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LOVE & LIGHTe M a g J u l y E d i t i o n | I s s u e O n e o f T h r e e | V o l . 7
Come sit with me in the light. C O N T E N T S 4 Editor's Note 6 Joyful Strength for the Journey Rev. Fay Smith-Brantley 8 Mindfulness & the Art of Joyful Living 11 Joyful Living in Parenting: Celebrating Family Wins & Recognizing Progress Amelia Quarles 14 ART: Joyful Living Art by Alexis 15 Finding Love After Domestic Violence Taiyanna Evette Harris 19 When Violence Steals Joy 23 Closing June 24 A Blessing for June 25 This Month in Daylight LOVE & LIGHT L O V E & L I G H T M A G A Z I N E
www.daylightinc.orgLOVE & LIGHT MAGAZINEVoices of Love & LightChae G., LCSW Mental Health Therapist Balancing Thoughts Counseling ServicesMinister Monica A. Day, CMLC Founder & Executive Director of Daylight, Inc. Lightbearer & Restoration Guide Monica@daylightinc.orgRev. Fay Smith-Brantley Minister & ChaplainBrittany Barronton PhotographerAmelia Quarles Certified Parent Advocate RealityCk Contracting Aqrealityck@hotmail.comAlexis Smith Thomason Certified K12 Art Instructor Teaching Art by AlexisA gathering of women who write from the heart—each one offering her own glow, her own story, her own way of carrying hope. Together, their words form a gentle chorus of healing and truth, illuminating these pages with faith, courage, and light.Taiyanna Harris, CDLC Certified Life & Divorce Coach
Imagine a small room in the full warmth of July. The window is open. A clean summer breeze moves the gauze curtain. On the sill — its wick untouched, its wax still smooth — rests a lavender candle in a golden holder. The room has been quietly swept. A worn Bible rests on the seat of a chair. A journal, its pages clean, leans against the wall. There is space here now. Someone has been making room. The candle does not need to be lit yet. Not in July. In July, we only place it. We set it gently in the light and say with the posture of our whole lives: something holy is on its way. I am going to be ready for it. I am going to make room. "Making Room"L O V E & L I G H T M A G A Z I N E P r e p a r i n g Y o u r H e a r t f o r t h e H e a l i n g S e a s o n A h e a d ✦ S o m e t h i n g h o l y i s o n i t s w a y . W i l l y o u m a k e r o o m f o r i t ? ✦
You are holding the first issue of a three-month sacred preparation journey. July is Making Room— a season of gently tidying the inner places, becoming aware, and beginning to breathe. August will walk us further: Clearing the Way— deepening the work and releasing what does not belong in the room we are preparing. And then, in October, beloved — the destination: Healing the Hidden Places, a full retreat issue unlike anything Love & Light has offered before. We will light the candle together. We will go into the hidden places — gently, safely, with God — and we will find that healing was always waiting for us there. You are being lovingly walked toward something. Take your time. July is yours.L O V E & L I G H T M A G A Z I N E A W o r d A b o u t T h i s J o u r n e y :
A Letter Before the Season Turns Beloved, Summer has a particular kind of noise, doesn't it? There are the good noises — children laughing, lawn mowers at golden hour, the easy rhythm of a slow afternoon. But summer also has its hiding-place noises. The calendar fills before we think to stop it. The busyness becomes its own kind of armor. And the things we've been quietly tucking away in the in-between seasons — the grief we haven't named, the wound we keep stepping around, the question we are a little afraid to ask God — those things get even more hidden in the long, loud, bright days of July. I know, because I have been an expert at it myself. But this July, I want to invite you into something different. Not more noise. Not a longer to-do list. Not a spiritual program you have to perform. I want to invite you into a gentle, unhurried act of preparation. Think of it the way you might think of tidying a room before something significant happens in your home — you don't clean frantically. You move through slowly. You open the window. You let light in. You begin to see what is there, and you begin — just begin — to make space for what is coming. Something is coming in October, beloved. I have been praying over it, preparing for it, and I believe with everything in me that it is going to be a sacred threshold moment for this community.L O V E & L I G H T M A G A Z I N E From Monica's Heart to Yours
