Blooming Despite Stress

As I sat on my deck one cool morning, I noticed a bloom on my dogwood tree. At first, I thought it was a fluke, a piece of white paper stuck in the branches, or my eyes playing tricks. But on closer inspection, I noticed several dogwood flowers scattered around the tree. I was surprised, […]

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Life Lessons from “Creeping Jenny”

In the last few years, I’ve bought several mixed potted plants that include “Creeping Jenny.” That name is perfect for this vigorous, trailing, verdant plant. “Creeping Jenny” is the one plant in a mixed pot that survives to the next year. This plant has qualities that remind me of life seasons and life lessons. Following […]

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4 Keys to Resilience

Early in February 2020, before the pandemic shut down our lives, a tornado ripped through our town, demolishing homes and businesses, and leaving other destruction in its wake. Several trees toppled in our backyard. A huge limb, severed from a tree in the front yard, landed in the middle of one of our largest limelight […]

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What 2020 Taught Us

Weathering a difficult season of life often feels like treading water in rough seas. You do pretty well for a while and then suddenly a huge wave swamps you. Undertow pulls you down, and as you struggle to reach the surface, you wonder how much more you can take. For many, 2020 felt like unrelenting […]

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How to Take a Licking and Keep on Ticking

Years ago, a popular watch brand introduced a series of television commercials designed to show the durability, shock-resistance, waterproofing, and dependability of their products. The commercials put wristwatches through various scenarios designed to test them, including: strapping them to a baseball bat that was used to hit a fast ball, taping a watch to a […]

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