Mermaids, Apostles, and Devils! Oh my!
How do we distinguish truth from illusion in a world filled with signs?
Love,
Last Sunday, my mom and I went to a concert while my dad stayed home with the boys. The first part of the program was Midnight Mass for Christmas by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. The choral society sang beautifully, and there were dancers whose movements were so thoughtfully choreographed that they really brought the music to life. The second half was made up of more familiar songs and Christmas carols, which was really fun to listen to. Everything about it was beautifully done, and I’m grateful I was able to attend.
On the way to the concert, my mom and I were chatting about a few things and somehow ended up talking about the appetizers we’re planning to make on Christmas Eve. She mentioned she’s going to make mermaids on horseback, which immediately caught my attention because it’s such an interesting name. It turns out it’s just shrimp wrapped in bacon with a sauce.
She then told me there’s a similar dish called angels on horseback, which uses oysters instead of shrimp. That made me curious, so I Googled it and discovered there’s also devils on horseback, which are dates wrapped in bacon.
On the way home from church today, my mom mentioned she has scallops and might try a version with those too. I looked that up as well, and apparently those are called apostles on horseback. We don’t have oysters, but we are planning to make mermaids, devils, and apostles on horseback. I honestly have no idea how people come up with these names, but they definitely made me laugh.
During the concert, as I was watching the dancers, those appetizers popped into my mind and I started reflecting on them. It’s interesting how on the outside, they all look (and probably even taste and smell) pretty much the same at first. It’s only once you try them and get to the center that you realize whether you’re eating an angel, a mermaid, or a devil version. There’s something kind of interesting about that.
I found myself thinking about how Scripture says the enemy can appear as an angel of light, and how deception often works by first earning trust through what looks good on the surface. Then I started wondering about that idea in reverse too, and how wisdom sometimes means being aware of appearances, timing, and discernment.
Maybe there are moments when appearing like a mermaid can open doors or create space for good. Not as deception, but as strategy. Just something to sit with and think about, both now and as we look ahead.
Audrey, I’m not quite sure what your role is in all of this, but you’ve been highlighted to me for some reason, and after seeing some of the recent things you’ve posted, I felt led to share a few thoughts.
I don’t know who the song you wrote is about, and honestly, that part isn’t important to me. It made me reflect on the way we treat the people who care about us. Whoever he is, what stood out to me was a lack of respect in the way he was spoken about, and I hope that’s something you’ll reflect on — for him and for the other men in your life, some of whom I know. I don’t think any of us would feel good being called trash or being spoken about in a dismissive or demeaning way.
I may be mistaken, but it feels like the genes God has blessed you with draw men in, and then emotions become complicated and are navigated in ways that end up leaving others wounded. We shouldn’t worry about being beautiful by the standards set by magazines like People, but by the condition of our hearts, which is revealed in how we treat others. That’s what ultimately lasts, and that’s what truly matters.
Even though my ex hurt me deeply and made choices that mean he can’t be part of my life right now, I still see him as a brilliant and capable man with so much potential. There are areas he needs to grow in, especially in how he handles anger and treats others, and I continue to pray and hope for his healing.
And if he is reading this, I want him to know that I forgive him and that I’m grateful for the place he had in my life. I treasure the memories we made together. While there were things I went through that no one should have to endure, I learned and grew through it all, and I trust that God is using it for His glory.
Our pain from past relationships should never be minimized, but I pray we can all come to a place of healing where we choose to promote positivity and love.
Going forward, I hope we’re all mindful of how we treat one another. If I see men being spoken to or treated disrespectfully, I’ll do my best to advocate for kindness and respect, and I pray we can all strive to be better role models in how we love others.
It’s disheartening to see disrespect toward men go unchallenged, especially when it’s supported or overlooked by others. How someone speaks about and treats past relationships often says a lot about how future ones may unfold. I hope we can encourage men to stand up for one another and stop enabling behavior that undermines respect and dignity.
It’s difficult to imagine anyone wanting to build a family with someone who models persistent disrespect, especially knowing how those attitudes can be passed on to future generations. The way we treat others has real consequences (not just personally, but socially) and it’s something we should take seriously.
I’ve been reflecting on the difference between a strong woman of God who fears the Lord from many of the patterns we see today.
