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When Shame Speaks Loudest, Grace Speaks Louder
Here is your reminder to… GIVE YOURSELF GRACE I was on the phone today with one of the nurses—and a friend—from the burn center in Allentown, PA. In the middle of our conversation, she mentioned that the doctor had some concerns about my upcoming surgery. Those concerns came from something shared by a former member of my care team. They talked about something I don’t like to say out loud. That I’m a chronic picker. Even writing that carries weight. There’s a sting to it. A vu
Kelsay Parrott
Apr 244 min read
Stay Open
It has been a rough couple of days. If I am completely honest with you. The kind that settle deep into your bones—where prayers feel heavier, not lighter. Where intercession turns into groaning, where words run out and all that’s left are tears. There has been a lot of that lately. Tears that come quietly and ones that don’t. Sleep that slips away just when you need it most. An appetite that disappears. And somewhere in the middle of it all, a strange feeling of being… lost w
Kelsay Parrott
Apr 52 min read
Humbled and Honored
I was driving home from the award ceremony, sitting in a quiet moment, just talking to God. Not a big, polished prayer—just something real: “Lord… is this the beginning of something? If it is, would You just show me?” Not even a minute later, I glanced over—and there they were. Not one, but two bald eagles soaring above me. If you know me, you know God has used eagles to speak to my heart in very specific moments. And in that instant, I just knew. Not because of what I saw, b
Kelsay Parrott
Mar 264 min read
Our Connections Bring More
We were sitting in a circle at a seminary—men and women, many of whom had walked through incarceration, all carrying different stories, different burdens, different pasts. And then there were those of us who had come from college for a week of missions. Different worlds, brought into one room. One by one, we made simple statements. “I’ve traveled outside the country.” “My favorite color is blue.” “I’ve been arrested.” After each statement, we tossed a spool of yarn across the
Kelsay Parrott
Mar 173 min read
Heartbeat Purpose
Place your hand over your heartbeat—your wrist, your neck, your chest. Be still for a moment… and feel it. Like really feel it. Do not move past this moment quick. Now take a few deep breaths before you finish here. That steady rhythm beneath your skin is not an accident. It is not meaningless. It is breath given. It is life sustained. It is purpose, still unfolding. Just imagine, this is something that Never stops until your purpose is done. It beats and beats, day in and da
Kelsay Parrott
Mar 172 min read
26 Lessons for 26 Years: Part 3 — The Final Six
Parts one and two spoke of God’s love and the lessons it taught me along the way—truths learned in quiet moments and painful seasons alike. This final part is where those lessons settled into my bones. These are not theories or ideas; they are lived realities. They are what remained after the dust settled, after the wounds began to scar, and after I realized survival was no longer the goal—living was. I pray these lessons help ground you and help you to reflect deeper as well
Kelsay Parrott
Mar 175 min read
From Dust... To Grace
I felt a pull. A pull to tradition. A pull to recenter. A pull to come back to the basics. So tonight, I went to church for Ash Wednesday. A simple worship, sermon, ashes, and communion. Nothing crazy, nothing wild. Just traditional. Chills went through my spine when the Reverend touched my forehead and said the words, “You are dust, and to dust you will return.” I felt that truth deep in my bones. Not in a heavy way. Not in a hopeless way. But in a grounding way. A humbling
Kelsay Parrott
Feb 183 min read
Voices of Change
There is something sacred about a voice. Not the polished kind that fills auditoriums. Not the kind that trends or echoes across platforms or becomes a faded audio file. But the trembling, ordinary, human voice—the one that cracks when it tells the truth. The one that whispers and yells. The one that changes in the moment. Your voice carries more power than you think. Every word you speak carries power—more than you may ever realize. Every whisper, every pause, every tremblin
Kelsay Parrott
Feb 166 min read
Like a Railroad Line
A line from Soul on Fire has been echoing in my heart. A little girl asks John, “If you could go back and stop it from ever happening, would you?” I sat with that question longer than I expected. Would I change it? Would I choose a different story if I could? Would I ask God to spare me the pain and suffering of every situation? As I kept pondering, the question widened. What if I had pursued being a doctor? When I was in elementary and middle school, I dreamed of becoming a
Kelsay Parrott
Jan 264 min read
26 Lessons from 26 Years: Part 3
Parts one and two reflected God’s love and the lessons it has taught me along the way—truths carved into my life in quiet moments, in painful seasons, and in the spaces where I could only pray and trust. This final part is where those lessons settled into my bones. These are not theories or ideals—they are lived realities. They are what remained after the dust settled, after the wounds began to scar, and after I realized that survival was no longer the goal—living was. I pray
Kelsay Parrott
Jan 215 min read
26 Lessons for 26 Years: Part 2
Here we go with part 2 of this one. Here is the recap 1. Treasure every moment—big or small 2. Not every good opportunity is obedience 3. Pain is not proof that God is absent 4. Gratitude is a form of seeing 5. God does not ask us to earn His approval 6. Letting go is sometimes an act of faith 7. The past holds wisdom the present often forgets 8. Small victories are still victories 9. Rest is holy resistance 10. Truth without love is noise 11. Waiting is not wasted time If Pa
