In our search for the gas station’s restrooms, I hurried my three young sons past a man who sat cross-legged on the sidewalk. “If you’re looking for the bathrooms, they’re that way,” he said, pointing. “Thanks,” I mumbled as I rushed by. The man looked unkempt and made me a little nervous. As we returned to the car, I had a strong impression God wanted me to talk to go back and talk to the man. I balked. Lord, if you want me to talk to him, what am I supposed to say? The answer came as a clear thought: He is a seeker, but I am seeking him. Heart pounding, I decided to Continue Reading
Why Proverbs 23:7 doesn’t mean what you’ve been told it means
Since my family leans toward the dramatic, we carry on a running gag which started when our three sons were teens and still repeats itself when we’re all together. After there’s been dinner conversation for a few minutes, any one of our now-adult sons will pretend to be greatly insulted (almost any excuse will do). The “offended” party wipes his mouth, throws down his napkin and pushes back his chair to leave, saying, “You know what? I think I’ve lost my appetite.” This never fails to get a laugh out of us—but in real life, it wouldn’t be much fun to experience such an awkward Continue Reading
Two things you shouldn’t try to be for your children
As my daughter-in-law Rebecca approached the birth of her first child, she listened to the comments of young parents around her, looking for a hint of what her life might soon be like. While paying attention, she noticed a dismaying trend. Many parents would make a laundry list of complaints about the difficulties of raising children, then finish with the remark, “Oh, but I wouldn’t trade being a parent for anything.” Really? thought Rebecca. Because you make it sound pretty miserable. Well, good news—parenting doesn’t need to be miserable and exhausting! In fact, it’s meant to Continue Reading
How I’m letting Christmas moments inform my approach to the New Year
Peeking through our front window on Christmas Eve, you’d have seen our clan of fourteen gathered around the table, then the piano, then the Christmas tree to celebrate the birth of Christ (and, to borrow a favorite line from “A Christmas Story,” plunge into the occasion’s “unbridled ecstasy”). Said clan currently includes kids ages seven, five, three (two cousins) and infant (two more cousins), so you can imagine the level of emotion in the room---sweet moments like the toddlers smothering their baby cousin with kisses, along with the feverish anticipation of opening gifts. Despite Continue Reading