When I was a child, my sisters and I made friends with a stray dog.  He wandered into our world one hot summer morning while we were playing “house” on our shady carport.  My mom had backed the car out to make room for our doll furniture and had loaned us some old pots and pan...
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“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”— Saint Augustine This quote from Saint Augustine is likely a reflection of his life’s experiences, as he himself spent much of his early life living with the pain of a restless heart...
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My son and his family moved to South Carolina; and while I was glad to see them pursue something that was important to them, I also, hoped they would be able to build community with this move.  My daughter-in-law has family in the same area, but being among others with a young family is import...
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“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119).   Words matter.  “Thank you.”  “I am sorry.”  “Come with me.”  “I love you.”  As a people we are always looking for the words that will convey...
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Do any of you remember the 1971 film adaptation of the 1964 musical “Fiddler on the Roof?” The movie opens with a Fiddler playing on a rooftop, his footing appearing very secure, allowing for the stability needed to continue his performance confidently. The film opens with Tevye (the da...
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Among the most popular and bountiful of summer’s fresh garden produce is the infamous zucchini. Even during years when gardens struggle, it seems the zucchini still produces abundantly. Just recently, my dad offered me some zucchini from his garden. As I began to think about how I might fix t...
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Our youngest grandchild is now six months old, and I have been reminded each time I hold him of how quickly these little ones grow.  He is learning to reach out to grab objects, his bottle, cup, new foods being introduced to him, his brothers' faces when they get too close and our hair if we g...
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In my last column, I wrote about my mother’s mindful approach to parenting. I would like to move a little deeper into the benefits of mindfulness.  Some people think of mindfulness as being primarily a Buddhist practice, but it’s not.  Quite simply, mindfulness is being fully...
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For the past five weeks I have been involved with a class called “Images of Jesus.”  The diversity in this class has been such a gift.  One of the students is originally from Viet Nam.  She was a little girl during the Viet Nam War.  Others are from Africa, and they...
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“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit̶...
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