Good morning... "Dear Santa," the sign outside the restaurant reads, "what if we are naughty and nice?" We chuckle because we relate. Then we open our Bible to read about the 'naughty and nice' war raging within us. For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging [...]
Good morning... We had discussed driving together so she called to confirm plans. After talking a bit, she said, "I was thinking I would go, I'd like to go, but I'm not sure going would be the best use of my time." After tossing possibilities back and forth, back and forth, I said, "Okay. Why don't you take some [...]
Good morning... As I sat in dense, inching traffic at 5:45 pm, I felt gratitude gradually grow. With the winter sun setting early, I was unexpectedly stopped, stilled in awe. I watched God at work, painting playful pastels in the evening sky. Had I focused my eyes on the bumper to bumper frustration, anger and anxiety would have welled [...]
Good morning... Two emails came to me simultaneously. One simply said, 'GR8FUL,' indicating the single word one subscriber would put on her license plate. The other subscriber wrote, "I have found the grief to begin to loosen its grip on me as my gratitude catches up with the sadness. Eventually all I am left with is gratitude, love and [...]
Good morning... If I sat behind your car at a red light, content with my 'Listener' license plate, I might discover these words inviting me from your personalized plate into the center of your soul. 'Caregiver.' 'Hopeful.' 'Mother.' 'Loving.' 'Teacher.' 'Sunshine.' 'Mover.' 'Quiet.' 'Saved.' 'Learner.' 'Sensitive.' 'Encourager.' 'Encourager.' 'Encourager.' 'Encourager.' One of you wrote, "Before children, my word was [...]
Good morning... "Is grief ever really resolved?" I wonder to myself. The lives of some loved ones have ended abruptly. Others have endured a long, harsh season of dying. All are deeply missed by those who live on. As I walk alongside many grieving people, I wonder, "Is grief ever really resolved?" 'Resolve' is an interesting verb. In Latin, [...]
Good morning... A soulmate subscriber, whom I have never met, sent me two quotes in response to my blog post yesterday. First she shared this truth: "Listening is the highest form of love." I adore this sentence! What wise encouragement. When we attentively listen we are actively loving. Next she quoted Bill Bullard: "Opinion is really the lowest form [...]
Good morning... 'Artist'. Sitting at a red light, I read 'Artist' on the the license plate in front of me. First, I admire this person's ability to own his or her creative identity so concisely, so boldly, so publicly. Second, I think, "If I had one word to put on my own license plate, what might it be?" I [...]
Good morning... Last week at our final Monthly Listening Group of the semester, we read aloud the Martha and Mary story (Luke 10:38-42). Since Wednesday morning, the story has continued to percolate in me. The first time through the sacred reading, we looked at the story through the eyes of Martha. As I continue to personalize her experience, I [...]
Good morning... Pondering yesterday's post it dawns on me: "I not only enjoy my back door people, I simply adore my comfort clothes." Long kept clothes feel like favorite friends, soft and cozy, well-worn, trusted. A beloved cubby in my closet hosts a stash of baggy pants, outdated sweaters, and anything velour. Do you have a similar stash? We [...]
