Annie’s Journal by Annie Warner Donnelly
April 21, 2025
Hello Everyone. Recently I was asked if the Bible is my favourite book because of my faith or because it’s a piece of literature. It’s definitely because of the faith I developed 40 years ago.
Love for God wasn’t evident, and the Bible wasn’t read in my home. I was sent to church; rarely did I have a parent with me. People encouraged me to accept Jesus as my Saviour. When I was fifteen years old, I said the words but didn’t understand how they could make a difference in my life.
But April 5, 1985, changed all that. That was the day my birthday was on Good Friday. Suddenly, I realized that the anniversary of my birthday was being celebrated on the same day as the anniversary of Jesus’ death on the cross for me. It’s like these two facts collided and, finally, I could understand what people – and the Bible – had been trying to tell me.
Why am I sharing this with you? Well, even though April 5 and Good Friday have passed, the effects of Jesus’ resurrection linger forever. Jesus took our place on that cross, dying the death that would be ours because our sins.
The Apostle John, who wrote what he knew firsthand to be true, tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16)
John also wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9)
These are the forever truths of Easter.
Let’s allow God to convince us of His reason for Jesus’ death and resurrection. Let’s believe Him and make room for His Holy Spirit to live within us. Let’s be who He created us to be. I ask these things in the precious, mighty, and everlasting name of Jesus. Amen.
The Hillsdale Tree
A Lament for the Community of Hillsdale
On the edge of town near where the children played,
Stood a wise old tree, where the deer often laid,
With branches like arms, it embraced the sky,
Whispering secrets to those passing by.
Though seasons of laughter, of sorrow, of cheer,
A guardian of dreams, now lost, and disappeared.
The guardian sat in silence as the saws came near,
The echoes of the memories, the laughter and the cheer.
Roots deep in the soil, where stories begun,
Each ring of its heart counting years, one by one.
Now a stump marks the ground where its presence had bloomed,
A void in the skyline, a community fumed.
What are we willing to trade, but a few,
If only you knew what killing that tree would do.
A ripple effect and feelings of loss,
Losing the tree, at society’s cost.
Echoes of memories, laughter and cheer,
What an incredible loss for the community this year
By Kassandra Wilkey
Farewell to Readers
I have been writing this column for some thirty years. In my home community, I have met many of you. In some cases, you came to see me in my psychology practice, and years later brought one of you children for therapy.
This column has appeared across Canada and the USA, and as far away and Great Britain and Australia. It has been a blessing to have had a wide and appreciative audience.
This writing has been my way of giving back. It has been my service to all of you, and I have never received payment.
A couple of years ago I received an Award of Excellence for Community Service from the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for my writing. This was indeed an honor, but what has been most rewarding to me has been the sincere and heartfelt appreciation I have receive from readers.
I know some of you have shared this journey along with me for almost as long as I have been writing. Knowing you were reading, and your positive feedback, has truly been the inspiration that has kept me writing as long as I have.
Mostly my writing has been about integrity, having compassion and kindness for others, being accepting and non-judgmental. It has also focused on really listening to others, not always having to be right, and not venting anger or criticism to others. There are other ways to ask for what you need.
It has also expressed the importance of self-care, and knowing no one has to put up with being yelled at or put down. We all deserve to be treated with respect as do others.
I have also written about how many client issues stem from childhood experiences where they were not treated well. Adults should get help to process and heal, then let it go and focus on present life. The past does not have to define us.
As parents, know that things you say and do to children will leave an indelible mark that can impact the course of their lives positively or negatively.
Focus on finding solutions rather than thinking in terms of discipline. Discipline is the practice of training people to obey rules and using punishment to correct disobedience. There was a time when that was the norm in parenting.
Hopefully we can work together with children to create workable solutions. Saying that: “We have a problem so let’s sit down and see how we can do things differently.” is how we would like a boss or supervisor to approach us.
Children are the future in our rapidly changing world. Let’s send them into the world knowing they are loved unconditionally. Let’s ensure they learn from us how to solve issues without conflict, and should support and be kind to others.
Thank you readers. Indeed, I will miss sharing with you.
By Gwen Randall-Young Psychological Services Ltd. | 439 Village Drive | Sherwood Park, AB T8A 4K1 CA, April 18, 2025