boys:
I used to love October, maybe someday we can be friends again. But this year, October is my enemy. A thief mocking me into the holiday season. October is breast cancer awareness month. Oh my how I am deeply aware. Breast cancer stole my mother. And…

Writetober Challenge, Part I

I have been wanting to get back into fiction writing, so I have been trying #50wordfiction challenge with prompts from @HannahRobinsonAuthor. For those of you that follow me on Instagram, you have already read most of these. The challenge has been so much fun! Every day I look forward to writing, and I have toContinue reading “Writetober Challenge, Part I”

Psalm 130

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord hear my voice! I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.” Verses 1-2a, 5-6. I feltContinue reading “Psalm 130”

Rest a While

I am weary. Are you? Jesus calls all of us who are weary. Jesus promises us rest. Jesus provides us a safe place where we can share all of the burdens that are on our hearts. Jesus invites us to take a break and renew our strength and our spirits so that we can getContinue reading “Rest a While”

New Phases in a Lifelong Calling

I shared about shifts in my calling, and interviewed several colleagues. I found it interesting that no matter how we live out our call, we are in a constant state of discernment. Friends, family, colleagues, prayer, and Scripture help us listen for what God wants us to do next. Thanks to Rev. Lee Ann PomrenkeContinue reading “New Phases in a Lifelong Calling”

Grandmas

When I was born, I had 8 total grandmas, including three great-great-grandmas. I also had one bonus grandma, Aunt Mae, who was my Grandma Helen’s aunt . I don’t remember two of my great-great-grandmas, Great Grandma Harris on my dad’s side (Grandma Helen’s maternal Grandma), and Great Grandma Yount on my mom’s side (Grandmother’s maternalContinue reading “Grandmas”

Loss of Future Story and Anticipatory Grief

In seminary I took many pastoral care classes. One of the things that has really stuck with me is about grief. We not only grieve what was, but we also grieve what we hoped would be, our future story. Ending a relationship often requires grieving all that you had imagined your future together would beContinue reading “Loss of Future Story and Anticipatory Grief”

In the Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:11 “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” You can read Ezekiel 37:1-14 here. Reading about the valley of dry bones feels close to home. As we have passed the year anniversary of being at home in quarantine, many of us may feel that we areContinue reading “In the Valley of Dry Bones”

Article Link

I wrote an article for Luther Seminary’s faith + lead for pastors officiating memorial services for their loved ones. I hope you enjoy it and find it helpful.

On Not Celebrating a Cancer-versary

November 5, 2020 was my five year cancer-versary. I thought that it would feel like a huge celebration if I made it to that benchmark without a recurrence. I believed I would feel relieved. However, that is not how I experienced it at all. Celebrating is something I am not good at, in general. EverythingContinue reading “On Not Celebrating a Cancer-versary”