A woman of God has standards for herself and for the men in her life, but they’re rooted in love, not control. When she speaks up or offers correction, it’s because she wants to see him grow and become the best version of himself. It’s not to tear him down or serve her own interests. Even when it feels like tough love, it’s still coming from a place of care, humility, and wanting what’s truly best for him.
She isn’t manipulative or self-serving. She doesn’t take advantage of a man’s emotions or vulnerable moments to build herself up. Instead, she uses the gifts God has given her to support the man in her life, not to compete with him or position herself above him.
She knows how to have honest conversations and encourage growth, while also being sensitive to moments when compassion and support are what’s most needed.
She chooses to believe in the good in men, even before it’s fully visible, trusting how God designed them with strength and a desire to protect. She recognizes God’s design for men and women to complement one another, and she values walking alongside a man in a way that supports and strengthens him.
She brings a sense of safety, security, and peace — not conflict, drama, or unnecessary stress.
She wins a man’s heart through her words and the way she speaks, not by relying on outward appearance or status.
She fears God more than she fears losing a man.
She’s grounded enough not to be swayed by every opinion, while still staying open to wisdom and correction from God and trusted people.
Setting boundaries or blocking people is never easy for her, even when it might look that way from the outside. It breaks her heart. The only reason she would choose that path is out of obedience to God, and she follows His leading even when she doesn’t fully understand it or wishes it could be different.
Because she knows it’s better for her, her husband, and their family if the favor of God remains with her, even if that means a season of separation.
She holds tightly to God’s promises while trusting Him with the process and the journey. She knows her understanding is limited, and she doesn’t want to get in the way of the work God is doing to put everything in its proper place.
She knows she isn’t perfect, and when she falls short, she does her best to take responsibility and make things right. And she regularly invites God to search and realign her heart.
There’s still so much I’m learning, but that’s the woman I desire to become. And I pray God would give me wisdom to truly understand what it means to be a Proverbs 31 woman.
Each day, I wake up and seek God for guidance on what to do and what to build. I don’t feel the need to look elsewhere for inspiration, because I trust that the Creator of the universe is guiding my thoughts and actions.
I’m thankful if what I share helps others or resonates in a way they want to apply to their own lives. My only hope is that it’s done with sincerity, not mockery. And if someone chooses to imitate me, I’d hope it would be in the fullness of my character, and not just the parts that feel convenient.
Our pastor mentioned this at church today, and it really encouraged me. Jesus wasn’t born just to make us feel better. He was born to deliver us, set us free from the forces that control us, and give us new life.
God put it on my heart to encourage you and to remind you that in this season of deliverance and restoration, those who wait will be rewarded. I know waiting is never easy to hear, especially when you’ve already been through so much. But I truly believe God is preparing something very special for you, something that will far exceed what you can see or imagine right now.
Don’t lose hope. Keep trusting Him. I don’t have all the details, but I do know there is purpose in the waiting. We’re simply in the middle of the greatest love story, and God is still writing it.
The song Oceans has also been speaking to me the past week, and I felt led to share it with you.
Watching the lights go up this Christmas season has made me think about my own journey, and how God has a way of shining hope into places we once thought would never brighten.
I’ll continue to write as the Lord leads. And until next time, I pray His peace surrounds you wherever you go.
With love, Jeanie
P.S. And one last thing, the other night while I was putting the boys to sleep, my mind was racing with the things I’ve been going through. And honestly, I don’t understand why simply trying to be kind, supportive, and genuine triggers such strong reactions in people. For some reason, it really does feel like people have a big problem with basic kindness. It’s confusing. Instead of asking questions or trying to understand where someone is coming from, people jump to assumptions. And they twist your words into something completely different from what you meant. It makes me wonder...have we lost the ability to be empathetic? Is it insecurity? Jealousy? Or just the culture we live in, where people are so focused on appearances and “success” that they forget how to treat others like actual human beings with real feelings? And then there’s the competitiveness. You’re just trying to do your own thing, minding your own business, and suddenly it feels like you’re thrown into a competition you never signed up for. All I want is honesty and clear communication, so I try to offer the same to others. I don’t think it’s too much to ask. Because if someone can’t be upfront with you, how can there be any trust at all? Sometimes I think people truly don’t understand what love means. Not just romantic love, but the simple love of caring for another person (even just loving a friend or neighbor or another human being that happens to cross your path in life). People can be surprisingly mean. Anyway, there’s more I could say, but I’ll stop here...before this P.S. becomes longer than the actual letter.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5-6