Kids love a great story
I met an angel yesterday. She had floppy, shoulder length blond hair and pale blue eyes and she talked pretty much non-stop. Her name is Natalie. She’s 6 and in the first grade. I got a chance to talk to Natalie because her parents were doing parent stuff. Talking to other adults, answering questions, solving […]
Complaint-free for 21 days
No complaining. Period. For 21 days in a row. That’s the challenge that has been issued to folks at Floris UMC for the month of September by our pastor. Him included. We are wearing purple wrist bands to remind us of our pledge and to help us keep tabs. Every time we complain we must […]
Where life gets real, there is always hope
We lost a young man in our church last Tuesday afternoon. He died as the result of a tragic accident. Suddenly. On the day he graduated from 8th grade. He was a good kid but not perfect – an adventurous boy, a reliable friend, a brother you could count on, a loving son. He regularly […]
Let me love You like she loved me
One doesn’t just “get over” a love like Rosy. And I don’t mean the love I have for her. I mean the love she had for me. The way she looked at me, comforted me, wagged in greeting for me. Even when someone else was petting her, she would look around the room to see […]
Dear Rosy, I give you back to the Love from which you came
Everybody does it. Taking a break is part of life. Perhaps part of the human condition. Time away is rest, relief, recovery. But getting started again, now that’s the hard part. Because time off changes you. Especially when the break is final. On June 11th I said goodbye to Rosy, my sweet golden companion of […]
Don’t let them leave without saying goodbye
My dear old Rosy is nearing the end. I can tell. She hardly eats or drinks. She can stand with help. She teeters when she walks, those decrepit hips barely balanced, as she lists to one side. Once she gets going she can still navigate the wonderful ramp my husband built for her. But the […]
What small thing, offered in love, has been life-giving for you?
Mother Teresa said, “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” Genius. Frankly, I like to think of myself as a big thing do-er. Don’t bother me with the small stuff. If just anyone can do it, well then, let them. Don’t bother me. I’m saving […]
Lotta Life at Starbucks
I am sorry for eavesdropping But the tables are too close together to have private conversations at the Starbucks. And I was rattled by the one taking place at the table next to me. (No, Judy, not OUR Starbucks) A tall, well-dressed, salt and pepper haired, Caucasian man was seated across from a small, young Asian man, […]
Courted by the King
My life is a courtship. I think it must be. I decided that upon reading the Upper Room meditation today called First Love. The author writes of rejuvenating her long-standing marital relationship with regular “dates.” And I think, my life is a courtship, with the Love of my life. An ever-extended date where we get […]
Prayers through the beveled glass
I get up every weekday morning with my high schooler who has to catch the bus at a ridiculouosly early hour for a kid who just turned 16. Make no mistake, there is not deep conversation, nor are there fond expressions of love and care. No. It’s more of a presence thing. A keep-you-company-while-you-try-to-force-down-some-breakfast thing. But the […]