Every word, hard-won.
For over five decades, Marlene Burling walked beside her husband James — not simply as a spouse, but as a faithful partner in every sense of the word. Together they shared 51 years of marriage and 35 years of active ministry, where Marlene's quiet presence shaped congregations, counseled families, and anchored a home built on unwavering faith.
Her voice first found its way into print through a small column called Marlene's Memo, published in church magazines. It was personal, warm, and rooted in the kind of hard-won wisdom that only comes from living — not just observing — the Christian life. Those early words were seeds of what would grow into a full body of written work.
When loss came — the passing of her beloved James, and then both of her in-laws in close succession — Marlene turned once again to writing. What began as "mini-devotions" shared on Facebook became her way of processing grief, holding onto hope, and reaching others walking through their own valleys. Her pain became her pulpit, and her words found hearts far beyond her congregation.
What began as personal processing evolved into a steady online ministry. Marlene's Facebook devotions attracted a growing community of readers who found in her honesty the courage to face their own hardships with faith — and, in time, grew into five published books that have found their way into homes, churches, and hearts across generations.