It felt risky. I wasn't sure how things would play out. Would my 18-year-old forgive me? I knew I had offended Danny by raising my voice and being harsh many times over. Yet I had always said I wasn't a fan of generalized apologies. You know, the insincere quickie, I'm sorry for everything I ever did wrong, so now we're good, right? Still, it was time to swallow my pride, confess my wrong, and ask for my son's forgiveness. Even if it was a blanket appeal, it was better than pretending nothing was wrong. So we're sitting in the cafe where all of Danny's Continue Reading
Can I Stop the Drama in my Brain, and Get Positive?
Time for another true confession. I hate to admit it, but I am one of those people who consistently anticipates worst-case scenarios. Some embarrassing examples: I forget where I placed my purse and instantly assume it's been stolen. Or I leave the house and then remember I didn't turn off my curling iron-- and in my mind's eye, the house burns to the ground. Have these things ever happened to me? No! So why does my brain go there? Maybe you can relate to this. Maybe your mind works overtime on creating drama and dwelling on potential negative Continue Reading
Why Am I Grumpy Even Though It’s Time to Celebrate?
I want to apologize ahead of time, just in case you run across me at the store today and I snap at you. I'm sorry for being crabby. I'm kind of crash-diving emotionally after a great weekend full of happy events. Has that ever happened to you? You know, one of those times when life is fantastic, things are coming together, lots to celebrate and be grateful for, and then, just when you think you couldn't fly any higher .... The air goes out of your balloon. Years ago, Barney Wiget, a former pastor of mine who blogs at Musing the Continue Reading
How to Get Your Joy Back — And Keep It
You wouldn't have thought it was a big deal. Nothing that unusual about a mother handing her exhausted grown son a warm rice bag and a couple of ibuprofen for his headache. A pretty uneventful errand to bring his supper to the couch where he is resting. It was one of the best moments of my life. Flash back about thirteen hours. It's about 5 a.m. that cold December day, still pitch-black outside. I am awakened by my husband's hand on my shoulder. Scott does not ever purposefully touch me when I'm asleep because, well, the consequences Continue Reading