JUNE 2026 ISSUE 6I am not going to tell you everything yet — some of the holiest things in our lives need to approach slowly, like a sunrise. But I want you ready. I want you softened. I want you to arrive at October's door having already done the quiet work of July — having already swept the room a little, cracked the window, and said yes to the idea that healing is possible for you. Because here is what I know about you: there are hidden places in your heart that God has been patient with. He has not forced the door. He has been standing outside, knocking — warm, steady, unhurried. July is your invitation to begin walking toward the door. You don't have to open it all the way. Not yet. Just walk toward it. My one simple ask for you this month: find a quiet corner somewhere in your home — a windowsill, a bedside table, the corner of your desk. Place a candle there. A lavender one, if you can find it; any candle if you cannot. Do not light it yet. Just let it sit there. Let it wait with you. Each time you see it this month, let it be your reminder: something holy is coming. I am making room. With so much love and so much light, Monica Editor & Minister, Love & Light eMagwww.daylightinc.org
Lord, it’s July, and here I am — long days, full hands, and a heart that has been moving faster than my mind can keep up. Slow me down, God. Soften the edges of my hurrying. Let this season be different — let it be the season I begin to make room. Open the windows of the hidden places in me that I have been afraid to look at. Send Your gentle Spirit ahead of me, like morning light across an open field. Help me not to fill every silence this summer — let some of the silence be Yours. I am placing a candle in the window of my heart, Lord. Unlit. Waiting. Come, in the fullness of time. I will be ready. In Jesus' name — Amen. L O V E & L I G H T M A G A Z I N E ✦ A Summer Opening Prayer ✦
Love as Liberation: A July Theology of Freedom & Compassion July carries a particular kind of spiritual weight. It is a month wrapped in the language of freedom — independence, liberation, new beginnings, reclaimed identity. Yet for many, freedom is not simply a political concept or a historical moment. It is a deeply personal, spiritual journey. It is the slow, sacred work of stepping out of what once held us and into what God has prepared. Freedom, in the Kingdom of God, is not loud. It is not forceful. It is not a demand. It is an unfolding — gentle, intentional, and rooted in love. This is the heart of July’s theology: love as liberation. The Divine Pattern: God Liberates Through Love, Not PressureL O V E & L I G H T M A G A Z I N E Throughout scripture, God’s liberating acts are always paired with compassion. Deliverance is never separated from tenderness. Freedom is never divorced from care. When God leads people out of bondage, He does so with: Guidance Presence Patience Gentle correction Steady reassurance
This pattern teaches us something essential: True freedom is born from love, not fear. It grows in environments where compassion is practiced, not withheld. July becomes a reminder that liberation is not only an event — it is a relationship with a God who frees us through gentleness. Freedom is not simply the absence of chains. It is the presence of clarity, dignity, and selfhood. Spiritual freedom looks like: The ability to breathe without apology The courage to speak truth without trembling The right to rest without guilt The capacity to choose what aligns with your soul The healing that allows you to walk in your own name again For survivors, freedom often arrives in layers. It is not instantaneous. It is not linear. It is not rushed. It is the slow reclaiming of what trauma tried to steal — voice, agency, identity, and belonging. July’s warmth mirrors this process. The sun does not rise all at once; it climbs gently. Freedom does the same. Freedom as a Spiritual Experience
If love is the source of freedom, compassion is the pathway. Compassion is not pity. It is not softness without strength. It is the spiritual discipline of seeing someone fully — their wounds, their hopes, their humanity — and responding with care. Compassion liberates because it: Creates safety Reduces shame Encourages truth-telling Supports emotional release Builds trust Honors the pace of healing When compassion is present, the soul relaxes. And when the soul relaxes, freedom becomes possible. This is why Jesus consistently paired healing with compassion. He touched before He taught. He listened before He led. He loved before He liberated.LOVE & LIGHT MAGAZINE Compassion as the Pathway to Liberation
This month invites you to ask gentle, honest questions: Where am I still living small? What have I outgrown but not released? What truth have I been afraid to speak? What part of me is ready to be free? What does liberation look like in my life right now? Freedom does not require perfection — only willingness. It begins with one brave step toward yourself. July whispers: “You are allowed to be free. You are allowed to be whole. You are allowed to be new.”LOVE & LIGHT MAGAZINE A July Call to Reclaim Your Freedom Practices for Living in Love & Liberation Here are spiritual practices to help embody July’s theology: 1. A Daily Breath of Release Inhale: “I am held.” Exhale: “I am free.” 2. A Compassion Check-In Ask: “What does my heart need today?” Respond with gentleness. 3. A Freedom Journal Prompt Write: “What would my life look like if I trusted my liberation?”
