Crystal N Wilkins

Simple Extravagance

Simple extravagance is a phrase I used this week a couple times to describe the felt experience of being in the presence of friends who get you, care for you and lavish love freely. The word simple means easily understood or done, or the state of being uncomplicated. It’s not without sacrifice, but it isContinue reading “Simple Extravagance”

Daughter of the King

I walk through the palace a little shaky, I look at the other beauties and question the dress I am wearing, The color of eyes You gave me. That color looks so lovely on her. What would it be like to have what she has? You whisper, You’re beautiful. I made you on purpose. IContinue reading “Daughter of the King”

Crashing Cars

As a child life specialist and play therapist, I watch kids day-by-day, come into my playroom and repetitively work over the emotional points of suffering in their lives. They’ll crash cars together over and over again; they’ll play out horrific words spoken to them; awful things done to them. They’ll play out their deepest fears. Continue reading “Crashing Cars”

Let God be God

In a culture where the trend is You do you… A culture that motivates with encouragement that you can do anything you want to do—be anything you want to be. Break down any wall and climb any mountain. Where does this statement of letting God be God fit? I’ve been studying the Psalms this summerContinue reading “Let God be God”

Una Mas, Mija.

I stood on the pitcher’s mound, rolling the softball around in my hand, wiping sweat from my forehead, looking longingly at the third base line. My Dad stood there cheering me on, and I so desperately wanted him to pull me from the game. Instead, he just smiled and clapped. Una Mas, Mija. Una Mas.Continue reading “Una Mas, Mija.”

Puzzles

I hate puzzles. Hate. Loathe—never want to do them. Even the 24-piece ones that toddlers can do. It’s always a mystery to me why anyone would do a puzzle for fun. What does that even mean? I was that kid who would pound the random pieces that didn’t fit to force it to stick together.Continue reading “Puzzles”

Draw Near

She was shaking. She heard the echoing cheers of her family, and she smiled in eager excitement, but she was scared. I’d never seen her scared before. She was so feisty. She listened when she decided to. She had an eye roll that could rival any 17 year old. She marched to the beat ofContinue reading “Draw Near”

Just…

I closed the door, wiped my brow, sloshed some hand sanitizer in my hands, and checked the pager on my hip. I rushed to the trauma room, with IPAD and book in hands, bubbles in my pocket. I almost collided with my intern. Ugh, she said rolling her eyes. I just did the most annoyingContinue reading “Just…”

Steel Walls

I crouched on my knees with paper towels underneath them. I held my hair back with one hand, while I braced myself with another on the stall. My stomach turned, and my breakfast went in the opposite direction it was supposed to. I tried not to touch anything. Bathrooms are gross, but hospital bathrooms areContinue reading “Steel Walls”

Rays of orange and pink scatter the sky, to my left. The deep, dark blue dances in crashing waves, to my right. I sit in a blanket of white sand That shifts with each wiggle of my toes. My eyes are busy, capturing all the beauty possible to see— If I blink, I’ll miss something.Continue reading “More”