Author Unknown[ref]Note: Every effort has been made to determine the author of “Two Horses.” If you are the author or know who the author is, we would be grateful for that information. You may convey it to us by leaving a comment.[/ref] Just up the road from my home is a field with two horses […]
Category: Family Life/Caregivers
Learning to Die Before Living with Delight
It was August 1994. The couple entered the neurologist’s office. An uncomfortable silence settled on the room. The doctor explained that Morrie had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It’s a brutal, unforgiving illness of the neurological system for which there is no known cure . . . and yes, it’s […]
What You Never Expected
The opening story of the evening news was about a parent who forgot her child in the car. The day’s temperature was 107 degrees, outside of the car. The next story was about several people gunned down, and the next one detailed a car accident that resulted in severe injuries to all parties. By then, […]
Timeless “Time-Outs”
Silence Quietness Reflection Sounds like a dream vacation or simply wishful thinking in our busy lives, lives taken up with tediously attending to tasks and to-do lists that take hold of our time. It’s difficult to remember that we choose how to use our time. And many of our lives have the added stress and […]
Crisis Today, Mentoring Tomorrow
His body flew like a rag doll over the handlebars of his motorcycle and skidded across the asphalt pavement, abruptly stopping in the middle of a busy California intersection. In an instant, Jeremy McGhee’s body was terribly shattered. His ribs were broken, his legs were numb, and blood fell from his mouth. Later, Jeremy learned […]
A Lifetime, A Legacy
I have a friend who is dying from cancer. She reflects often on her life; she ponders how she will be remembered, what kind of legacy she will pass on. Ever considered what you would say about a friend? Better yet, have you considered how you desire to be remembered? James 4:13–14 reminds us this […]
The Report
It was the final report everyone had been talking about. He had about 20 minutes to review the document, which included the company’s account summaries, current standing among the competition, and projected growth. Following a series of mistakes and misfortunes two years earlier, the man was given one year to prove his trustworthiness. And he […]
The Gift of Grace
No one expected him to succeed. He was made fun of in school because of a horrible stuttering problem. His older brother and sister were brilliant; most often he felt like a shadow child rather than a sibling. Though extremely talented, the young shadow boy struggled to speak even one sentence clearly, causing him to […]
Somewhere Down the Road
Silence has become a friend of mine. But it wasn’t always that way. In case you haven’t noticed, stress can generate a massive amount of noise. Trying to wrap your hands around spilling grief is like trying to catch a roaring waterfall with tissues—there could never be enough to dry it up, but my heart […]
There’s a Love Letter Addressed to You
It remains one of the most endearing love letters of all time. It is full of devotion, affection, and reflection. It is from an older man who carefully penned his words with humble transparency. To many readers, he was a mentor. He had suffered the wounds of affliction, betrayal, abuse, and pain—conditions that can often […]
Celebrating the Influences of a Mother
The influence our mothers have on us cannot be overestimated—it’s powerful, it’s permanent, and it’s prominent. Powerful. The sixth president of the United States, John Quincy Adams, said this about his famous mother, Abigail, “All that I am my mother made me.” Abraham Lincoln said something similar about his beloved mother: “All that I am […]
Attitude Check
In the last blog post of 2009 I encouraged you (and myself) to toss out the idea of “New Year’s Resolutions” and instead cultivate four areas of character development. The first character trait was directed towards our attitudes. I determine to exhibit a persistent ATTITUDE of praise and to write down three examples each day. […]