Just Pray–Remembering Auntie Irene
She was only a mite of a woman. Barely 4’8″, Auntie Irene made up for her small stature with sass. Honestly, she looked very much like a tiny Japanese Josei (lady), as do many who are of 100% Finnish descent, which she was. Irene and…
Lila’s Letter to Her Little Sister
Dear Emory Wren, Welcome to the world! Though I’ve barely been here a year myself, my eyes have been wide open to learn so many wonderful things–several of which, with Mora’s help, I’d love to share with you. First, dogs are wonderful! Like Mora, ‘dog’…
Especially Zinnias
I’d waited. Indeed, all summer I’d been waiting. Watching. Hoping. In April, I’d determined that, after having been a bit late in pulling up the past season’s dried remains from the flower garden atop our root cellar, I was not going to plant seeds. Instead,…
Comfort Across the Coffee Table
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15 NIV). “My husband’s having an affair.” Her words stopped me in my tracks. Returning my mug to the coffee table, our eyes met. “Really? How do you know?” “He told me. Just yesterday….
A 9/11 Irony on Little St. Simon’s Island
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around… looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8–NIV). The hum of an airplane caused me to scan the sky, and I saw him. High above in an old, dead tree the vulture loomed,…
STAY
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3–ESV). Stayed–v. (past tense) to continue or remain in a place. It’s one of the first commands many dog owners teach their pups– Stay! Among others, like…
Above All, Jesus
This is a dark, dangerous world, Little One. It doesn’t take more than several seconds tuned in to the television to know, and just open the newspaper. But yesterday, despite the heaviness that weighed–the barbell a yoke bearing weights of worry, fear, and sorrow–I found…
When We Fear Our ‘War Room’ Failed
…O ye of little faith (Matthew 6:30–KJV). What happens when the War Room doesn’t work? That’s how a woman I know began a recent post. It was quite a hook, and I read on. She continued by telling in detail how her marriage had been failing,…
Lesson Learned Through an Unexpected Teacher
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). Her hair was matted, bits of trash littering the curb upon which she sat. As I approached, I paid particular attention to the crosswalk signal beyond her. Realizing…
Our One Reliable Source of Truth
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6–CSB). –pedia (suffix)–that which is related to learning. Anyone else remember a good ‘ol set of encyclopedias? As a child, our family had two sets, in fact–a black Collier (circa 1972ish) and a newer…