Story

Do You Know YOUR Value?

It's a rare person who comes into your life and in a few minutes sums up the one thing that you struggle with most. "Kathy, do you know your value?" In my journey to answer that question for myself, I discovered I wasn't alone in that struggle. What changes for each of us when we stop comparing ourselves to others and come to know ourselves for the value we truly bring to our world. Listen in to hear how this same rare person used her 'last words' to continue to speak life into me. What would it look like for you to use your voice - your message - now?

What kind of RIPPLES are you creating with your life? Check out the RIPPLES Experience to embrace your voice, craft your message, and influence your world. kathyburrus.com/ripples.

My Ordinary Mom!

Tomorrow we will celebrate the life of my momma! I have been at a loss for words since her passing. How do you pay tribute to the woman who not only gave you life, but supported you through it your entire life. So I am sharing a post I wrote for her birthday in 2014. Heads up! It’s long. Yet it is only a glimpse of the legacy she has left to me - and to my family.


Originally posted on OCTOBER 23, 2014 

I know- you are looking at this title and wondering if I just dissed my mother!   Well, let me tell you about her!

Mom was born October 23, 1936. She grew up on a farm in Kansas, the middle of three sisters with a lone older brother.

She trusted Christ as her Savior at the age of 11. She often noted it was the same year that Israel became a nation. At the end of her freshman year of High School, Mom made a commitment to prepare seriously to serve the Lord.   In one of her GRANDMA REMEMBERS letters to her grandchildren, she shared Psalm 71:5 says, ” God has been my trust from my youth.”

That impacted so many decisions she made throughout her life.  She often told me she never wanted to be a farmer’s wife, but she didn’t mind if she married a Pastor or a Missionary.  Well, the man she married, my Dad, became a pastor when I was three.  She got her dream. Later in life, he also worked with the farmers and even purchased grazeland of his own. So there’s that!

Her gift from a very early age was a love for playing the piano.  Her church gave her the platform to use that skill often and her father encouraged her to do it.  By the time she was in the 7th grade, she had learned to play enough choruses that she was asked to play piano for the chorus time at her church’s VBS.  She wrote in another letter to the grands, “I used to hate to see the lady line up her chorus books on the piano and we could only sing the songs the leader picked out. …I wanted to memorize oodles of choruses and then the other children can pick some they like too.”  So she did!  And every year until she graduated from high school, she was given the ‘privilege’ of playing for Bible School.

She also had many more years as a Pastor’s wife teaching children in Sunday School and VBS and as a Mom to five of her own.   She spent many years teaching piano to the kids in the county, including myself and my siblings.  We all still play somewhat- even if just for our own enjoyment.  But we are all grateful for that skill.

Mom and I recently talked about a time in her life when she felt joy in writing music and would spend as many free moments at the piano as she could with hopes that one of those hymns would find its way to be published.  As a young girl,  I remembered being proud of her creativity and courage.  I recalled praying as she would seal an envelope with her new song that this one would be loved by someone.  She shared that her college professor had written that he too was proud of her for using her skills like this, but that he was sure that as music was becoming more contemporary and her hymns would be lost in the change.

One of my favorite times when we stayed at my folks was early on a Sunday morning, we could hear Mom at the piano rehearsing a prelude or offertory for that morning’s service.  Most often it is a hymn of my youth and I would hum the tune and worship from my bed as I recalled the words.

Then years later my mom  (and dad) experienced a CHANGE!  From being a pastor’s wife, and piano teacher to being an Activity Director at a Nursing Home in the area.  My dad continued to preach in area churches, but he also started to farm- one of the things Mom never wanted to do.  My mom continued to use all the skills and gifts she had developed since she was a child and ministered to the residents at the Manor.  She used her gift to love on people and  encouraged hymn sings and a rhythm band.  And sometimes they just listened to her play.

While I don’t remember the songs Mom used to write,  I do remember the energy I saw in her- the excitement about a ‘possibility’!  I have cherished it at a time in my life when I have had to CHANGE too!

Though I could never play like Mom- the polka dots always seemed to get mixed up when I tried to get more elaborate, I’m forever grateful that I can enjoy that gift on my worship team or for my own private worship at home.  Or just for fun!

Even though my mom would say, I should have prayed that God would use us in a big church or a larger area.

Sometimes I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished much in my life. But ten years ago she wrote, “I used to think that when people turned 65 years of age, they should slow down. Well, we do slow down and it takes us longer to do things, but more opportunities keep arising.” 

If you go back to Psalm 71, verse 18 also says “Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, forsake me not! Until I have showed thy strength unto this generation and thy power to everyone that is to come!

From 2003 to 2012 Mom wrote to her Grand-children each month to share a “Grandma Remembers” Memory with them.  I want to publish her stories but she says, “Oh they are just my memories of ordinary things and ordinary people.”

