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A personal journal of ordinary days & unexpected treasures.
A journal of life,
and everything lovely.
Good things, gathered slowly.
PATTY JOYCE / FAITH & REFLECTIONS

Dedicated to
the Pearl of
Great Price.

The Lord Jesus Christ

Faith reflections and everyday stories by Patty Joyce.

Come on in. Stay a while.
Collected along the way
01. Somewhere worth slowing down.
coffee first, always.
PATTY’S MISSION

To comfort, inspire, and carry the love of God.

⤳
A FEW
GOOD THINGS
✳
WORTH KEEPING
✧
FAITH / SCRIPTURE / PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
A SMALL REMINDER

To comfort, inspire, and carry the love of God.

✳
NOTES, STORIES & LITTLE DISCOVERIES

Fresh from
the notebook.

Something to think about.
Something to take with you.

Story-inspired illustration for The Pearl of Great Price
7 MIN READ

The Pearl of Great Price

A birthstone is a gem assigned to each month of the year and, according to Wikipedia, it represents a person’s birth month. Birthstones are often worn as various types of jewelry. June’s birthstone is a pearl and originates from oceans, lakes and rivers around the world. It is a timeless wardrobe staple, beloved by women […]

March 16, 2026↗
Ancient stone winepress with sheaves of wheat, Gideon's story in Judges
7 MIN READ

The Lord and I are a Majority!

“The Lod is with you, mighty warrior.” Jud. 6: 12 NIV   This is what Gideon heard as he was thrashing wheat in a wine press to keep it from the Midianites. Gideon probably turned around, looked, and thought, “Who is He talking to?” He certainly didn’t act or look like a mighty warrior—so […]

March 16, 2026↗
Story-inspired illustration for GRACE
6 MIN READ

GRACE

Writer’s block is defined as a condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author is unable to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown. This creative stall is not a result of commitment problems…

March 16, 2026↗
Story-inspired illustration for A Dog Called Hobo
4 MIN READ

A Dog Called Hobo

“Patty, I have a well-kept stray dog here. He has no collar or tag,” my friend Karen said in a concerned voice over my cell phone. And, I am working from home so I can’t take him to my vet to see if he’s chipped. I am te…

March 16, 2026↗
Story-inspired illustration for One More Thing
2 MIN READ

One More Thing

The last two weeks have surely been a challenge. I was diagnosed with COVID ten days ago and then Jud came down with it just a few days later. I appear to be on the down side, but he, at age 89, is having a more difficul…

March 16, 2026↗
Shepherd in simple ancient robes guiding sheep on a dry Judean hillside
6 MIN READ

The Good Shepherd

I had come to faith shortly before my mother passed away in April of 1987. My Bible, of course, was the most important item I possessed. It held treasures and mysteries that would unfold as I grew in my walk with Jesus. At her memorial on April 17 (which happened to be Good Friday), I […]

March 16, 2026↗
Close detail of a symmetrical white orchid blossom on a sage windowsill
10 MIN READ

Patty’s Blog on Purpose

Purpose As I was pondering and praying about what the subject of this blog should be, I happened to pass one of my orchids. I love orchids! I thought they would be difficult to take care of, but truthfully, they are easier than most flowers. They may not have a regular blooming cycle, but once […]

March 16, 2026↗
Simple wooden cross on a quiet hill at dawn, no body, resurrection hope
2 MIN READ

NO GREATER LOVE

Each year, millions of Christians throughout the world will be celebrating Easter, or what I feel is more appropriately called, Resurrection Sunday. This celebration commemorates the rising of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from death to eternal life. Why did God Incarnate come to earth and die a cruel and lingering death on a […]

March 16, 2026↗
View from over a modest kitchen sink through a window onto a Florida neighborhood
6 MIN READ

My Kitchen Window

I always wanted a window over the kitchen sink and in our current home I have one. My kitchen window becomes a movie screen with all kinds of activity. I never know what I’m going to see in my front-row seat of our community. To the far right, I see the end of our street […]

March 16, 2026↗
Story-inspired illustration for My Alabaster Box
3 MIN READ

My Alabaster Box

I have adopted CeCe Wienan’s song, Alabaster Box, as part of my testimony. It speaks of the sinful woman whose tears washed Jesus’ feet and dried them with her hair.…

March 16, 2026↗
Woven baskets of grain in an ancient Egyptian storehouse, Joseph's story
4 MIN READ

Fruitfulness Out of Affliction

The story of Joseph, Jacob’s first son with Rachel, is one of my favorites (Gen. 37 to 50). If you haven’t read it lately, find a cozy spot, curl up with a cup of coffee or tea or whatever sooths you and let your imagination take you to circa 1915 BC. You will find love, […]

March 16, 2026↗
Unoccupied vintage concert microphone under a gentle stage spotlight, no celebrity
4 MIN READ

And Now, Introducing . . .