4. A Love-Led Boundary Choose one boundary that protects your peace and honor it without guilt. 5. A July Prayer of Becoming “God, guide me into the freedom You designed for me. Let Your love be my liberation, and Your compassion be my path.”LOVE & LIGHT MAGAZINE The Light of Liberation Freedom is not a destination — it is a spiritual posture. It is the way you stand in your truth. The way you honor your healing. The way you walk in your God-given identity. July reminds us that liberation is holy. It is sacred. It is yours. And as you embrace love as your guiding force, you step into a freedom that does not fade — a freedom rooted in divine compassion, spiritual courage, and the radiant light of God’s presence.
www.daylightinc.orgProverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (KJV) There’s a verse often spoken over children, a gentle reminder of the sacred responsibility placed in the hands of every parent: Teaching Children About Freedom & Instilling Values of Independence This scripture is more than instruction — it is an invitation. Parents are called not only to teach their children but to embody the lessons they hope to instill. Children learn by watching. They imitate tone, posture, habits, and responses. Parents become the examples of how freedom, responsibility, and independence look in daily life. Because of this, guiding children toward independence begins early. As they grow, they discover that their lives are uniquely their own — and from that awareness, they begin forming their own perspectives, values, and ways of navigating the world. Independence is not simply doing things alone. It is a blend of: Life skills Communication skills Executive functioning Character development Moral and spiritual grounding Together, these create a foundation where children can make wise choices, understand consequences, and function confidently on their own.
www.daylightinc.org1. Daily Hygiene & Personal Care To simplify the journey, here are the core areas where independence begins: Children first learn to care for their bodies — brushing teeth, bathing, grooming, and tending to their physical needs. This builds self-awareness and responsibility. 4. Spiritual & Moral Guidance 2. Communication Skills They learn how to speak respectfully and clearly with family members, teachers, and peers. Healthy communication becomes the doorway to healthy relationships. 3. Environmental Care Mastering simple tasks like cleaning up, organizing their space, and caring for shared environments teaches stewardship and accountability. Parents model ethics, compassion, honesty, and faith. Children watch how adults pray, respond, forgive, and make choices — and they absorb these patterns deeply. 5. Emotional Health & Self-Regulation As children grow, they begin to understand their feelings, name them, and manage them. This emotional literacy becomes the backbone of independence. 6. Executive Functioning They start discovering their personal “style of being” — how they plan, organize, solve problems, and complete tasks. This is where independence becomes visible. 7. Identity Development Their love languages, learning styles (visual, verbal, written), personality traits, and natural strengths begin to emerge. Parents nurture these differences with patience and curiosity.
