Melissa Troyer

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Articles

"The Hands that Helped Formed Me" — Heartlight®

May 28, 2024 | heartlight.org | Melissa Troyer

I intended to find one specific photo I was looking for, but I got snagged by a video. Landon's birth video. I paused the video and looked around the room. Kids were playing, and no one was aware of what was frozen on my phone screen. I hit play and watched to the end. My heart was racing. Tears were stinging my eyes. For those that don't know, 3 out of 5 of my births have been quite difficult. A very narrow pelvis coupled with babies built with wide shoulders has made for some intense deliveries.
"They Danced!" - Heartlight®

May 7, 2024 | heartlight.org | Melissa Troyer

When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea" (Exodus 15:19—21).
"The Vast Sky Was My Teacher" — Heartlight®

Mar 5, 2024 | heartlight.org | Melissa Troyer

I lay back on to the concrete and stretched my arms wide out the side. Houston's night air became shockingly fickle at times, and the darkness lent an edge to the air. Cicadas' throaty songs of the day had lulled into an abrupt hush with the arrival of darkness. My fingers spread wide against the sand-papery driveway, drinking in the warmth still radiating from the day's unrelenting sun. Strategically only inches from my hand was a frosty cup of "orange julious," as Mom called it.
"The Blessing of Raising Teens?" — Heartlight®

Jan 16, 2024 | heartlight.org | Melissa Troyer

"Marriage will show you your true selfishness," they said. So I braced myself, but the blow never came. Marriage quickly became a haven I had never dreamed possible. "Parenting," then, because they said, "it's harder than you know." But babies flowed as naturally as marriage had, although nights were chopped up and now there were three of us, and then four, and we just kept adding.
"It's the Little Moments" — Heartlight®

Dec 5, 2023 | heartlight.org | Melissa Troyer

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:15-16 NRSV). "It's in the little moments," Daniel whispered to me last week after playing an impromptu game of Kick the Can with the kids. I nodded, having seen him live this out a million times. He grasps those little moments so well.
"In Everything Give Thanks... in EVERYTHING!" — Heartlight®

Nov 21, 2023 | heartlight.org | Melissa Troyer

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Should we be thankful just because God wants us to? Maybe we should let Him transform the way we view His wishes and learn to view them as an invitation to experience His mysterious blessings in hard times and places — view them as opportunities to find gifts we could easily have missed.
"The Mystery of the Fall Season" — Heartlight®

Oct 17, 2023 | heartlight.org | Melissa Troyer

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong (Ephesians 3:16-17 NLT). Within a week's time, our world snapped into fall. The garden is taking one last breath as it bursts with dahlias in corals and reds. Subconsciously, I reach for my orange sweater before I slip out to cut a bouquet.
"Gardens All Along the Way" — Heartlight®

Sep 5, 2023 | heartlight.org | Melissa Troyer

I grew up a city kid, always a short commute from a major trauma center when my dad could quickly get to the operating room if his beeper went off. That telltale beeping always filled me with conflicting emotions — dread that he was leaving again and thrill at imagining the repairs his fingers would perform. But even in our small urban backyard, he relaxed by tucking tomato and marigold plants into the flowerbeds. Perhaps he was happiest getting dirt under his fingernails, too.
"Where the Lines Blur" — Heartlight®

Aug 22, 2023 | heartlight.org | Melissa Troyer

If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave,* you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night — but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you (Psalm 139:8-12).
"Until..." - Heartlight®

Jul 11, 2023 | heartlight.org | Melissa Troyer

I've always been a dreamer. As a rowdy child, gymnastics was where I finally found a place to throw my immeasurable energy into. I just knew I would be in the next Olympics. I could just feel it. I dreamed wildly, lavishly. Beautiful moments, even the ones mingled with sorrow, captured me. I fell in love with weaving words, trying to communicate things that moved me deeply. Of course, someday I would write a book, I thought.