A Peaceful and Joyful Holiday Season Begins with a Request for Rest

Peaceful and Joyful Holiday Season Request for Rest

Welcome to the season of ceaseless striving! Of course, Thanksgiving and Christmas are never billed that way, and I truly hope that it's NOT your experience! However, if you're paying close attention to all the flickering candles and peaceful white twinkly lights on your Instagram feed, it's entirely possible that you're getting a different version… Continue reading A Peaceful and Joyful Holiday Season Begins with a Request for Rest

To the Woman Who Feels Crowded by Christmas

Christ’s willingness to hunker down, wizen up, and enter the darkness opens the door to his light and his life being formed in you and me.

We are covered to the elbows in red and green paint, but the festive wrapping paper stretched out to dry on the table before us more than justifies the mess. The toddler points to his distinctively tiny handprints and smiles his satisfaction, as his older brothers start wondering aloud about cocoa with candy cane stirrers.… Continue reading To the Woman Who Feels Crowded by Christmas

Growing Up with the True Christmas Light

Live alongside me with awe and delight. I'll follow you to the True Christmas Light.

Read me the stories Of Jesus and Santa, Of stockings and shepherds and toys. Tell me the wonders Of snowflakes and wisemen, Of cookies and mystery and joy. Read "Night Before Christmas," Recite from Luke 2 and The wild words from prophets of old. Sing a Blue Christmas Then open your throat wide And shout… Continue reading Growing Up with the True Christmas Light

Are You Showing the Symptoms of Gratitude Derailed? Sunday Scripture

We're four days away from Thanksgiving here in the United States, and since the fourth Thursday in November is late in the month this year, we've had lots of time to prepare ourselves for a celebration of gratitude. How are you doing? I will confess to a certain grumpiness over the collision of holidays ahead… Continue reading Are You Showing the Symptoms of Gratitude Derailed? Sunday Scripture

Loving My Mid-Life Christmas

For the past several years, change has been the only constant in our Christmas celebration. Grown up sons marry, pack up their collection of treasured ornaments, and hang them on their own trees. College guys come home when they can and join in the fun on an intermittent schedule. Teens branching into individualized creativity grab… Continue reading Loving My Mid-Life Christmas