As a writer, staring at a blank page, waiting for inspiration, is a little scary, not to mention intimidating. What if the words don’t come? What happens if I’m still sitting here hours from now, waiting for the Divine Download? Will God provide that transfer of ideas and information I depend on? Life is like […]
Delayed Action
The idea of delaying action seems counterintuitive. Action is a right-now word and concept. Action leaps forward without hesitation. Action is the opposite of waiting, or delaying. Yet, which is better; barreling ahead or waiting. As is often the case, there is merit in both delaying and moving forward, depending on the situation and timing. […]
Double Blessing
Last weekend, I gathered with friends to celebrate. We rejoiced with a beautiful young woman, her husband, and family. The couple waited for years for God to bless them with a child. Those years were filled with many ups and downs, with heartache, but also, with hope. Recently, they received word that a precious baby […]
A Hint of Fall
A hint is a small clue, a tiny trace, or barely noticeable amount of smell, taste, or feeling. In the last week, I’ve noticed a tiny touch of fall in the air. Cooler mornings and a few yellow and orange leaves hint that seasonal change is ahead. After a long, hot summer, I’m ready for […]
Great Expectations
Any time you face something unknown, something you’ve never experienced before, you have expectations, whether good or bad. What I expected prior to knee replacement surgery was lots of pain and a slow recovery. In actuality, the pain was much less than I imagined and the recovery much more rapid. Have you had great expectations […]
Have You Learned to “Disremember”?
Many years ago, a man who worked for my father used the word “disremember.” He was a good worker, but needed frequent reminders. When he forgot to do something, he’d say, “I’m sorry I disremembered to do that.” While this terminology brings a chuckle and stretches the bounds of made-up words, it’s actually not a […]
Traversing Challenging Life Seasons
Life is filled with challenges. Whether health situations, caregiving, grief, or unexpected circumstances, difficult life seasons occur. Navigating hard seasons while maintaining forward motion requires determination and skill. Following are a few tips: Recognize Stress I rarely recognize stress in myself because I don’t feel it internally. My clue is elevated blood pressure. Even if […]
Life’s Detours
While driving on an unfamiliar road, I saw what appeared to be construction traffic in the far right lane. I kept going, thinking the exit lane was beyond the long line of dump trucks. I was mistaken. Suddenly, I saw the exit. Squeezing between bumper-to-bumper traffic was impossible, so I went to the next exit, […]
Rooted
Recently, I noticed an extensive root system snaking across the bed where one of our largest trees is located. The roots are thick and sturdy and more visible now that the pine straw in the bed has settled. Perhaps drought conditions in the last few years have brought the root system to the surface, but […]
The Pitfalls of a Rearview Perspective
This week, I had surgery, something I have been putting off for too long. Over the years, as I tried to decide to have this surgery, people told me, “You’ll know when it’s time,” and they were right. When you reach the point where pain and limited mobility cause you to feel like an old […]