Good morning... The two places where we have absolutely no control are "yesterdays" and "tomorrows." We can not erase anything from the crowded chalkboard of "yesterdays." We can not scribble ahead to gain understanding from the blank slate of "tomorrows." Today we do not control, but today we can influence. With our attitude. With our gratitude. With our keen awareness of God's powerful presence with us each moment. We know Who is in charge [...]

Good morning... Last week, my "solidarity headache" (see my 3.1.16 post, "I have a headache.") morphed into an ear ache and sore throat, then a cough and chest congestion, before I had the full blown virus so many have been battling this season. At the height of my cruddy sickness, I was reminded of a scary childhood memory. As a child growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, when I was sick with [...]

Good morning... My journal defined more of my twenty-five year old self on 5.1.88. I wrote: "The process of continued growth leads to outgrowing certain people, certain places, certain beliefs as time passes. There is sadness in outgrowing. It means I can never go back and fit into the old shell in the same way again. The shell that used to fell warm, safe, and comfortable has begun to feel awkward, limiting, and heavy. [...]

Good morning... Waiting in a long line at the Denver airport, waiting, waiting, waiting to board our flight home, I was struck by the fact that no two people look alike. As we zig-zagged back and forth, back and forth, through the roped off security lines, I noticed people of different ages, different builds, different nationalities. People with long hair, no hair, and multi-colored hair. People with tattoos, with strollers, with loved ones. Short [...]

Good morning... As soon as we exited the Atlanta airport following our spring break trip, I was awed by the vibrant variety of fresh spring flowers. Joining the perked up pansies who have lived through winter, the tulips have lifted their delicate faces to the sun, and the daffodils have burst forth, standing strong. After dropping my suitcase in the foyer, I google, "What do tulips symbolize?" I learn that white tulips symbolize heaven, [...]

Good morning... "Many human relationships are like the interlocking fingers of two hands," says Henri Nouwen in his 3.5.16 morning meditation. "Our loneliness makes us cling to each other, and this mutual clinging makes us suffer immensely because it does not take our loneliness away. But the harder we try, the more desperate we become. Many of these 'interlocking' relationships fall apart because they become suffocating and oppressive." Try this with me. Interlock your [...]

Good morning... I am drinking coffee from a beloved new mug. The interior is cobalt blue and the exterior of the black mug bears a Helen Keller quote: "I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light." I received the mug all wrapped up in pretty paper tucked inside a transparent gift bag, tied with curly cue ribbons of light blue and brown. The card accompanying my surprise [...]

Good morning... Her question was simple and so was my answer. She asked: "When I am at a loss for words, how do you always seem to know what to say?" I replied: "Our Creator knows the healing words people need to hear. When I surrender to God's purposes my mouth and my typing fingers, the LORD's blessing seeps out effortlessly. Living with prayerful silence as our baseline, listening attentively with the ears of [...]

Good morning... Pressure. Perform. Perfect. Please. People. PAUSE. Pray. Ponder. Peaceful. Passionate. Purpose of God. “Remember [carefully] the former things [which I did] from ages past; For I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And [...]

Good morning... The words handwritten in my first journal, when I was twenty-five years old, beautifully align with the wisdom Brene Brown shares in The Gifts of Imperfection. On 5.1.88, I wrote: "What I realize is that my 'pleasantness' has been my defense for years. It is hard for people to hate, to get angry at, to put down a 'perfect' person --- a person who makes no mistakes, hurts no feelings, angers no [...]

Good morning... Coming home from church last Sunday, the sunny blue skies created a beautiful day. When I came in the door, our little dog Gracie immediately wanted to go out onto our back porch to bask. I opened the screen door and she skipped outside, stretching out in the breezy sun. Noticing my hunger, I put in the microwave a black bean burger and then plopped on my plate a side of yummy [...]

Good morning... A special friend sent me this article entitled "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" written by Lloyd J. Thomas in the May 2006 issue of Practical Psychology. It, frankly, is too good to keep to myself, so I am going to share it with you in its entirety. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone, Mark 6:32 (NLT), Sue Thomas writes: A few years ago, a [...]