On Tuesday, I mentioned that our state was going to begin reopening today. I not only wondered what all that might entail but reflected on how quickly “the winds” change. Not ten minutes after I published that post, my husband called to say that even the reopening news had changed. The state would begin its… Read More A Few Things to Continue after Quarantine
It is a bit of a paradox. A contradiction really. These days of quarantine – of canceled commitments, freer schedules and (much) more time at home – should allow us (much) more opportunity to draw close to Jesus. To grow our faith and deepen our roots. In some ways, I suppose it has but, as… Read More The Distractions are Real
“Just another day at the office.” Although typically used rather sarcastically when something absurd or ridiculous happens, it also infers to the not-so-surprising or routine things of a day. And not just “at the office” but wherever you spend the majority of your day…and whatever makes up your routine. Another stack of papers to grade. … Read More Not Just Another Day
What now? I’m sure many of us are beginning to ask ourselves this question…or something similar to it. Instead of a glimpse of the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel,” this week many of us saw restrictions tighten and a much longer quarantine than we could imagine become a reality. The “new normal”… Read More Don’t Quit Now
My mother was a gifted singer. She had a beautiful voice. A tenor voice. She sang silly songs for us as children. She sang while she worked. She did her best to sing even during her (often very) difficult days. But, mostly, she sang in church. She sang for the Lord. And He honored her… Read More He Holds Tomorrow
Less. That is today’s Five Minute Friday prompt…and, although the exercise centers around the idea of freestyle and unedited writing, it is now well into the afternoon and I have been trying to edit my thoughts and ideas for hours. But any topics, sentiments, or even opinions that come to mind when I consider “less,”… Read More Less Panic. More Prayer.
Presentation – it can make all the difference. When preparing a dish, a chef knows taste is essential but his presentation is often just as important. Just the right swirl of this, the extra dusting of that or even the perfect piece of green makes a good dish better – and a great dish perfect! … Read More Tables Prepared (Past, Present and Future)
For so long after my son, Tyler, died, my life seemed to be defined with the distinctions of “before Tyler died” and “since Tyler died.” The distinctions were not only marked but painful. Every aspect of my life seemed determined and effected by “the before” and “the after” lines of time. I often tried to… Read More The Softening Between Before and After
Experience. Today’s FMF prompt immediately took me to Romans 5:4… “And patience, experience; and experience, hope.” Of course, this verse makes the most sense when read in context with the verses before and after it. “……but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh… Read More I Can Be Grateful For the Hard Things
I like the parables. As a teacher (and as a learner), I relate much more to storytelling than I do to lecturing. Give me all the elementary classes:) And Jesus often used stories – or parables – in order to teach. Not only do I grasp those lessons quicker but I remember them better as… Read More Faithful With My One Talent