Mary A Pérez

maryaperez.com

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Counting What Counts

Gratitude isn’t always loud. Sometimes it shows up in quiet noticing. Some mornings, I wake up, and my mind goes straight to what’s still broken. What’s still unresolved? What still hasn’t worked itself out? And then something in me shifts. Maybe it’s the coffee. Maybe it’s the light coming through the window just right. Or maybe it’s God gently drawing my attention back to what’s still good,…

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The Smells and Sounds of Childhood

I was always hungry as a little girl. Not the kind of hungry a snack fixes. The kind that settles into your bones when you’re small and poor and there’s not much in the refrigerator. So when I think back to the smells of my childhood, the first one that finds me isn’t café con leche or a pot of arroz con pollo bubbling on a Sunday afternoon. It’s a hot dog. Frying. In the middle of the…

The Smells and Sounds of Childhood

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Honoring the Fallen: A Memorial Day Tribute

Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation. Today, we especially honor the memory of my husband’s uncle, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country. He was only 27 years old. He died when his aircraft was shot down. His courage, devotion, and selflessness will never be forgotten. Behind every gravestone is…

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A Daughter's Reflection

Mama: She wasn’t the kind of woman people called strong. She didn’t command a room or always make the wisest choices. She didn’t have the steady confidence I sometimes envied in other mothers. My mama was flawed in ways that showed. Tender in places where life had been anything but gentle. And somehow, without either of us planning it, I became the strong one. I stepped into that role way too…

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When God Says No

There was a season in my life where I kept praying for the same thing. I thought if I just kept praying, if I kept believing, God would fix it. I believed He would change the situation.That things would turn around. I didn’t understand why; out of everything, why not this? From where I stood, it made sense.It didn’t feel wrong.It felt good… worth fighting for. People say in moments like…

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Reflections From My Heart

From my heart to yours, For more than ten years, I’ve been pouring out pieces of my life right here. Some posts came from deep pain, others from quiet gratitude or hard-won lessons. To my humble surprise, a few of them have kept drawing readers year after year, long after I first hit “publish.” These are the posts that have touched the most hearts over time. They talk about real struggles—loss,…

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Still Choosing You: 32 Years Later

Thirty-two years ago, (and after three years of dating), I stood in a mid-length off-white dress and said, “I do.” I had no idea that God was giving me my greatest second chance. At the time, I believed the twists in my life had run their course. You know my story, babe. Life hasn’t been a straight path for me. It’s felt more like going in circles, running into things I never saw coming. Grit…

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It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming!

Full Transcript: It’s Friday.Jesus is praying.Peter’s a sleeping.Judas is betraying.But Sunday’s comin’. It’s Friday.Pilate’s struggling.The council is conspiring.The crowd is vilifying.They don’t even knowThat Sunday’s comin’. It’s Friday.The disciples are runningLike sheep without a shepherd.Mary’s crying.Peter is denying.But they don’t knowThat Sunday’s a comin’. It’s Friday.The Romans…

It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming!

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It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming!

Full Transcript: It’s Friday.Jesus is praying.Peter’s a sleeping.Judas is betraying.But Sunday’s comin’. It’s Friday.Pilate’s struggling.The council is conspiring.The crowd is vilifying.They don’t even knowThat Sunday’s comin’. It’s Friday.The disciples are runningLike sheep without a shepherd.Mary’s crying.Peter is denying.But they don’t knowThat Sunday’s a comin’. It’s Friday.The Romans…

It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming!

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Grace Under Pressure

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Texas or Bust

After our move from Denver to Miami, we settled into a duplex apartment. The small amount of money we had saved quickly dwindled. Donny couldn’t find steady work, and my waitressing tips barely kept us afloat. Six months later: “Pack your bags; we’re moving,” Donny announced out of the blue. “What? Another move? Where to now?” I wailed and braced for the answer. “The Lone Star State, he…

Texas or Bust

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My precious son, today on your birthday, I lift you up with gratitude and faith. I am thankful for who you are. I am just as grateful for who you are becoming. I’ve watched you grow in ways that still amaze me. You have learned strength not by pretending you have none, but by recognizing your weaknesses and facing them anyway! Lord, thank You for making him brave enough to face his giants. Thank…

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How Do I Love Thee

Dedicated to the one I love: Love is a road. Sometimes smooth. Sometimes full of potholes. Sometimes, it’s like quicksand that wants to swallow you whole. Looking at this photo of my husband and me, I don’t just see a moment. I see every step we’ve taken together. The long days. The late-night talks. The whispered prayers when we didn’t know what else to do. The mistakes we stumbled through,…

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Not That Girl Anymore

When she looks back on her life, she sees a faded memory. It is of a girl once unsure of herself. She was frightened, lost, and insecure. She can’t help but remember the pain: the disappointments, mistakes, and heartaches that shaped her early years. She recalls the roads she’s traveled. The paths were filled with quicksand like the dry Sahara. There were potholes the size of Texas. Each one…

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Be Still and Know ...

Lately, I’ve been noticing how uncomfortable it feels to be between versions of yourself. Not who you used to be.Not quite who you’re becoming.Just … here. This in-between space doesn’t come with clear language or tidy timelines. There’s no announcement that says, “Congratulations, you’ve officially outgrown this season!” No burning bush. No audible voice. Just a quiet, persistent sense that…

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Becoming, Not Broken

Don’t give up on your dreams—God planted them.Don’t give up on your goals—He is shaping them.And don’t give up on yourself—God isn’t finished with you. When the road is long, and strength feels thin, hold fast.God sees the dream.God orders the steps.And God is still working in you.

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The Peter Pan Syndrome: When Grown Men Refuse to Grow Up

The boy-man charmer. Peter Pan at 60 isn’t nearly as adorable as at 20.Ever notice some guys who act like eternal boys—charming, fun, but allergic to responsibility? That’s Peter Pan syndrome in a nutshell: Adult men stuck in Neverland, dodging commitment, chores, or emotional maturity. They want the perks of adulthood (freedom, fun) without the grown-up parts (bills, accountability,…

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