Texas - Authorial Magazine

Marlene Burling
“Writing is a big part of healing,” says
Marlene Burling, author of A Daily Walk
with God, who understands all too well
the importance of words when in grief.
Marlene and her husband, James,
were together for as long as she could
remember. Between 1962 to 1975, when
he finally became a pastor, she knew
then, what she still knows to be true
now—she would dedicate her life to the
church. They began their ministry as
home missionaries and later served in
regular pastorates.
While they were serving the church,
James’ parents became ill. They decided
it was best to live with them and take
care of them together. Marlene became
their primary caregiver. But as time
went by, her husband’s health started
deteriorating as well. James, to whom
she had been married to for 51 years,
passed away.
She didn’t know how to cope with her
loss. She shared that she’s always been
a walker. Walking has a therapeutic
effect on her. Her morning walk is
her special time to reflect and be with
God. When James was gone, she
started writing devotions during her
morning walks. Later on, what began as
a personal exercise to help her process
her grief, took on a physical form. Her
daily walks gave birth to a collection
of 365 daily devotional thoughts. She
published the collection and called it
Morning Meditations. She republished
it years after and called it A Daily Walk
with God. Marlene captured common
and relatable daily occurrences, objects,
and Bible stories that people can easily
gravitate toward. She wants her readers
to be brave, for them to realize that no
matter what they are going through—
and no matter how difficult or trying
it may be—they are not alone. God is
always there. She wants her readers to
feel a kind of certainty, that they can rely
on God for peace, comfort, direction and
joy even in the midst of a heartache.
When asked what she would’ve been
like if she hadn’t been a pastor’s wife,
she shared that she’s always had a good
head for business during high school.
She once worked as a secretary. But
even so, she can never imagine herself
to be living another life. Even with her
sorrow, she carried on serving God. She
became a teacher, speaker, and writer.
Her marriage gave her three children,
and they gave her ten grandchildren in
return. She wrote a children’s book titled
Grandma, Tell Me the Easter Story.
Other than her books, Marlene began
to play a more active role in the
community. She started a ministry in
her church for widows and singles. The
group is called The King’s Daughters
which caters to women who are grieving
and in need of guidance. She also has
a workshop which she calls There’s Life
After Death. She presents it to churches,
ladies’ groups, or those who are in need
of God’s presence.
As she was grieving for her husband,
one verse in the bible resonated
deeply to her:
John 10:10 The thief comes only to
steal and kill and destroy; I have come
that they may have life, and have it
to the full.
It is where Jesus tells us about a thief,
a spiritual thief that robs us of our
connection with him. Interferes with the
time we spend in prayer and meditation.
Marlene, has a special place where she
connects with Jesus Christ. It is a part of
her house, a sunroom. But after what she
has gone through, she now calls it her
“son room,” where she spends time with
the son. She believes that we need more
than just words in healing. It’s Jesus’
words, the son of God, that heals the
wounds completely. Marlene’s devotion
is one of the great testaments to the
indomitability of the human spirit and
the true strength of a Christian woman.
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