Mr. America of the Second Grade
A few years back, my son Austin came home from the first day of second grade with a sparkle in his eye. Before I could ask how his day had been, words about his new friend began to tumble out. Mind you, my son has never had a hard time making friends, but this one […]
And Justice for All
The brutal, unbearable details ignited the ruthless investigation. The young victim had made an outcry (the victim’s voice telling what has happened which must be reported by one who hears); his story was dreadfully horrifying. The family acted immediately, believing the justice system would be exceptionally cautious, especially because the victim was a disabled, intellectually […]
Four Refreshing Words
Sometimes I wish life would offer a little heads-up: “STORMS AHEAD!” I’m not saying I need all the details, but wouldn’t it be helpful to have a five-minute warning like the meteorologist gives when a tornado or storm is on the rise? This summer, it would’ve been helpful to know my husband’s herniated disk treatments […]
Where to Find That Peaceable Place
It was supposed to be the typical Sunday afternoon lunch with friends—kids on one end of the restaurant table, adults on the other. Except, it wasn’t. What is it about Sunday mornings? It’s like all of our good intentions get sucked into a vortex of chaos, anger, and tardiness. Sunday mornings support the quip, “Confession […]
Revealing Reflections about Releasing Control
Back-to-school time! I’m guessing some parents (including me) are delighted, and most kids are disappointed. Kids tend to ask lots of questions before school begins: “Will I be riding the bus?” “Who is my teacher?” “Do I wear regular clothes or a uniform?” “Are the kids nice?” But kids don’t ask questions just about school. […]
7 Staples: Soul Food for Stressful Seasons
Strained, stressed, and sweaty, I was standing on the August-hot sidewalk, trying to maintain a cell connection with the doctor. The call had already dropped twice . . . this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The events of that summer were not what we’d expected! Expectations vs. Reality Sometimes our expectations and […]
Three Essential Questions on Our Quest for Acceptance
Fear can be such a driving force—crippling, compromising, and, at times, crushing. How many times have I second-guessed my decisions, wondered if anything I said or did mattered, and struggled to measure up? The truth is, we long to be loved and accepted and to live without the fear of inadequacy. Blessed Re-assurance The other […]
Words
Sorting through a stack of stuff, I tried to pull a note from the bottom. When I did, the pile came apart. Short on time and shorter on patience, I attempted to bundle it all up until . . . until the photographs slipped out from an old scrapbook binder buried in the stack. Suddenly, I was 20 years […]
Think Grace
A young couple in their 40s strolled through the grocery store, picking up some things they needed. They were holding hands, walking slowly as if they were in a romantic park. Yet, most of the customers who encountered them in the store were terribly bothered that this slow-moving husband and wife wouldn’t just hurry up […]
Math—It’s Not about the Numbers
Growing up, we always had pets—dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, and hamsters, to name a few. I remember waking in the middle of the night on many occasions, only to find my pet hamster running on his (or was it her?—I could never tell) red wheel . . . for hours. Then, my kids had […]
Your Battle of the Will
What battles are you fighting today? I’m not referring to those we read or hear about in the news. I mean the wars that rage inside you—which ones are you fighting today? Here are some of mine: holding on to resentment, allowing frustration to overwhelm me, wishing for something easier, wondering why trials continue, and […]
What to Do When You’re on the Edge
The jumper was on the edge . . . literally. The creaking of huge metal cables echoed through the thick fog while violent tides crashed 220 feet below. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is well known as a suicide launching pad, and apparently this jumper was next in line. Two police officers were at the […]