Recently, a very famous female recording artist passed away. Being a fan of 60’s Classic Rock, I must admit seeing her in concert would have been quite a tremendous experience. On January 16, 1988, she performed for approximately 188,000 fans at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In doing so, she set a Guinness […]

March 16, 2026↗
Old family photographs turned away beside hand-painted china, mother's keepsakes
6 MIN READ

All that Shines is Not Gold

Isn’t it interesting that as adults, we suddenly realize that our parents did know more than we did as young adolescents? Although I wasn’t a rebellious child, I did my share of talking back, fibbing, casting blame on my younger sisters, doing shoddy household tasks and barely listening to a scolding that “went in one […]

March 16, 2026↗
A very small green turtle inside a dog's outdoor water bowl
4 MIN READ

A Little Turtle Story

I love writing and part of writing is what I should write about. At times, I don’t have a clue, but must try my best to convey something that has meaning to the reader. For instance, how do I inspire someone not to give up? How do I share words of peace to a troubled […]

March 16, 2026↗
Pink dogwood blossoms opening in gentle spring light, remembrance
3 MIN READ

A Breath of Spring

Spring. Regardless of where we live, Spring is the season that falls between descending temperatures and hot humid days and replaces them with picnics, Easter, and open windows that invite fresh breezes inside that say relax and enjoy this season. Tiny seeds begin to burst forth making their way up through the sun-warmed soil to […]

March 16, 2026↗
Story-inspired illustration for TRUTH
5 MIN READ

TRUTH

Recently, I watched a secular series on TV which left me pondering about truth. If you are a person of faith, which I am, you are familiar with Jesus’ statement in John 14:5-6:…

Added October 16, 2026↗
Story-inspired illustration for Twenty-six Notebooks Later
6 MIN READ

Twenty-six Notebooks Later

January 3, 2021, was a special day for me, as it was the first Sunday of the New Year, and I knew Christians all over the world were attending their respective churches. I’m sure thousands and thousands of prayers reache…

Added October 16, 2026↗
A cherished pair of red peep-toe shoes with modest heels
4 MIN READ

My Red Shoes

Several years ago, I purchased a pair of red shoes—not just any red shoes, but red shoes that were made just for me. They had a dainty heel and a small opening for toes. I loved these shoes and wore them until they nearl…

Added October 16, 2026↗
A growing collection, one story at a time.
✳
FROM THE MARGIN
No. 001
Dedicated to the Pearl of Great Price, The Lord Jesus Christ
♡
A FEW PAGES WORTH TURNING

Every day,
another page.

Read excerpts from Patty’s original blogs. Use Previous and Next to explore the stories.

THE BOOK OF PEARLS01 / 04
PATTY’S PEARLS / COLLECTED MOMENTS
Story-inspired illustration for The Pearl of Great Price
The Pearl of Great Price
01
EXCERPT 1 / PATTY JOYCE
✳

The Pearl of Great Price

A birthstone is a gem assigned to each month of the year and, according to Wikipedia, it represents a person’s birth month. Birthstones are often worn as various types of jewelry. June’s …

Continue reading in the journal.
02
EXCERPT 2 / PATTY JOYCE
Ancient stone winepress with sheaves of wheat, Gideon's story in Judges
The Lord and I are a Majority!
03
EXCERPT 2 / PATTY JOYCE
✳

The Lord and I are a Majority!

“The Lod is with you, mighty warrior.” Jud. 6: 12 NIV   This is what Gideon heard as he was thrashing wheat in a wine press to keep it from the Midianites. Gideon probably turned around, …

Continue reading in the journal.
04
EXCERPT 3 / PATTY JOYCE
Shepherd in simple ancient robes guiding sheep on a dry Judean hillside
The Good Shepherd
05
EXCERPT 3 / PATTY JOYCE
✳

The Good Shepherd

I had come to faith shortly before my mother passed away in April of 1987. My Bible, of course, was the most important item I possessed. It held treasures and mysteries that would unfold …

Continue reading in the journal.
06
EXCERPT 4 / PATTY JOYCE
Close detail of a symmetrical white orchid blossom on a sage windowsill
Patty’s Blog on Purpose
07
EXCERPT 4 / PATTY JOYCE
✳

Patty’s Blog on Purpose

Purpose As I was pondering and praying about what the subject of this blog should be, I happened to pass one of my orchids. I love orchids! I thought they would be difficult to take care …

Continue reading in the journal.
08

Choose a story using the buttons above.

END OF THIS LITTLE CHAPTER
THE HEART BEHIND THE WORDS

Meet Patty Joyce.

Patty Joyce is an 80-something great-grandmother whose love of words has been quietly growing for decades, long before she ever imagined sharing them with the world.

It started simply enough. Back in high school, she would write little poems about family and friends on 3×5 cards, just for the joy of it. No audience, no agenda, just a heart that needed to express itself. That same quiet gift would resurface again and again over the years, whenever someone she loved deserved more than an ordinary message.

In December 2014, life took a beautiful turn. Patty met her husband Jud on Christian Mingle, and just five weeks later, they were married, two people who had each known loss, brave enough to believe love wasn’t finished with them yet. The Lord brought them together, and He’s blessed them with eleven wonderful years since. Their new life together led them to a new church, and it was there that Patty began writing for the monthly newsletter. The response from her pastor and congregation moved her deeply. A few years later, she was invited to write for a local women’s ministry, an experience that shaped her faith and her voice in equal measure.

Today, Patty will be the first to tell you that the words in Patty’s Pearls aren’t entirely her own. She believes the Holy Spirit guides every piece she writes, placing on her heart exactly what someone else may need to hear. Her mission is simple and sincere: to comfort, inspire, and carry the love of God to whoever needs it most. Patty’s Pearls is her gift to you.

Blessings, Patty