“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” Prov. 16:31 As my parents progressed through their 80s, they became more proactive about addressing items on their bucket list. Within that decade, they ticked off cruises through the Panama Canal, Alaska coast and Amazon …
“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.” 1 Sam. 1:27 They were just here, and now they’re gone. My house and heart were full for three weeks. Two daughters, one son-in-law, six grandkids, an exchange student, and a Jack Russell Terrier. …
“Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.” 1 Samuel 16:23 Last semester my school’s Spring Break began on March 6. Thanks to Covid-19, classes did not …
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:12 While my heart is full, my mind is numb. I feel the need to say something, to speak into the storm of grief …
It’s sobering, that sudden realization that more years lie behind you than before. Just about the time you’ve made peace with reaching middle age, your children announce that you have long since tipped over into senior adulthood. The phenomenon of aging claims its own field of study. Yet no …
“But seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Mt. 6:33 The circumstances of my life in recent weeks have prompted me to cry out to the Lord, over and over again. With many tears I have pleaded for comfort, …
I’m quilting today. It’s a mindless, repetitive process – pin, sew, press, repeat. Soothing. There’s been a recent death in our family, sudden and unexpected. So much heart hurt. So many details to think about, so much staying busy and busy and busy. Today I don’t want to think or …
“I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue.” Job 33:2 Every time I’ve given a writing assignment, without fail, one or more students in class will writhe in agony and groan, “I don’t know what to write!” Anyone who has ever attempted …
“Jesus wept.” John 11:35 I was feeling hemmed in by the writing workshop format I’d chosen for my blog, when it occurred to me that this page does in fact belong to me and I have freedom to post pretty much anything I want on it. With that in mind, …
“Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 5:7 In writing circles, legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to create a story using 10 words or less. He won the bet with this: “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.” Whether or not that incident actually took place, …
