Calm Our Busy Thoughts
Good morning... "I thought of you when I received this today." On early Saturday morning, a faraway friend emailed me the colorful Bible verse above. She said, "Reminds me a little bit of your post today, Be Guided By Grace." In the VOICE translation, Ephesians 4:2 sounds like this. Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient. Tolerate one another in an atmosphere thick with love. By 9:00 am that morning, I was enjoying the [...]
Be Guided By Grace
Good morning... "He says it best!" wrote one dear friend from our church family. "This United Methodist minister from Arkansas has stated it best. The interior of the church as seen at the end of his statement looks exactly like our sanctuary at Northside United Methodist Church." This minister passionately shares his prayerful perspective. In highlighting his thoughts, my friend touches on her own prayerful perspective. In my own prayerful perspective, I think [...]
Choices In Our Church
Good morning... I made this card of encouragement yesterday with two tiny feathers I found on my walk. When God's timing is right - beautiful old things fall off to make space for the new growth of God. "Watch closely: I am preparing something new..." says God. I made this card to help me process the choices our church family is facing. Inside, one of my favorite Scripture verses is expanded. [...]
What Is That Smell?
Good morning... I turn on the lamplight in the middle of this hard night and all I can smell is gardenias. I happened by a friend's home yesterday in need of a hug and an honest talk about the pain plaguing so many we love. Relentless ravages of cancer. Upheaval in trusted institutions. Some passionate friends feel angry and betrayed, others feel supported and hopeful. Amid all the tumult, we stood in her [...]
Steve’s Final Message
Good morning... Several of you have asked for a copy the final chapel message given by my husband Steve as he leaves the role of head chaplain at The Lovett School after twenty-nine years. I share it with you now, an encouraging message for all of us, whatever our life stage, wherever we wake. Controversy is an unavoidable part of life. How, my friends, might we respond? ******* Final All School Closing Chapel [...]
If You Give A Kid A Cookie
Good morning... As the rains set in yesterday morning, our afternoon plans needed to change. As regular weekly volunteers, we brainstormed indoor activities for our final Monday gathering at PAWkids. Beading. Board games. Musical chairs. Freeze dance. Then came the Program Director's request. "Cookie decorating, maybe?" My happy heart lit up. Since I have a mom who loved making homemade cookies with us, I became a mom who loved making homemade cookies with [...]
Processing Elizabeth’s Pain
Good morning... During our final Wordless Prayer Card making session on the third Wednesday in April, one woman made a card for Elizabeth, the 38-year-old wife and mom of three who is facing the spread of her advanced colon cancer. Elizabeth is the daughter-in-law of our dear friend, Joan, who is a loyal member of our Friday morning class. "This butterfly is emerging from the darkness into a new form of life," said [...]
Thanking My Mother
Good morning... I picked out the perfect Mother's Day card, wrote my loving thanks in my own handwriting, and stuck it in the mail earlier this week. As my mom opens the card and feels the love of our family, I hope she will listen closely to the lyrics of the music video below, A Mother Like You by JJ Heller. [Verse 1] You gave me a drawer in your kitchen You gave [...]
Steve’s Final Chapel
Good morning... Today is a day to celebrate the bittersweetness of life. In the morning, I will experience with entire The Lovett School community the final chapel led by my husband, Steve. After 29 years as chaplain, Steve will deliver his final sermon to the kids (kindergarten through 12th grade), the faculty, and the parents in attendance. He will remain on Lovett's chaplain team full time as Chaplain Emeritus, providing pastoral care for [...]
I Miss Ordinary Days
Good morning... Recently I snapped the photo above outside the home of a woman in our young mom's class from church. I love the colorful toys and chairs in the yard, the tiny basketball hoop in the driveway, and carseats leaning up against the garage. "Your yard and home are just so happy!" I texted her in the middle of an ordinary day. "I could not resist taking a few photos to encourage [...]
Walk With Steve And Me
Good morning... Yesterday I walked with a friend who recently returned from her pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Camino is Spanish for "way" or "path" and Santiago means "Saint James," so my friend walked the way of James, who walked the way of Jesus. For my birthday in March, this friend got me a book, The Way is Made by Walking by Arthur Paul Boers, which chronicles the sacred adventure [...]
Great Day. Bad Dream.
Good morning... We had great time at PAWkids yesterday. Laughing. Dancing. Playing ball. Making tissue paper flowers, homemade cards, and wrapping donated jewelry for Mother's Day gifts. Enjoying a generous dinner served by the Tuesday night Bible study from Northside Church. We had a really great time. And yet, just now, [...]