Discover joy in the hard places

Welcome to the blog of JP Mills where you will find encouragement and belonging through reflective journaling and poetry.

Joyful Ruins

Discovering joy in the hard places

beautiful Beauty Bible Christ church cross darkness Dear younger me devotional faith fear God healing Heart Home hope humanity hurt Jesus John joy life light Lord Lord of the Rings love Luke Mark nature New testament Old testament pain peace poem poetry prayer relationship relationships romance single suffering The Bible trust wait worth

  • Nuance

    Sometimes I just want someone to hold me This is made more difficult by the fact that I can’t remember the last time I hugged a guy other than family and I feel shamed for wanting a man while feeling shamed for being alone There’s part of me that longs for someone to live this… Continue reading

  • Humanity Should not Look Like Me

    Humanity Should not Look Like Me

    Humanity should not look only like me The faces of humanity should be so varying it is stunning in its colors like a flock of tropical birds I want to look at humanity and see laugh lines outrageous clothes stubble browns and tans wrinkles eyes of chocolate eyes of oceans I want to see worship… Continue reading

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  • Go Small or Go Home

    Go Small or Go Home

    Note: I wrote this a year ago. If I rewrote it, I would take a lot of the religious language out of it because this applies to all peoples, no matter what they believe. So, forgive me if the religious wording throws you off. I hope you can still get a sincere and helpful message… Continue reading

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  • I can be Both

    So strong at times so full of peace a hope rises up inside of me Then crashing down I feel the weight I can’t lift up my arms they shake So weak at times so full of doubt afraid of waves the hope it caves These both describe me not one or the other I’m… Continue reading

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  • The Suffering

    Written in 2021: Is there a line we cross a veil lifted for those who mourn like we suddenly live in a different world than others? For those who truly feel their pain Have they stepped into a place familiar to those who move on? Are we ever meant to “move on” to ignore the… Continue reading

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About Me

An obsessive journaler who loves meeting others along their journey and giving them a hand to hold through pieces of writing. I write about the heartbreaks of life and the joys, the ups and downs, and I often learn my greatest lessons and miracles from nature.

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