Kelsay Parrott
Jan 205 min read
26 Life Lessons for 26 Years: Part 1
In turning another year older this week, I felt God ask me not just to look back—but to name what He has done. These are not polished lessons, I am far from having it all together. They were carved into me through joy, loss, endurance, and grace. Some were learned gently. Others were learned on my knees. This is Part 1 of 26 lessons from 26 years. 1. Treasure every moment—big or small Life does not wait for us to feel ready. It moves forward—quietly, relentlessly, beautifully
Kelsay Parrott
Jan 196 min read
New Years Resolutions... NEVER
We all know the list—the resolutions we write with confidence on January 1, the promises we make to ourselves with the best of intentions. This year will be different. New year, new me. No more excuses Heck I think I have started the resolution of "Dieting and losing weight" every year for the past 10 years.... oops. We’ve all said it. And yet, so often those words fade—not because we didn’t care, but because willpower alone was never meant to carry the weight of real transfo
Kelsay Parrott
Jan 14 min read
Overcoming Eating Disorders & Anxiety in the Face of the Holidays
A Letter to Anyone Who Feels “Too Much” This Season The holidays have a way of magnifying everything— not just the beauty, not just the joy— but the pain we’ve learned to hide so well. Or so we thought we were hiding it. This season is supposed to feel warm and magical, filled with love and laughter and belonging. But the truth? Sometimes the lights feel too bright. Sometimes the rooms feel too crowded. Sometimes the expectations feel suffocating. For me, one of the hardest p
Kelsay Parrott
Nov 27, 20253 min read
Become That Person
I was sitting at a Friendsgiving on Wednesday night when I casually said, “I’ve only lived here for three years.”Everyone at the table froze and said, “Wait—what? Only three years??” Their reaction caught me off guard. Not because three years is nothing, but because it has felt so short. Yet somehow, in that short span, I’ve become a part of their world in a way that feels… permanent. Natural. Familiar. And as I sat there, something in me whispered: I’ve never felt this befor
Kelsay Parrott
Nov 22, 20254 min read
Be Authentic and Let God do the Rest
Last night, I went out for a quick bite with a good friend. As we talked about life and people, he mentioned something someone had said to him: “Watch out for you. Kelsay isn’t as innocent as she tries to seem.” I won’t lie — that one stung deep. It felt like someone had pierced a place in my heart I thought had already healed. Immediately, my mind wanted to know who said it and why. The words replayed over and over until they started to echo in my thoughts: Am I really being
Kelsay Parrott
Nov 13, 20255 min read
Scars on the Soul
It’s National Scar Appreciation Day, and for the first time in my life, I can honestly say I’m thankful for mine. That sentence didn’t come easily. It has taken years — years of tears, prayers, anger, surrender, and growth — to reach a place where I can look at my reflection and not see tragedy, but testimony. My scars once felt like punishment, but now I see them as purpose. Every mark tells a story. Some came from the flames — the day that changed my life forever — but ot
Kelsay Parrott
Oct 22, 20253 min read
What an Honor
This week, I had the honor of attending International Burn Camp, hosted by the International Association of Fire Fighters. This is a burn survivor leadership camp that sends one camper and one mentor to Washington DC for a week of touring, adventures, leadership building, and community building. Every time I’m surrounded by this community, I am reminded of its power—but this week felt different. This was the icing on the cake, the dream fulfilled that my younger self never st
Kelsay Parrott
Oct 2, 20252 min read
Dear Lifeway Church
I still remember my very first encounter with you. It was 2018 when we pulled up to the theater. Honestly, I was a little confused—“This is church? At a movie theater?” But the moment I stepped inside, my heart was awakened. Smiles everywhere. Laughter in the halls. People who carried joy. And most of all, people who made me feel like I mattered—even if I had never returned again. All of this, I later learned, came because one couple dared to dream. They dreamed of serving th
Kelsay Parrott
Sep 13, 20254 min read
Three Years Ago
Three years ago today, My parents and myself passed the sign that said, "Welcome to Pennsylvania". Loaded with two cars with my parents, everything I could squeezed inside. My heart was just as full—fear, anxiety, anticipation, and a hope that somehow this move to Pennsylvania would be worth it. It was a huge step, and deep down I knew there was no turning back. This was not like when I moved to College or went to a trip. This was serious adulting behavior. The VA was waiting
Kelsay Parrott
Aug 30, 20254 min read
Sensitive Content:
As a trauma pastor and survivor, I find it essential to alert readers to sensitive topics, ensuring they feel safe and aren’t caught off guard. A simple warning can prevent harm, so please approach this content mindfully. If it may be sensitive for you, consider reading at a safer time or skipping it altogether. If something causes distress, please seek help from a licensed counselor, pastor, or trusted friend. Note that it’s impossible to warn for all triggers, so please advocate for yourself and assess the content before engaging. Thank you for understanding and for helping create a safer environment for all!
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