Lyrics of an old song ring true here:

Just ordinary people,

God uses ordinary people

He chooses people just like me and you,

Who are willing to do as He commands.

God uses people that will give Him all,

No matter how small your all may seem to you;

Because little becomes much

As you place it in the Master’s hand.

Family photo taken at my Dad’s memorial service August 6th, 2022. The entire family was able to attend to support mom.

Those 12 grand kids, with their kids, along with my sibling and our spouses, learned a wealth of history of a Grandma & Grandpa that loved and served the Lord with all their hearts.

By being their ordinary selves, they LIVED an extraordinary life that touched many.

Thanks Mom! You are my hero of faith and family and music and words! I love you!


Do I look scary to you?

We all have those women in our life that might intimidate us. They seem to have it all together and we feel 'less than' somehow when we compare ourselves to them.

Come to find out - one lady that was my scary woman, actually told me I was hers. Oh my! I mean it is great that someone - anyone would think i have my act together.

But I know me. I know the real me - the messy me…

She would have been 30 on Thursday!

She would have been 30 on Thursday!

I've dreaded this year - this birthday for nearly 15 years. In a few months Leisha will have lived as long as she has been gone.

I hesitated to share this with my GHC community. But the truth is, I haven't been doing well, emotionally, spiritually, mentally or physically. A huge part of that is that I have had some 'BIG" things going on in my life in a very short amount of time.

But that isn't all of it.

For the last 6 weeks I have been 'stopped" -

When Your Holiday Isn't Hallmark!

This new year I am unexpectedly spending time with my parents, My 85 year old father spent the weekend in the hospital and we are struggling alongside him as he tries to gain some ground on the issues that are threatening his quality of life.

One year ago during the Christmas holiday,. Rennie was in the James Center recovering from a stroke. I’m thrilled to say he has made a full recovery. I reread a post I wrote one night sitting by my husband’s hospital bed. The events of last Christmas are speaking boldly into the emotions I have as I watch my father labor to do the ‘right stuff’ to cooperate with us and the health professionals.

My own words have challenged me to rethink this moment, just as I was challenged one year ago. I thought you might benefit from reading them again too.

When the Holiday Isn't Hallmark!

I really love a feel good story and Hallmark Christmas movies have always been something I enjoy. ( I don't even feel bad if you are judging me because of it.) We all want the good guy to win, the hero to save the day or the magic of 'that kiss'.  But we also know life doesn't always show up that way. 

I'm writing this to you while I'm sitting in the OSU James Med Center and my husband lies in a hospital bed beside me. He was life-flighted here on Friday for

Talking to my 20 year old Self!

I have watched her from a distance for a while now, this young woman that now sits across from me over a cup of coffee. We have spoken briefly, usually including a hug on a Sunday morning between services. I have shared with her that I am praying for her specifically, but we really don’t know each other at all. Except that I feel like I do know her - or at least some aspects of the life she lives.

Ever had a friend you wished you knew better...!

I first met Nancy five years ago at the very first TRIBEWRITER conference, which my community knows that has been a big part of my writing journey. However, at that first conference, Nancy and I probably didn't say more than five words to one another even though from the first time we made eye contact, I felt like we had made a connection. We went the whole weekend without really getting acquainted.

t just happened that as the conference was ending, we passed each other and I took a chance to speak to her.

Hey It's LAUNCH DAY

For me this is a Significant day - not an ordinary day in any sense of the word! I’ve shared some of this in my last blog post called Five Years Later . But it seems important to include some of it here again because it is such a key part of my journey. Heads up - this is a long one. But I am an author now.

It is the Last day of TRIBE FIVE (a conference for writers and creatives put on my Jeff Goins and his team). It is the last day of the last conference. He's up to something else- we just don't know what - yet.

 On the last day of the first conference, I heard Jeff say,

“You are a writer when you say you are a writer.”

So I said I was a writer.

Five Years Later - Almost to the Day!

For the past five years, one of those highlights in my life has been to connect with a group of creative, soul-searching writers and artists who gather in Franklin, Tennessee for the TRIBEWRITER Conference hosted by founder and creator of the Tribewriter community, Jeff Goins.

I value learning new skills by listening to those who have already done what I want to do as they share what has worked for them or tips of the trade. But more than that, I love having the opportunity to rub shoulders with the men and women who are using their voice, their stories, and their talents to make their difference. 

This is my 5th TRIBE Conference. It will also be the last TRIBE Conference that Jeff Goins will be hosting. I will have attended all of them.  Each year brought with it new challenges and insights both as a writer and as a person.

Each year there are those who say to me, “Don’t quit. Keep showing up.”

  But mostly they say “Own who you are and do it with all your heart.”

 The importance of this year’s TRIBE Conference in relation to my writing journey is significant. You will understand more at the end of this post.