Nest Work
I watch the Mother Robin sit. All day long, she sits. I find myself deeply admiring her. I find myself respecting this work of sitting on a nest. I observe how she shields her eggs from the heat of the sun, the driving rain, and from the chill of evening. She uses her body to […]
Wise Advice About Jealousy
I ask my wise mentor for her advice about teenage jealousy. After all, it took me four decades until I made peace with my own life and found the deep contentment of knowing I’m already seated at the table my heart longs for. While teaching the truth of our seat at the table soothes so […]
More Spring!
The Back Roads and Reading Maps
Driving home from a road trip to see friends with my oldest daughter, we find that a portion of the road is suddenly closed. A long stretch of highway shows only police cars directing traffic elsewhere. But there’s no detour sign, no directions, and no help–other than our GPS continually suggesting we take a u-turn […]
What You Need for Today
I remember the powerful principle that God does not provide grace for imaginary circumstances. He gives us exactly what we need for every real and present moment. When I am filled with dread because I’m trying to work out an imaginary future happening, no wonder I don’t experience His peace and provision. It’s because God […]
Limits for a Reason
Today the strangest thing happened while I was emptying the bathroom trash. Every so often I wonder why I just don’t buy a larger trashcan. I have to empty that garbage so often because the container is so small. I thought about small spaces, small containers, and all the limitations of an ordinary life. And […]
The Joy of Watermelon
I talk about watermelons like some people talk about fine wine. I joke with my husband that I need to keep a notebook of my watermelon experiences and suggested food pairings. That’s how serious I am about my watermelon. (I mostly refer to seedless watermelons, but watermelons come in four categories: icebox, picnic, seedless, yellow-fleshed). […]
Comfort in Everything
This morning I remember the most challenging words of Hannah Whitall Smith in her book, The God of All Comfort. She writes: “The soul that gives thanks can find comfort in everything; the soul that complains can find comfort in nothing.” What a beautiful way to live a life! I want to give thanks for everything, […]
All the Spring Things
Something So Wonderful
For Mother’s Day, my husband sent the Local Artist some photos of my favorite spot, the Vernal Pond, and images of my daughters when they were younger. He commissioned a large painting to hang in my office. This beautiful acrylic painting reminds me of the last decade of living with flair: the woods, the spring […]