I can remember one happy Christmas that stands out from the many sad ones. I was in elementary school and my father was home for a few days from his out-of-state job. Several years prior, after a heart-wrenching court hearing, my parents had been legally separated (the near equivalent of a divorce in those…
Christmas Disappointment
As I was driven to the graveside service, I remember thinking, “I’ve never been this way before.” I was sixteen and going to the burial of my mother. In fact, I had been on this same road countless times. It was the road to the school where my mother had worked. But this time, I…
When It Doesn’t Make Sense
So many things haven’t made sense this year on a global, national, and personal level. Our 41-year-old daughter spent her year suffering through cancer treatments including radical surgery, and long and painful chemo and radiation treatments. A close family member battled deep depression. Most of the year my activities were restricted due to a health…
What My In-Laws Taught Me
Husband’s parents are almost 92 and 91 years old. They’ve been married for 71 years. Their bodies aren’t what they used to be. Several months ago his mother injured her back which severely limited her normal activities. Somehow she managed to keep doing basic household chores including cooking, but the price she paid was high. …
Deception
Have you ever unexpectedly fallen into a conversation with someone who is determined to convince you of something? They may be quite persuasive and even charismatic. Part way into the conversation you started to hear some things that made you vaguely uncomfortable but you were intrigued and curious. Yet something just seemed off. Perhaps…