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
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How Christmas lights remind us of real hope this season
This time of year, I like to turn out all the lights in the evening except the ones on the Christmas tree. I sit quietly, letting the soft, white brightness draw me in. During the day, I can hardly tell if those little lights are turned on—but at night, they completely change the atmosphere. The darkness of these longest nights of the year serves as a backdrop for the irresistible beauty of light. Spiritually speaking, that’s exactly what happened when Christ came into our world. Hundreds of years before the Son of God came to earth in the womb of a young Jewish woman, Isaiah Continue Reading
4 ways to parent your kids the way God parents you
When my kids were little, I had plenty of rough days as a mom. (Parenting is hard work, amIright?) One particular day, the behavior of my then nine-year-old son drove me to the brink. I went into the house, away from him. “God, what does this child need from me?” I wept. Immediately, my attention was drawn to a painting on the wall—three carousel ponies symbolizing my three sons, painted by an artist friend. As I looked at that picture, I heard the answer to my question. “Tight reins and lots of sugar cubes.” I’m no horsewoman, but I got the point. Danny needed rules Continue Reading
Why I refuse to call Thanksgiving “turkey day”
Let’s play a quick game of work association. When I say “thanksgiving,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Probably a table laden with a juicy roast turkey surrounded by all the fixings, right? I enjoy poultry of all kinds, and I’m looking forward to another turkey feast this year. It might be smoked or brined or plain-old roasted, but however the bird is prepared, you won’t hear me referring to Thanksgiving Day as “turkey day.” Why? Because taking “thanks” out of the holiday’s name shifts our focus away from gratitude toward consumerism. It distracts our already Continue Reading