What do you do for Father’s Day? It’s coming soon. You have time to prepare. Expectations for the day may be wrapped up in expectations of the parent—both fulfilled and unfulfilled. Was that man the father you wanted him to be? Are you the father you want to be? I’ve recently shared a series of … More “Do You Know Everything?” Part 4
“You will make your own mistakes,” a middle-aged woman said to her adult son. Relationships are complicated. Sometimes we have old conversations or experiences playing on a continuous loop in our brains. Like a personal soundtrack of our favorite songs they play over and over. They wear a path in our minds. Or perhaps they … More Do You Know Everything? Part 3
Do you know everything about your mother? My sisters and I had a conversation with our mother around the kitchen table. The topic was spring cleaning. “Wow, Mom! You made us do so much work every spring. It was silly. We’re glad we don’t have to do that any more.” “You don’t know how hard … More Do You Know Everything? Part 2
It is good for different generations to consider another point of view. Things can be learned from each other. It was my turn to help in the church nursery. A baby cried because she needed a diaper change. As I lifted the baby onto the changing table, the young mother in charge of the nursery … More Do You Know Everything?
A pair of Canada Geese flew overhead. They honked encouragement to each other, then glided in for a landing on the pond near where they set up housekeeping. Like many other geese, this pair returns to the same spot year after year to raise their goslings. Whenever I hear geese honking my first thought is … More What Does Mother Mean?
City traffic zoomed all around me. I was hemmed in by cars in front and behind. Two semi-trailers passed me on the three-lane thoroughfare. They kicked up debris. Small pebbles pinged against my windshield. Sheets of water sloshed over my car. My wipers could not keep up. At one point, deep water caused me to … More What are You Afraid of?
It’s that time of year when birds of the same species will no longer tolerate another bird in their territory. Two male cardinals tussled outside my window this morning—the first sign of spring—or the hope of spring. In and out of the maple tree branches they fluttered. Flashes of sunlight ignited their red plumage. One … More It’s Time . . .
Many people struggle with some form of change. From my office window I look out on a landscape of trees with rolling hills and a pond beyond. It gives me a fine vantage point to watch the seasons change. Or not. This spring, winter has not willingly released its grip. One day dawns with blue … More Do You Like Change?
We’re budget travelers. We save our pennies and nickels and dimes and…. You get the idea. We saved for a trip to the Bahamas one year. Part of our budget had to go toward wardrobe. The Bahamas are hot and humid. Hats are needed for protection from the relentless sunshine. We found the perfect inexpensive … More Budget Hat
This time of year with the NCAA Basketball tournament, supporters and team members alike proudly wear their team’s colors. Individual teams often emblazon slogans on their t-shirts. Slogans meant to fire up the team. One such inspiring challenge read: “Unfinished Business.” Their team had not yet accomplished their goal for the year—a victorious season. This … More Finished Business
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