Sally Royer-Derr > Quotes

“One of the most important elements in life to me? Peacefulness.”
― Sally Royer-Derr, The Forever Home

“Peace gives you clarity. I’d lived without peace for too many years to know how important it is to cultivate and nurture. I bent over to attend to the beans once more. I only had one row left to do. I’d keep a bowl for our refrigerator and the rest would go to the store with me tomorrow to sell. I was on my own tonight. Archie had Back-to-School Night and wouldn’t be home until after nine. Today had been cloudy, so evening seemed to descend earlier than normal. I hurried down the last row, finally putting the last of the beans in my bushel basket. I plopped down in the grass behind the garden, facing the back of our house, and began cleaning them, snapping the ends of the beans off, breaking them in half and placing them into the large bowl I’d brought out from the kitchen. Lightning bugs began to appear, their small lights dotting the darkening sky. I snapped beans and admired our home. The hayfields to the left were neatly cut, thanks to John, but the right side and along the back of the yard was surrounded by tall cornstalks with deep green leaves; while Archie enjoyed the”
― Sally Royer-Derr, The Forever Home

“The one thing about a toxic relationship is that it never dies. It only lies simmering for a time and then its tentacles strengthen and grip you over and over again, without mercy.”
― Sally Royer-Derr, The Forever Home

“He hadn't prepared for this. He'd never expected to be reminded of the lust of his youth, to see the woman who had been his very reason for breathing so many years ago. He'd expected to see Joanna and didn't know how the rage and love he felt for her would surface, but this was too much.”
― Sally Royer-Derr, Santa Monica

“Sometimes we give our trust, our friendship, our love to people that didn’t deserve it, or used”
― Sally Royer-Derr, The Forever Home

“it didn’t matter whether you went to church or not, because God didn’t live there. He was everywhere, even in dark places nobody wants to be in, not just on Sunday morning when you dress up and sing hymns. She said in the darkest parts of your life, even if you feel ashamed or embarrassed, maybe even hopeless, God is right there with you, helping you, comforting you. She said those are the places God is most present as a strong shield to whatever is happening to you, maybe something you can’t control.”
― Sally Royer-Derr, No One Saw Her Go

“Beautiful,” I murmur”
― Sally Royer-Derr, The Secrets Next Door