“I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” ~Gandalf (J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit) I went into marriage with a chip on my shoulder and an escape plan firmly in place. Prickly, quick to anger, ready for a fight…
When we moved into our house, an empty spot by the front door begged for a little table. I needed a place for my keys, incoming mail, and outgoing library books. I meandered through the furniture section of a local thrift store, searching for just the right piece. I found my little table at the…
Lovingkindness. I linger over the word like a morning cappuccino. I lean my head back, close my eyes, and savor it. “Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in You” (Psalm 143:8 NASB). What does lovingkindness sound like in the morning—or at any time? Is it in the voices of my grandchildren playing or…
I have a dear friend who’s very difficult to encourage. Nothing I say, nothing I do has any lasting effect on her. I send her an encouraging note about what a great mom she is, and her response is self-deprecating. I send her a care package, and her thank you is flat. Our communication tends…
“Community arises where the sharing of pain takes place, not as a stifling form of self-complaint, but as a recognition of God’s saving promises.” ~Henri Nouwen During a recent talk, Dallas pastor Matt Chandler described the difference between transparency and vulnerability. Transparency is letting people see what we are not afraid to share. Vulnerability is…
The Christian mother has boundless opportunities to use her gifts and abilities. But how is she to know what God wants her to do with all the opportunities to serve Jesus and others in our busy and fast-paced world? It’s enticing to choose admirable opportunities to serve, even though it might mean neglecting our God-given…