This picture showed up as a Time Hop photo on Facebook recently. When I saw it, I felt joyous and sad at the same time. Joyous to be blessed with such wonderful friends, and sad to be missing the two friends in the back row with me, who went home to be with Jesus in […]
Tag Archives | presence of God
For the Weak and Weary Ones
I had just finished my workout at the J. Fred Corriher YMCA and was stretching on the mat that covered most of the floor in the Functional Training Center. “Lord, I am so tired today,” I prayed. “Please give me the strength to keep going and to do what You would have me do today.” […]
Lessons from the Hummingbird
“Mom, I found a hummingbird on the floor of the garage, and I think it’s hurt,” my daughter Sarah said. I scurried out the back door and down the steps as Sarah crouched over the tiny bird. Its legs were all tangled up in some sort of string or webbing, and its chest was heaving […]
The Woman on the Plane
“I think they double-booked our seats.” I looked across the aisle at the petite, curly-haired woman, who appeared to be about my age. She was talking with a young couple, who were occupying two seats together on the airplane. After studying their tickets, everyone realized the young woman from the couple was supposed to be […]
The Perfect Fit
I tore open the bag and slipped out the royal blue dress with sequins, beading, and fringe. I was looking forward to wearing it to my daughter Sarah’s bridal shower. My sister Danielle and sister-in-law Jodi were planning a fun, Great-Gatsby-themed party for her in my hometown of Louisville, Ohio. I pulled the dress down […]
Hold On!
My dear friend and prayer partner Phyllis died suddenly and unexpectedly a few weeks ago. From her symptoms, it seems she might have had a brain aneurysm. From God’s perspective, it was time for her to come home and be with Him. I’m happy for my precious friend, but I am deeply sad at the […]
Acknowledging and Enjoying God’s Presence
Henry with one of his toys I was cleaning out some drawers in the bathroom this week, and then I saw it—Henry’s ball neatly deposited right in the middle of the trash can I was using. I smiled. My daughter’s beloved dog has a way of positioning his toys in the midst of whatever we […]
Goodbye Perfectionism. Hello Joy!
I sometimes struggle with perfectionism, and those feelings often try to block me from doing something, telling me I’m not good enough, inadequate, and unable. If I let those feelings stay around long enough, a heavy weight of responsibility replaces the joy in my life. The Lord showed me something wonderful this past week, and […]
Cutting Our Teeth
My grandson Landon with his parents, my son-in-law Curt and daughter Katie My grandson Landon is cutting his first teeth. Two little white pearls are emerging through his bottom gums. While the rest of us are excited about this new development, our little man now sometimes trades his winning smile for a little furrow between […]
Being Thankful for Not Having Enough
People often look at Thanksgiving as a time to express gratitude for what they have. Although this is a wonderful tradition and practice, I have felt led in the past few weeks to be thankful for what I have not had. I have been realizing that the empty places in life, the situations where something […]