Gaining a heart of wisdom
My granddaughter's ponytail falls in blonde ringlets, and her wardrobe manifests all the many moods of pink and frilly. Having been a girl of a very different stripe, and then having raised four rowdy sons, I am in quiet awe of her unmitigated girliness. Together, we have made jam, blown bubbles, and painted messy pictures.… Continue reading Standing Beside You, Teaching What Is Good
"So who's mentoring whom here?" my friend asked with a mischievous grin. Good question! When friends challenge one another with shared books, Scripture reading, and transparent prayer, everyone is sharpened and restored in a way that uniquely shows the love of God. Janice Peterson calls this "spiritual friendship," and has reached back into her long… Continue reading How to Do the Hard and Holy Work of Faithful Friendship
Joanne's kitchen table was an uncontrollable force in her life, always covered with an assortment of books, mail, loaves of bread, and magazines. It became a joke between us that she was always in the process of clearing it. Fortunately for me, another uncontrollable force in her life was the power of God. She had… Continue reading Coming Alongside as a Way of Life
Unbelieving, I held the phone to my ear. Joanne? Sick? We had always talked by phone every few weeks, but wait . . . how long had it been? And now a call from her husband with tears in his voice. I could feel the conversation moving in a direction that I could not absorb:… Continue reading Sisterhood is Eternal
Happy Birthday, Joanne! Do people in heaven celebrate birthdays? Probably not, but more important for you (and tragic for me) is that this is the tenth time you have celebrated a birthday in heaven. Another thing I'm not absolutely clear on is whether you are aware of this birthday greeting; whether you are privy to some of the… Continue reading An Open Letter to My First Mentor
Living Our Days 