places | seasons | mental & spiritual health
I was walking through a friend’s house when immediately, a frog leapt to my throat. A painting hung there in her hall—and somehow, I felt more understood. I comprehended a nugget of that transcendent truth art can mine in the soul. The title? Jesus and the Angry Babies. Anger issues—angry babies (and angry children and angry mom)—is …
Continue reading "Anger Issues: How I’m Helping My Kids … and Myself (for FamilyLife)"
Here in the U.S., folks are gearing up for a presidential election. Neither side is underplaying what they think is at stake in this one: the soul of our Nation. It’s all too easy to get swept up in it all, especially since both sides are using fear to pull you toward them. Especially with …
But what does waiting well really mean? When I stop to think about it, it can’t mean stuffing your desires and needs so that they don’t ‘bother’ you much. Waiting, surely, is meant to be disruptive.
Last fall, I participated in a women's retreat at which Judy Nelson Lewis was the speaker. She led us through an exercise in writing a Beloved Charter -- a handful of sentences, adapted from Scripture, that remind you of your own belovedness in God's eyes. Since that time, I have read that charter over myself …
God, I praise You today for Your fierce, momma-bear love and protection. Thank You for Father-Mothering me with grace and truth and SO MUCH patience and perseverance. May we all draw comfort and strength from Your unshakable love and commitment to us, Your dear children. Thank You for so many women around me in whom …
There are many things that come into focus as the dust of our overly busy culture settles in the midst of quarantining and “social distancing” -- one of those is that human beings are created to celebrate.
The family happened to be all occupied. With what, I’m not sure, but it was calm and I decided to try slipping onto the porch without being missed. I grabbed a few quick supplies: drink, phone (always), book, and pencil and headed out to the swing camp chair. The pencil -- I’m pretty sure my …
After coffee, the first order of business every day is to open all of the blinds. Most of our apartment's windows face East and overlook a large pond, giving us a lovely view of the sunrise. At that time, the pond is still -- save the occasional small gator enjoying the peaceful water. By 7:35am, …
The whirring of the sound machine beckons me into my girls’ room. Their beds have already been abandoned, in favor of climbing up next to my husband or I as we sip coffee and read or journal. “It’s bright, Momma,” is Irene’s way of announcing a new day has begun and she is ready to …
I have sometimes wondered Why the pet name for little boys is so often bud or buddy While little girls get one of a thousand iterations of loveliness, sweetness, beauty or preciousness. We want our sons to be kind and We want our daughters to be friends And still, when I see my friends’ boys, …
hope for the sojourn 