Eight Reflections of Gratitude: Recognizing Life’s Blessings in Every Season
Introduction Gratitude doesn’t come only when life is easy. In fact, some of the most lasting thankfulness often grows out of trials, waiting, or surprise encounters that shift our perspective. Each of the stories below captures a different dimension of gratitude—from second chances and reconnection to the peace that follows loss. My hope is that […]
Five Stories That Reveal the Invisible Hand of Grace
We’ve all experienced moments that stop us — coincidences that feel too meaningful to ignore, decisions that change everything, or encounters that seem perfectly timed. In these five stories, I reflect on how guidance, purpose, and quiet grace often emerge in unexpected places — from boardrooms and hospitals to family homes and childhood streets. Together, […]
Finding Family Roots in Poland
Sometimes the most meaningful discoveries come when you least expect them. On a trip to Poland in 2009, I uncovered the true story of my grandfather, Ignatius Matusiak, who left his village in 1909 at age eighteen to start a new life in America. This journey deepened my faith, stirred my heart, and reconnected me […]
Unexpected Lessons from President Clinton
An Invitation to the White House In 2000, New York Life—where I held a senior leadership role—sponsored a PBS series on U.S. presidents. As part of the launch, a small group of New York Life executives, including myself, was invited to a White House reception hosted by President Bill Clinton. This was just months after […]
Discovery in Korea
A True Story of Adoption, Identity, and God’s Perfect Timing In early 1979, my wife Sue and I adopted our daughter Dena, a five-month-old orphan from Korea. At the time, we knew only the basics: she had been born to an unwed mother and cared for by a foster mother until she could travel to […]
Johnny’s Yard – A Story of Adoption, Divine Timing, and Unmistakable Grace
A Calling to Adopt Before we even knew we couldn’t conceive, Sue and I had always intended to adopt. We wanted to share our love with children who needed it most. In 1975, we adopted nine-month-old Heidi from Seoul, Korea—abandoned at birth on the steps of a church. Four years later, we adopted five-month-old Dena, […]
Held by Love: A Son’s Tribute to His Mother’s Lasting Faith and Wisdom
Parenting is a sacred responsibility, and few embodied that calling as gracefully as my mother, Rose Sievert. Her love and wisdom shaped not only my childhood but also the person I became in both my personal and professional life. Looking back, two memories stand out as deeply formative reminders of the way God used her […]
A Glimpse Beyond: My Dad’s Final Gift
Death is part of life, yet at 46, I’d never lost an immediate family member. That changed in 1994, when my father’s battle with cancer came to a peaceful end—but not before something extraordinary happened. In 1992, our family of seven relocated to Connecticut. Not long after, Dad received his diagnosis. Two years later, in […]