Some Definite Service
This post doesn’t tie into my cozy mysteries or my ASL interpreting career. And that’s kind of the point.
I’m a lifelong quote hoarder. As a girl, I filled spiral notebooks with Erma Bombeck and Mark Twain one-liners. These days, I’ve traded the notebooks for Pinterest boards full of quotes and memes on inspiration, humor, wellness, and finance. So it’s no surprise that this quote by St. John Henry Newman is one that’s stayed with me for decades.
“Some Definite Service” is a beautiful, quiet compass for when life feels fuzzy or the to-do list feels louder than purpose. I keep a printable copy near my desk, and when I share it in small groups, someone always asks for a copy. So I made one for you.
It’s free to download, easy to print, and a simple way to remind yourself (or someone you love) that “God knows me and calls me by my name.”
When you discover this meditation today, I hope it speaks to you, too. “Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away.”
Print it, post it, journal with it, or tuck it inside your Bible for days when you need the reminder.
Kelly Brakenhoff is the author of 15 books and a seasoned ASL interpreter. She splits her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and children’s books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.
In 2025, two of her children’s books were selected for the CBC Favorites Award Lists, honored by teachers and librarians nationwide for excellence in children’s literature. Parents, kids, and educators love the Duke the Deaf Dog books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through engaging stories.
And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project thrown together the night before it’s due.
A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.