Joy and Suffering
Each summer, it seems, the thunderclouds roll in, all dark and full from the west, ready to burst. And they do. They are hovering and the rains will pour, again. Each summer, I feel the heaviness of August afternoon heat and humidity beating down. Too soon, weeds seem to have grown three feet, I swear, […]
Some Thoughts on Thankfulness
No pretty photos today. No eye candy. Just some black and white reality, I do believe. There’s a Facebook trend I’ve seen lately. People are taking the challenge to spend time naming three things they are thankful for each day for five days. When they post their thanks, they nominate three other people, challenging them […]
The Joy of Serving
There is freedom in self-forgetfulness. Sometimes life pounds us hard, straight down into the ground and we feel like we’re stuck forever in the hard. Even in such times and in such places, there can be moments of relief when we allow God to move through us, right where we are. Our family is in […]
Unexpected Gifts
I walked the straight path with Rose, our two and a half year-old Labrador retriever. We headed toward the pond. As we approached the edge, I noticed an egg at the end of the pier, nestled between the last two wooden planks, sitting there solitary. Rose had already entered the pond, swimming with her rudder […]
After the Storm
The day before was a perfect Wisconsin day—sunny, low eighties, completely still. I could hear the spring peepers still out in our ponds and the barn swallow hatchlings in their nests as mamas flew in with their meal. But weather often changes fast around here. It rolled in last night after dark. A low rumble […]
Taped
She picked a daffodil. As the farmer from down the road drove his tractor through our south field, she and I strolled through the front gardens together smelling spring flowers. The one she picked? Flower head drooped, stem bent close to the top. We can relate, these days. She raised the golden trumpet to her […]
Falling Apart
Some may be appalled at the honesty and transparency of what I write below. I have prayed hard and sought input from godly people I trust most. My husband and I know our daughter better than any. We know her heart for God and that, more than anything, she wants to love Him and others. […]
Opossums, Voles, and Easter Bunnies
Tuesday after Easter. Just another day. But I have resurrection from the dead and salvation on my mind, more than on a usual day. You know the after-effects of post-holiday, when life settles down to normal, whatever “normal” is? And I can’t get that tiny creature held in my hand on Easter Sunday out of […]
Keeping It Real, Again
Well, I’m taking it easy today because we’ve had a long, hard week and my flesh is quite tired though my spirit is gaining strength. And I’m writing again today because it soothes me and teaches me. As I lean into God and listen for His words, He always comes shedding light and insight, refreshing […]
Costco Church
I went to church in Costco this weekend. Trying to hold back my tears, the lump in my throat made it hard to swallow. I’m a mess, really. Things touch me in ways that make me think I’m weird—like really at least two standard deviations to the left of the bell curve weird! Like, really, […]
Loser
Not for those in a hurry, but for those who crave real. After a week of observation—seeing human patterns and needs—this is for seekers and believers . . . I’m a loser. Aren’t we all? We’re all losers because we’ve all lost something, somewhere along the way. We know, in our deepest, darkest cracks. And […]