When I was a little girl, I loved pretending to be a bride. I’d wrap a sheet around my body, drape a towel over my head, and hold a bouquet of plastic flowers to my chest. Then I would start at one end of the hallway in our ranch-style house and saunter down the “aisle.” In my little mind, all eyes were on me as my sheet became a pearl-studded wedding gown, Read more…
Do These Pants Make My Hips Look Big?
I went hunting in a clothing consignment store—people watching more that actually clothes shopping. I gathered a few possibilities and then stood in line to try them on.
A group of friends occupied the three dressing rooms with piles and piles of clothes. It was quite a parade as the girls popped in and out of the cubbies to model their finds. Read more…
When You Feel Weighed Down, Worn Out, and Bound Up
I was riding down the crowded streets of Mexico City in a cab when I saw her. She measured about four feet high, backed curved, bent at the waist at a ninety-degree angle, and fingers gnarled and twisted shut. Like an upside down chair, her face was parallel to the dirty sidewalk. Feet, dirt, trash. That was her view of the world. Read more…
When You Forget…Remember Grace
Ann. I just love her. In just the few years I’ve know her, she has taught me much about gracious, grace-filled living. My friend Jill has the privilege of being a companion to Ann two days a week. But Jill is more than a companion…she is Ann’s friend.
Last week Ann called Jill in a panic.
“Jill, Read more…
When a Dream Dies
I sat on my porch with my Bible in my lap and a hot mug of steamy in my hand. Early morning is my favorite time of day. Just me and Jesus and a smattering of birds.
I closed my Bible and looked out across the backyard. My eyes landed on a rounded mound of fur nestled in the grass under the willow tree. Read more…
When You Feel You’ve Fallen Too Far
I wish you could sit with me for one day and read the emails that come to my inbox. Some rip my heart out. Such was the case with the one I’m going to share with you today. This dear sister has graciously granted me permission to share it. This blog is a bit long, but I really want you to to get it. Read more…
A Higher Place
911
Mom punched in the numbers and waited for the ambulance to arrive. She was having intense abdominal pains and the vomiting wouldn’t stop.
I got the call, and for the next six weeks sat by her bed and watched her slip away. We talked about everything from the distribution of her material possessions to the best shampoo for shiny hair. Read more…
Let Go and Take Hold
Have you ever watched a performer on a flying trapeze under the massive circus tent? A short horizontal bar suspended by ropes or metal straps dangles high above the crowd. The aerialist grabs the trapeze bar, jumps off of a high platform, and swings through the air.
She swings out once, swings back in above the platform, and swings out again. Read more…
Who Do You Think You Are?
I’m getting ready to get on a plane and head to Kentucky to speak at a women’s event. And a memory slid it’s way into my mind. Remember who you are and whose you are. You are not doing this on your own.
See, it was my first large speaking engagement about eighteen years ago. Read more…
Time to Put Your Foot Down
This week I started reading Joshua and I got stuck on chapter 1 verse 3. I camped out on the east side of the Jordan for three days, just pondering that one verse.
“I will give you every place where you set your foot.”
I was about to head into the chapter 5 where Joshua leads the Israelites into The Promised Land…finally. Read more…