Every child is different. Every child unfolds at their own pace. But the goal remains the same: to become fully self-reliant, confident, and grounded in who they are. Parents are the first guides, the first examples, and the first mirrors. And with love, consistency, and spiritual grounding, children learn to walk in freedom — not just the freedom to do things alone, but the freedom to become who God created them to be. Amelia Quarles Aq/Mi2LOVE & LIGHT MAGAZINE
Art by Alexis Joyful Livingwww.daylightinc.org
www.daylightinc.orgThere was a season in my life when I truly wondered if love would ever feel safe again. Like so many survivors of domestic violence, I carried wounds no one could see. The bruises faded, but the emotional scars stayed much longer—fear, self‑doubt, and disappointment shadowed my steps. I questioned my worth. I questioned my judgment. And deep down, I questioned whether real, healthy love even existed for me. For a long time, survival was my only focus. Piece by piece, I rebuilt my life. I anchored myself in faith, leaned on family, and poured my heart into helping others heal. As a domestic violence advocate, motivational speaker, and life coach, I encouraged women to reclaim their power and remember their value. But even as I lifted others, I was still learning how to rise myself. Healing taught me one of its greatest truths: It is not a finish line—it is a journey. There is no single day when the pain disappears. Healing happens in the small, daily decisions. It happens when you choose yourself. When you set boundaries. When you stop apologizing for surviving. When you finally believe that your past does not get to write your future. And one day, I realized something powerful: I was no longer defined by what happened to me. I was defined by how I chose to rise from it. That realization changed everything. Finding Love After Domestic Violence: A Journey of Healing, Faith, and Second Chances
Before healthy love ever found me, I had to learn how to love myself. I had to understand that being alone was better than accepting less than I deserved. I had to become comfortable in my own company. I had to recognize that my worth was not tied to anyone’s approval. Many survivors spend years searching for validation from others, when the truth is: healing begins within. Once I embraced my own value, I became unwilling to tolerate anything that threatened my peace. I wasn’t looking for someone to complete me—I had already become whole. And that’s when love appeared. Learning to Love Myself First When Derrick came into my life, he didn’t arrive with grand gestures or fairy‑tale promises. He brought something far more meaningful— consistency. After surviving unhealthy relationships, I had learned to watch actions, not words. Derrick showed who he was through how he showed up. He listened. He respected my boundaries. He supported my dreams. He honored my mission. Most importantly, he created a space where I felt emotionally safe. For a survivor, emotional safety is everything. Derrick never asked me to forget my past. He understood that healing takes time. He didn’t try to rescue me—he recognized that I had already rescued myself. Instead, he walked beside me as a partner. For the first time in a long time, love felt peaceful. Enter Derrick: A Different Kind of Love Storywww.daylightinc.org
No games. No manipulation. No fear. No walking on eggshells. Just respect. Just trust. Just love.The Power of Healthy Love Healthy love does not require you to shrink. Healthy love celebrates your growth. Healthy love supports your purpose. Healthy love brings peace, not chaos. As our relationship deepened, I discovered what many survivors struggle to believe: healthy relationships are real. Love does not have to hurt. Conflict does not have to become abuse. Passion does not require control. The relationship I built with Derrick became a reflection of everything I had fought for during my healing journey. Together, we created a partnership rooted in communication, faith, respect, and commitment. Every day, our love story reminds me that second chances are not only possible— they are promised to those who keep choosing healing.A Message to Every Survivor If you are reading this while carrying the weight of domestic violence, hear me clearly: Your story is not over. What happened to you is not who you are.
