My father turned 82 today. Two years ago we found out that he was in Stage 4 kidney failure, and he quickly progressed to end-stage, requiring dialysis to survive. While the damage done to his body cannot be reversed, being hooked up to a machine to rid his body of the toxins has prolonged his…
“…it’s the most wonderful time of the year!” In many ways, Christmas in America begins the day after Thanksgiving. We have barely put away the leftover turkey before our thoughts turn to shopping, Christmas trees and party planning. What should be a time of reflection and continued thanksgiving, turns to hurried accomplishments to be checked…
It only took one second. One. My toddler was fussing to get out of the cart, and because I was close to being finished with our little shopping trip, I caved in to the pressure of a 3 year old and let her get out. Holding one little hand in mine while pushing the cart…
I am the thorn in His crown. The splinter in His thumb. That tag that is constantly rubbing, and the child that seems to always be whining. And He loves me anyway. I was talking to a young woman recently who had been processing the gospel message: We have all sinned against a Holy God.…
What if I let go? Of my pride. Of my sin. Of my selfishness. “How happy is the one whose transgression is forgiven.” What if I let go? Of fear, of failure, of the future. “You are my hiding place, You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.”
I wake up early and hear the sounds of the night orchestrating a beautiful transition to morning. The night owls and the crickets quiet as the songbirds take over in a rhythmic chant that almost sounds as if they are saying, “wake up! wake up!”. On a cool, crisp fall morning the dried leaves fall…
Young girls carefully slip the perfectly white gloves onto their little hands, working to fit each finger inside the correct hole. Almost instantly, it seems, they are whisked away to a land of make-believe. Transported to another time and place, they begin to speak in a polite accent, go through the motions of being “proper”,…
I woke up to a new reality. A sobering thought. A haunting question: What if? What if the passion I have is misguided? What if my thoughts–my desires are not from Him? Does this passion that I have honor the One I have declared to be my Lord? The One True God. The Maker of…
I long to be the one who makes you smile. From deep within me is a person who wants to be that somebody who makes every person feel like a somebody. I really do want to be an encourager, but far too often I leave a conversation thinking about what I wish I had said. …
We all have them. Those little things that drive us crazy. They flip our switch and spark a fire. The question is, if we want a happy marriage, how do we respond to those little idiosyncrasies that get under our skin? “If you let them, idiosyncrasies can take the joy out of marriage. Those peculiarities…
When I was young I hated peas. You can ask my Mom and she will tell you that she still remembers me shuffling peas around my plate for what seemed like an hour, trying to make it look like I had actually eaten some of the green balls of goo. While it never bothered me if…
It’s not that I don’t love a beautiful table. I do. Really I do. I have white dishes just so I can create a table setting for any season just by adding colorful napkins and a centerpiece. (I’m practical that way.) It is a joy for me to put together the pieces, adding a touch…
There is always that one thing. You know–that one more thing you needed to do. One more thing you wanted to say. Until you can’t. When it’s too late to turn back, or the moment is lost in oblivion, you have to face the reality that life must go on, and that only God can…
Cheerful. Kind. I know people like that, don’t you? People you just love to be around. People who make you smile and laugh. People you are glad you met. I met a beautiful couple like that just this week and their spirit reminded me of what I want my life to look like. They were not…
