My dad has this very funny statement: “The Lord gets blamed for a lot of stuff that has nothing to do with Him.” Being in ministry for so many years, he’s seen the Lord get blamed for a lot. We blame Him for our problems, irritations, time constraints, job losses, house and car repairs, money […]
Author: Colleen Swindoll Thompson
He Is God, and I Am Not
Her story was a tough one. She needed help! She had lost her husband years back. She had three children—one with special needs, one “typical,” and one who went to heaven shortly after birth. She was aging, endured chronic pain, and had just been diagnosed with stage-two breast cancer. She was facing radical surgery, rounds […]
Sanctuaries
It was a misty morning in a small, out-of-the-way English countryside village. Hanging flower baskets, timeworn cafes, and antiquated shops lined the cobblestone streets. The town was packed with old bookstores in which dusty, leather-bound or linen-wrapped books were piled from floor to ceiling. Some of the books’ bindings had been repaired with old tape. […]
Homework
Homework . . . need I say more? It had been one of those days, and endeavoring to help my son Jon with his homework was not on the top of my “want-to-do” list. He was tired. I was more than cranky. The combination was not going to provide a successful outcome . . . […]
The Question
Some questions are priceless. The other day, someone asked me when am I most proud of Jon, my son with disabilities. I quietly pondered. In this world of ours, most parents could quickly provide plenty of pride-filled moments: blue ribbons, being the star athlete, social recognition, good grades, good looks, or a bit of charm. […]
Just after Dawn
Ever felt drained by the day and it’s only dawn? My family and I had one of those days not long ago. It was still dark outside . . . my daughter had pneumonia, my son had bronchitis, and both needed medicine. The new container of almond milk slipped and spilled ALL OVER the kitchen […]
Robby
My dad told this story in a sermon a long time ago. It’s a heartwarming urban legend, so I’m passing it along in a way similar to how Christ taught using stories, or parables, in Scripture. Parables are story-like word pictures that contain powerful life lessons many of us can remember with ease. May the […]
Being Calm in the Chaos
Life was relatively manageable until about three weeks ago. And then the storm hit—“BANG!” “BOOM!” “BLAST!”—almost like those old Batman comic strips. “BANG!” I’ve not written about this, but my younger brother has been battling a very serious form of cancer for nine months. Watching his suffering is more than I can put into words. […]
Acceptance
There was nothing simple about my friend’s situation. One of her three sons was diagnosed with severe autism at age 11; his world and his parents’ world flipped upside down. For reasons only the Lord knows, his behaviors became aggressive, dangerous, and terrifying. For over a year they tried everything, prayed, tried more of everything, […]
Ringing in the . . . Ear
It started in 2004. At some point between May and July of that year, my hearing in both ears deteriorated by 70 percent, and a constant ringing began. After seeking medical help, the doctor suggested surgery for partial hearing repair. The doctor would only repair one ear at a time, should the repair not work. […]
Love in Action
Some people are not lovable. I know because I’m one of them. I am impatient, selfish, easily annoyed by interruptions, and cranky when plans change. It doesn’t help that I have severe ADHD, learning challenges, and don’t hear well. Truthfully, we all have differences . . . some lovely, some not so lovely. Part of being human and broken […]
Simple and Significant
Sometimes the simplest things in our lives are the most meaningful. I did a little project the other day that reminded me about the significance of life. I made a necklace for a friend . . . simple, elegant, and decorated with a few meaningful charms that represent some of her deepest values. To most, it looks like a […]