Think of an awards ceremony. Often the recipients will credit a teacher, coach, family member, or sponsor saying. “If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.” Everyone feels a warm spot in their heart because of the recipient’s humility and because of the help that was given by that special person. Now think of…
A Little Girl and the Doves
Many years ago there lived a little girl who loved her grandmother’s garden. You may know a girl like her or you may be like her. Summer evenings were the little girl’s favorite time. That was the time the mourning doves came to drink at the small garden pond near the front porch where she…
Apprentice
Once upon a time there was an apprentice. She was earnest, but not particularly quick to learn. Her instructor kindly and patiently repeatedly took her step by step over the process necessary to master the skill. It had been a slog, yet her instructor always encouraged her. The instructor knew that the apprentice needed to…
A Bad Day
Remember reading the children’s book, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” to your kids or grandkids? Poor Alexander had a lot of unpleasant things happen to him in one very bad day. People and things seemed to be working against him. This caused him to complain, feel defeated and angry, and…
Masterpieces
On Saturday our oldest son and his dear wife took me to see reproductions of the panels of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. Instead of traveling to Rome and viewing his ceiling masterpieces from 65 feet below, we were able to go to our own city and walk right up to each individual reproduction panel…
How to Beat Worry
We are reminded daily of inflation, economic downturn, supply chain issues, and scarcity. I don’t know about you but I have to do battle with worry or else I experience tomorrow’s problems today. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew…