Close To Home

Molly announces a transition away from Close to Home to her new blog and coming podcast Grace Here and Now.

Molly Sabourin says "Nothing moves mountains in my soul quite like those small, humble, quiet, minute-to-minute acts of submission and restraint."

The model of St. Mary of Egypt is the topic of Molly's reflection today. What changed and what didn't change when she came to the Christian Faith?

Whether it is the right iron, or a home infused with holiness, we must approach life with the right tools.

As we begin 2015, Molly compares two events in recent history to show how fruitless it is to worry about the future.

When we say "congratulations" we rejoice with those who rejoice. But what if our heart feels something different? Are we being hypocritical? Molly relays her conversation with her teenager on this very subject.

Molly Sabourin returns to her podcast coinciding with her new Ancient Faith Blog. Her quest for patience, peace, and perserverence concentrates today on peace.

The Sunday of the Last Judgment is one of the preparatory lessons prior to Great Lent. Molly Sabourin reflects on the practical application for all of us which comes down to one word - Love.

Molly expresses appreciation for The Hidden Garden, a new children's book by Jane G. Meyer. It's a great tool to explain the Orthodox view of salvation to your children!

Like most converts to Orthodoxy, Molly was prepared with her answers and defenses when asked why she took this "strange road." More recently however, she is finding herself less drawn to defending her decision and more toward exhibiting the essence of Orthodox Christianity. A letter from Mother Thekla to a convert helped open her eyes.

In this episode, Molly says "For joy to be miraculous and healing to others, and ourselves, it must be irrational – independent of our circumstances, and fierce in its determination to combat darkness and despair with intentional hopefulness and light."

Do the hardest things first, wrote Fr. Thomas Hopko, which is what Molly concentrates on in today's episode.

Each of us struggle with our own deficiencies, but God is merciful.

Molly is learning that repentance and hope walk hand in hand.

A trip to the county fair ends up giving a lesson in the acquisition of peace in spite of the disturbing news around us.

Molly learns an unexpected lesson from St. Euphrosynos while reading a children's book to her daughter at bedtime.

A spring break family trip to the Smokies provides a reminder that we are desperately dependent on the mercy and faithfulness of God especially as we approach the finish line of Great Lent.

An important lesson learned in the beginning of the 3rd week of the Fast as Molly and the family head to Ikea and back again.

On this first day of Great Lent, Molly compares the condition of her house with the condition of her soul.

We can choose to perpetuate our anxieties, despair, and defeatist attitudes or we can choose a better way.