Good morning... Like many once-in-a-lifetime events, the 21st birthday of our youngest child was kinda underwhelming for me. Years ago, during a particularly challenging summer with our son, I found the hand painted old fashion sign above: "Good Beer. Good Cheer. Always on tap here." I purchased it at Goodwill as a symbol of hope that our family [...]
Good morning... After seventeen years of dating and fifteen years of living together, yesterday was the incredibly special night our neighbors wed. We enjoy living across the street from Joe and JoAnn. She and I particularly share a similar zest for life, and we love giving random gifts to one another as the Spirit moves. Earlier in the [...]
Good morning... Sustained by our prayers through March, April, and May, my mom miraculously opened her eyes in the ICU and came back to life at the sound of my father's voice. Recovering from a surgery to repair her broken femur following a fall in early March, my mom's health had nosedived quickly. Within 24 hours, she had [...]
Good morning... "Just read this lovely blessing from Kate Bowler," a friend emailed me yesterday. Before the heat of the day rose high. Before the shock of another mass shooting dropped us low. Before this night of broken sleep took its tiring toll on so many ordinary people. "Thought you would enjoy it," she added, ". . . [...]
Good morning... Developing resilience helps us to navigate life's tumult. Wars. Grief. Divorce. Addictions. Betrayals. Disappointments. Mass shootings. Mental and physical illness. Political, racial, economic polarization. How do we, ordinary people who are trying to process life's overwhelming experiences, how do we develop lifesaving resilience? I'm not asking a rhetorical question here. Really. Truly. How do we productively [...]
Good morning... One week ago today . . . . . . "Nineteen kids came romping up the golden staircase, taking two steps at a time, sprinting toward the mother-of-pearl gates," writes beloved blogger Sean Dietrich. "It’s a wonder they didn’t knock Saint Peter over onto his Blessed Assurance. The children all smelled like little-kid sweat and stinky [...]
Good morning... During this tumultuous time when so many flags are flying at half staff, we set aside a day to remember those who have sacrificed their lives to defend the freedom we cherish. Men and women. Young and old. People with varying skin color, economic status, family history. The impact of war ripples out to reshape us. [...]
Good morning... Deeply moved... He went into his private room and wept there (Genesis 43:30, NIV). When we are deeply moved, might we also give ourselves the gift of private tears? You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle! You have recorded every one [...]
Good morning... I have a dear friend who sends me wise quotes. During this time of great grief, she sent me two sacred sentences, filled with grace and tender with truth. She texted, "I think of a Stephen Curtis Chapman quote when they lost their daughter: 'We have been to the bottom and have found it to be [...]
"Good morning," she texted yesterday. "A little tired today," she continued. "Heartbroken for the families and community in Uvalde, Texas. Thinking about people like Steve (my husband, a chaplain) who are there - and everywhere - comforting families and friends reconciling loss, preparing words for services, walking in for visits." "This morning I am deep into Kate Bowler's [...]
