On Friday, we had a fun dinner party at our house. (That sounds fancier than it really was. Make that a fun each-couple-bring-a-dish meal.) After dessert, we each answered the question, “What gift do you remember from a Christmas past?” Even though some of the stories were sad, I learned some important things by listening to…
Stumbling Behind in Mary’s Footsteps
I’m embarrassed to admit that I got sideways over several small Christmas preparations. What’s worse is that these were first-world issues that I’m lucky to deal with while many in the world don’t have enough to eat. But that didn’t prevent me from getting upset. Because I didn’t plan ahead, our Christmas family get-together totally fell…
Love, Joy, Peace
There were no Christmas trees, pretty lights, Christmas movies, catchy holiday tunes, cozy fires, or soft blankets. We didn’t have phones, computers, or a TV. The closest family member was an ocean away. We didn’t have holiday food. We had electricity only a few hours a day. It had been a year and a half…
Uplifting Conversations
This is a super quick read because you’re probably super busy today. Did you know that giving thanks isn’t always just between you and God? Giving thanks also involves others. Not long ago a sweet friend shared how God had intervened when they were house hunting. They had decided to move closer to her daughter…
One Ingredient for Happiness
Ever reminisce about past holidays? Today I was thinking about one particular Thanksgiving that brought out the best in our family. Especially in our then 14-year-old daughter who planned, shopped, and cooked the entire Thanksgiving meal for our large family. And our 17-year-old daughter who drove younger daughter to the grocery store, baked 9 pies (the…
Come, Lord Jesus, Be Our Guest
Lately, I’ve been picturing what it would look like if I could see Jesus right here in my daily life. I see him beckoning when I’ve slipped into worry and over busyness. He says, “Leave that and come over here close to me. That worrying won’t do you any good, so just come over here. …