You are not damaged. You are not too broken to be loved. You are not destined to repeat the cycle. Healing is possible. Joy is possible. Love is possible. The journey may be long, and the steps may be small, but every boundary you set, every moment you choose yourself, every act of courage matters. One day, you will look back and realize that your greatest victory wasn’t just surviving—it was choosing to thrive. From Survivor to ThriverToday, I carry many titles: wife, mother, advocate, life coach, motivational speaker, and survivor. But the title I cherish most is living proof. Living proof that healing is real. Living proof that pain does not get the final say. Living proof that joy can return. Living proof that after domestic violence, love can find you again. My journey led me to Derrick—but first, it led me back to myself. And that is where every great love story begins. Taiyanna Evette Harris Certified Life & Divorce Coach, Motivational Speaker, and Advocate for women and teens affected by domestic violenceLOVE & LIGHT MAGAZINE
Domestic violence and gun violence are often treated as separate issues, but for many families, they collide in the most devastating ways. When a firearm enters an abusive home, the atmosphere shifts instantly. Fear becomes sharper. Control becomes stronger. And the risk of death increases dramatically. Yet even in the face of these realities, survivors continue to rise. Communities continue to fight. And joy—though shaken—can be restored. Joyful living is not the denial of pain; it is the refusal to let pain have the final word. This is the heart of understanding the intersection of domestic violence and gun violence: we face the truth so that healing, safety, and joy can return. Where Domestic Violence and Gun Violence MeetDomestic violence is about power and control. Guns amplify that control. Research shows: A survivor is five times more likely to be killed when an abuser has access to a firearm. More than half of intimate partner homicides involve guns. Firearms are used not only to kill, but to threaten, intimidate, and silence. For many survivors, the gun becomes a silent presence in the home—an unspoken reminder that leaving could cost them their lives. This is not just violence. It is terror. And it steals joy, peace, and the sense of safety every person deserves. When Violence Steals Joy: Understanding the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Gun Violence—and Reclaiming Life Againwww.daylightinc.org
1. They Increase Lethality A violent argument becomes a life‑or‑death moment when a gun is present. Many domestic violence homicides occur when a survivor is trying to leave—one of the most dangerous times. 2. They Create Psychological Imprisonment Survivors often describe living in a constant state of alertness. Even if the gun is never fired, the threat is enough to control behavior, silence voices, and crush hope. 3. They Trap Survivors in Fear Fear of being killed is the number one reason survivors stay. When a gun is involved, that fear becomes painfully justified. 4. They Harm Children Children in homes with domestic violence and firearms face higher risks of trauma, accidental injury, and long-term emotional wounds. This intersection is not just a statistic—it is a lived experience for countless families. Communities Carrying the Heaviest Burdens While domestic violence affects every demographic, certain communities face disproportionate harm: Black women experience higher rates of domestic violence homicide, often involving firearms. Rural communities have high gun ownership and limited survivor resources. Immigrant, LGBTQ+, and disabled survivors face additional barriers to safety. Understanding these realities is essential for building equitable, joyful futures. How Firearms Intensify AbuseLOVE & LIGHT MAGAZINE
1. They Increase Lethality A violent argument becomes a life‑or‑death moment when a gun is present. Many domestic violence homicides occur when a survivor is trying to leave—one of the most dangerous times. 2. They Create Psychological Imprisonment Survivors often describe living in a constant state of alertness. Even if the gun is never fired, the threat is enough to control behavior, silence voices, and crush hope. 3. They Trap Survivors in Fear Fear of being killed is the number one reason survivors stay. When a gun is involved, that fear becomes painfully justified. 4. They Harm Children Children in homes with domestic violence and firearms face higher risks of trauma, accidental injury, and long-term emotional wounds. This intersection is not just a statistic—it is a lived experience for countless families. Pathways Toward Safety, Healing, and Joy 1. Stronger Policies and Enforcement Laws must ensure that abusers cannot access firearms—and that surrender laws are enforced consistently. 2. Survivor-Centered Support Survivors need trauma‑informed services, safe housing, legal advocacy, and emotional care. 3. Community Awareness Faith communities, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods must learn to recognize warning signs and respond safely. The Joyful Living Lens: Why This Conversation Matterswww.daylightinc.org
4. Culturally Specific Services Black survivors, immigrant survivors, and LGBTQ+ survivors need support that honors their lived experiences. 5. Restoring Joy Through Healing Healing is not linear. But with support, survivors can rebuild their lives, rediscover their identity, and reclaim joy. A Vision for Joyful Living After Violence The intersection of domestic violence and gun violence is heavy—but the story does not end there. Survivors are rebuilding. Communities are rising. Advocates are speaking. And joy is returning to homes that once felt hopeless. Joyful living after violence looks like: Peace replacing fear Safety replacing chaos Boundaries replacing silence Healing replacing shame Hope replacing despair It is the quiet courage of a survivor choosing to breathe again. It is the strength of a community choosing to protect its own. It is the promise that life after violence can still be full, meaningful, and joyful. Joy Is Possible Again Domestic violence and gun violence create a dangerous intersection—but awareness, advocacy, and community support can save lives. When we understand the connection, we can intervene earlier, support survivors better, and build a world where joy is not stolen by violence but restored through healing. Joyful living is not the absence of struggle. It is the presence of hope. And hope is the beginning of safety, healing, and a future free from violence.
