Three simple habits I’ve adopted over the past decade that have made it possible to love my real life. These are not cures or catch-alls, but they are Christian-based spiritual practices to practice imperfectly.

Guest post by Nancy Bartelt. When I was a kid, I loved taking the two-hour road trip south across the Wisconsin-Illinois border to visit my grandparents. As soon as we arrived at their house, I’d always be greeted with a warm hug, huge smiles, and curious questions about my life. And—almost every time—the best-mashed potatoes in the world.