Focus. It’s a word I’ve said to my children more than once in their lifetimes, and it usually came with hand motions to draw them to look me in the eyes while I was speaking. They could get so caught up in their play or talking, that they were not listening to what Mom was … More Friday Focus
We don’t want to talk about it. We avoid it at all costs, yet it keeps invading our life and peace. Death — It’s that horrible reality that won’t let us alone to enjoy our days in blissful ignorance. No, death is what makes a child grow up faster than need be. Death is what … More The Message of Death
It was a dream come true. I’d found the man who was called by God to serve in missions, led to the same people group, full of the same excitement to see what God would do as we followed his will. Though there were adjustments during our first year of marriage, we were too busy … More Marriage and Ministry
I’d been eight months in the country. It was my first of many experiences: First time living away from family. First time overseas. First time living on my own. First time in a job where I was responsible for the work being done. First time living with the consequences of my actions when no one … More Lessons Learned
She’d heard the words herself. There was no need to wait to confirm. When an opportunity presented itself, she let it all out. Little did she know she’d only heard part of the story. Though I watch it every year, I still get mad at Emma, the nosy housekeeper in the 1954 movie, White Christmas. She … More What if they hadn’t waited?
Sometimes people ask the dumbest questions. “How do you know it works?” they might ask. “Because I’ve tried it,” comes the obvious response. We know things work by testing them. I know my car runs well, because I drove it today. I know I am qualified for a position, because I’ve worked in this field … More Passing the Test
Have you ever had to get a parking pass validated? It seems you never can find anyone working when you need it, but without that stamp, you can’t prove you were ever in the building. I’m a notary public, and it’s funny that the entire value of my signature and stamp is to validate that the … More Validation
I did some manual labor today that gave me some interesting insight into a metaphorical activity I’m sometimes prone to perform — casting stones. It started with a pile of rocks. They were in the wrong place in my yard, and I’m trying to get things looking better for the upcoming sale of my house. … More Casting Stones
Have you ever read a great book that had a bad ending? I felt that way lately, after reading a recent bestseller. The story was hard, but drew me in, as I wanted to understand the hardships the author had experienced. Her world was completely different from my own, and I was amazed at her … More Education
The year I graduated from college, I left home to spend two years in the Ivory Coast. Being a French major, I worked in a publication house for French-speaking West Africa. Now, thirty-some years later, I look back at my journals and see how I’ve changed or haven’t changed. I wrote about thinking how hard … More The Outsider