Beloved, As June comes to a gentle close, we pause to breathe, reflect, and honor the quiet ways God has carried us through this month. Joyful Living is not about rushing to the next thing—it is about noticing the goodness that met us in the middle of everything we faced. June reminded us that joy is both a gift and a practice. Some days it rose easily; other days we had to reach for it with trembling hands. Yet joy still found us. It found us in small victories, in unexpected peace, in the strength we didn’t know we had, and in the grace that met us right where we were. This month taught us: Joy grows in intentional spaces. When we slowed down, breathed deeply, and made room for God, joy had space to bloom. Joy is strengthened through community. Every conversation, every shared prayer, every moment of encouragement reminded us that we are not walking alone. Joy is a choice we make again and again. Even on the days when life felt heavy, we learned to look again—to search for God’s fingerprints in the ordinary. Joy is a sign of resilience. It is the quiet declaration that what tried to break us did not win. As we step into a new month, carry this truth with you: Joy is not fragile. Joy is fortified by faith. God has already gone ahead of us into July. He has prepared new strength, new clarity, new opportunities, and new reasons to smile. Whatever June revealed— whether healing, stretching, or awakening—trust that it was preparing you for what comes next. So we close this month with gratitude. With softness. With expectation. With joy. May July greet you with open doors, renewed energy, and the gentle assurance that you are held, guided, and deeply loved. Here’s to joyful living—today, tomorrow, and in every season to come.www.daylightinc.org
May June meet you with a softness that reminds you God is near. May this month open like morning light—slow, warm, and full of quiet promise. May joy rise in you not as a burst, but as a steady companion, guiding your steps and settling your spirit. May you find peace in the places that once felt heavy. May you breathe deeper, trust sooner, and rest more freely. May you remember that joy is not earned—it is received. May every day of June whisper to you that you are held, you are seen, and you are being gently led into new strength. May God surprise you with clarity where you felt confusion, with laughter where you felt weary, and with hope where you felt unsure. May your home be filled with light. May your heart be filled with courage. May your path be filled with grace. And may you walk through this month knowing that joy is not fragile— it is fortified by faith, sustained by love, and renewed by God’s presence. Blessed June to you— a month of joyful living, gentle return, and holy ease.A Blessing for June: The Month of Gentle Joywww.daylightinc.orgLOVE & LIGHT MAGAZINE
This Month in DaylightThis month, we pause to notice the light God is placing before us—small joys, quiet shifts, and new beginnings unfolding in their own perfect timing. These updates are shared to keep our community connected, encouraged, and moving forward with grace. May what you read here strengthen your spirit and remind you that joy is rising in your life, one day at a time. Our podcast, The Daylight Experience, is now streaming on Spotify, Amazon Music. Apple Music, iHeart Radio, and Youtube. Be sure to listen, subscribe, and share. Daylight hosted the Wear Orange Gathering with Moms Demand Action Atlanta Chapter and Jarred’s Heart of Success on June 6th. The Daylight Youth PEACE Collective is recruiting young people ages 10-18 Text 470-671-0222 for more info..LOVE & LIGHT MAGAZINE
Love & Light PartnersOur Love & Light Partners walk beside us in mission and spirit, helping carry hope, healing, and truth into every corner of our community. Daylight, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been walking alongside victims and survivors of domestic violence since 2009. Daylight promotes safety, healing, and community resilience through survivor‑centered services, supportive networks, and collaborative partnerships. To become a Daylight, Inc. Love & Light Partner, please connect with us at Monica@daylightinc.org.www.daylightinc.org