Emily Mercer

Every year, the turn of the calendar comes with a flood of social media posts promising a “new year, new you.” As a young mom of two, I’ll admit: I’ve felt the pressure. Lose ten pounds. Read twenty books. Organize your house. Start that side hustle. And somehow, do it all in the first few weeks of January. The message is loud: if you haven’t started, you’re behind. But here’s the truth I’ve had to remind myself of over and over: God gives us a year , not a few frantic weeks. Our lives, our...

As a young mom, I love seeing Christmas through my children’s eyes. The lights seem brighter, the music sweeter, and the idea that magic could be real feels almost tangible. Like many families, ours enjoys Santa, elves, and all the fun traditions that come with them. But as a Christian mom, I also carry a deep responsibility: making sure the wonder of Christmas never overshadows the reason we celebrate in the first place—the birth of Jesus Christ. I don’t believe Santa and elves have to be...

If there is one thing motherhood has taught me, it’s that gratitude isn’t something we drift into naturally—it’s something we choose, daily, in the middle of messes, meals, and moments that don’t always feel picture-perfect. As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to truly weave Christ into this season, especially for my two little ones who are just beginning to understand what “being thankful” really means. And here’s the truth we sometimes glide past as we...