Something to Say to Any Child
My youngest daughter yammers away as I’m dropping off her older sister to youth group last night. I’m hearing all about math projects, music class, and the lunchtime dramas of a 5th grade girl. Then she tells me this: “Mom, in music, Mrs. Begg asked us if we all had a success-maker in our lives. […]
Merlin Let Me Pet Him
In the early years of Live with Flair, the one-eyed cat we rescued, Jack, became a blog celebrity. I recounted his journey of healing and found so many parallels to my own spiritual journey. As you know, we eventually adopted another cat, Merlin, who, for whatever reason, behaves like a wild cat. Unlike Jack, he’s […]
Try This: I Noticed That
As an educator, I always try to notice when students use the techniques I’ve been teaching. If I forget, they tell me. Oh, they tell me! “Did you notice that I used that semicolon? Did you notice that I used that chiasmus and that particularly vivid verb?” The shyer ones say, “I was hoping you […]
Notes on the Writing Life
You may have always dreamed of becoming a writer, and perhaps you pictured yourself in a little writing cabin in Maine with a fireplace, tea, and a cat snuggled beside you. The snow falls outside and you can hear it it’s that peaceful. It sounds like the distant jingling of a million sleigh bells. And […]
Wishing You’d Whiskered
This morning, I talk with my sister about whiskers. We note how long the whiskers are on each of our cats. We wonder how the whiskers know when to stop growing, why they are there in the first place, and how interesting it is to have whiskers. Yes. This was an ordinary morning of living […]
According to Your Word
This morning, I note how, in Psalm 119, the phrase “according to your word” appears eight times. I’ve heard it said that the Bible is God’s love letter to me, so what a perfect day–Valentine’s Day–to think about Psalm 119 and God’s great love. I’m so encouraged that, promised here, so many things happen as I read […]
Back When I Used To Make Fresh Fruit Tarts
When I began my marriage in graduate school, one of the healthy cookbooks given to me featured the Fresh Fruit Tart. I loved this tart. It was light and healthy. The Fresh Fruit Tart accompanied me to every graduate school potluck, dinner party, or afternoon gathering. I think I made that tart hundreds of times. I […]
Something Better
This morning I find a quote by Elisabeth Elliot that I just love. She says, “God never withholds from His child that which His love and wisdom call good. God’s refusals are always merciful — ‘severe mercies’ at times but mercies all the same. God never denies us our heart’s desire except to give us […]
Is Knowing Jesus Better than Anything?
Today, you’ll find an expert from Seated with Christ: Living Freely in a Culture of Comparison, over at ChristNow.com! Enjoy this post entitled, “Is Knowing Jesus Better Than Anything? “
When You Feel Stuck: A Child’s Advice
In class today, a long line of students approached me for final tips on their drafts. Student after student cried out, “Dr. H! I feel stuck! This paper is stuck!” I asked all the obvious questions like “Where is it stuck and why is it stuck?” Just articulating the problem often pries loose whatever has […]