In The Book of Forgiving, Archbishop Desmond Tutu uses the example of being cut off in traffic to demonstrate our ability to choose our response in any given situation. One choice is to take it personally and become angry, which will not lead to anything positive. It will increase his blood pressure and negatively affect…
“You gave him your debit card?” Incredulous, I stared at my soon-to-be-fiancé. Only now I wasn’t so sure our engagement would happen as soon as I hoped. After six years of dating, I knew it was coming. I’d helped pick out the ring. I knew he’d been saving and that all that money was in…
Living just four blocks down the street from my best friend made it easy to share clothes, secrets, and families. We could be found within a close radius of her backyard pool most summer days. The rhythm of our summer days revolved around Gretchen’s dad’s third-shift work schedule. During the morning hours, the house needed…
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Eph. 4:29 NLT) I was perplexed about the growing distance and silence in our relationship. Until I received the email. My friend took a brave step and let…
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV) Loaded down with a megaphone, a first-aid bag, and a heavy heart, I trudged around the playground. Recess duty was never one of my favorite tasks, and on that particular day, the job felt especially burdensome. After…
Have you ever tried to make a deal with God? Have you tried to bargain with him to get out of something you sense he’s calling you to do, something you don’t want to do because it’s uncomfortable, challenging, or inconvenient? Did you try to give a half-hearted effort to show God that it wasn’t…