Gaining a heart of wisdom
“Hey, do you think you can get this stain out, Mum?” He handed me his T-shirt, still warm from his body, and I assured him that boiling water would make short work of blueberry juice on cotton. As the kettle boiled and the water poured and the steam rose from the kitchen sink, I thought… Continue reading What Does Hope Look Like? (Meditations Over a Stained T-Shirt)
Sunday Scripture "Bam, how old are you?" My oldest grandson's eyes sparkled with pleasure over the edginess of his question, although I'm sure he knew I'd answer without hesitation. "I'm 58," I said because my September birthday hadn't happened yet. "You're younger than Grammy!" he reported with surprise. "You don't LOOK younger than Grammy! Your… Continue reading God is Not Distant or Untouchable. You Can Draw Near to God.
Sunday Scripture My grandkids love to play The Ground is Lava whenever we're at a playground. By sheer little-kid strength, they carry themselves over the length and width of the apparatus, climbing and scurrying to stay aloft. Determined to stand the test, they'd rather fall from the monkey bars than come into contact with the… Continue reading Whatever the Challenge, Because of God’s Love, You Can Stand the Test
Sunday Scripture Labor Day weekend signals a winding down of summer, and this will likely go down in my own personal history as "The Summer of the Empty Nest." This stay-at-home mum has had all she could do this summer to simply stay at home, and while I've struggled to keep up with all the… Continue reading Sing a Summer Song of Praise for the Miracle of Beauty
Our intrepid son and daughter-in-law hiked up Pike's Peak, but we drove, oohing and aahing as the car carried us through rugged pines, scattered wildflowers, and startling rock formations. Past the tree line the view changed dramatically, and we began to notice sheer drop offs leading straight down to a mile of nothingness. My cautious… Continue reading See the Narrow Way as a Focused Path and Thank God for the Gift of Guardrails
Sunday Scripture The word grace conjures images of unconditional love, forgiveness, and a free pass for whatever I bring to the table, and there's truth in this. However, in the closing words of his first letter, Peter has woven together two very different colors and textures of yarn: ...this is the true grace of God. Stand firm… Continue reading True Grace | Find the Power for Obedience and the Basis for Forgiveness
Here in rural Maine on an average Saturday, I might pull some weeds while I'm snipping crisp, early-morning lettuce leaves. There might be a carrot cake in the oven, a salad under construction on the counter, and a podcast playing in the background. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, on that very same Saturday, a woman my age… Continue reading Join Me in this Heartfelt Prayer of Hope for a Hurting World
My family has an almost genetic predisposition toward sarcasm. We open our mouths and out it tumbles, always standing first in the verbal queue. Most of the time it's funny, ironic, and harmless, but I'm learning that kind words fill a void that even the snappiest comeback fails to satisfy. She opens her mouth with… Continue reading How to Keep on Persevering in the Wisdom of Kind Words
I remember weeding our very first garden with white knuckles, in a cold sweat. All the sprouting vegetables in our tiny plot looked sort of alike to me. The weeds were just as green and leafy as the seedlings we'd planted, so I proceeded with great caution. Too afraid to be ruthless, I left behind… Continue reading When You Know What’s Important, You Find the Courage to Be Ruthless
Sunday Scripture There's something about a wedding that revives hope and renews my optimism about the carrying power of love. My son and his bride recited strong promises about a love that lasts in a ceremony that was both romantic and sacred. Love, respect, and faithful devotion are a solid beginning for a life-long partnership.… Continue reading Have You Almost Given Up on Finding a Love that Lasts?
Living Our Days 