A gentle breeze ruffled the surface of the lake as I wandered along the shore line, eyes to the ground. Oh, there’s a good one! I picked up a smooth, round, grey stone and put it in a container. By the time I was done collecting rocks, I had a small bucketful. I’m not a rock hound, nor did I need more stones for the landscaping in our yard. So why was I collecting rocks on a mountain lake shore during our summer vacation? I wanted to work on developing gratitude in my life—and you can use this same method for your whole family. My “gratitude craft” involved the rocks I’d Continue Reading
4 Reasons to Stop Suppressing Your Tears
On Memorial Day weekend years ago, our family watched a special TV show, a moving tribute to American war veterans. I don’t remember many details about what was said, but I remember seeing my husband weep—and I remember noticing how our teenage sons took their cues from their father’s response. They heard a powerful, unspoken message that day. Real men cry. I felt kind of heartless for not weeping myself that day, but I’ve been guilty of suppressing tears lots of times. I’ll bet you have been, too. That’s because our culture tells us a lot of nonsense about emotions, Continue Reading
The Surprising Truth about God’s Favor, as Revealed by Mary’s Story
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, "the favor of God?" What thoughts do you associate with the concept of "blessing?" It's tempting to define these concepts in modern Western terms--in other words, we equate "favor" and "blessing" with more money, pleasure and comfort, or honor in the eyes of others, or freedom from hardship and suffering. Turns out, the favor of God may not look like that at all. It's much bigger than the trifles we enjoy on earth. Mary, mother of Jesus, offers us a beautiful example of what it means to receive the favor of God. Read the full Continue Reading
How Giving Small Thanks When You’re Hurting Demonstrates Great Faith in God
It’s Thanksgiving. Time to gather with loved ones, consume a lavish feast and count our blessings—and yet some of us can’t look forward to the celebration. The holidays can represent the bleakest time of year for many people, precisely because of our hopes and expectations about what this season should bring us. What if life doesn’t look like a Hallmark special right now? What if the feast is nothing more than canned soup? Or the turkey tastes like ashes in your mouth because a recent death or divorce has left you reeling? What if you’re too sick to get together with your loved Continue Reading