My grandmother’s house always smelled like cake. It was warm and inviting, just like she was. She had an infectious smile and gave the best hugs. Every holiday was spent at her house, where our extended family would gather around her eat-in kitchen table. My grandpa would say grace, and for the next couple of hours we would spend time filling our bellies, sharing stories, and laughing at life’s funny moments. She didn’t have a formal dining room, or even a big table with seating for twelve, but ... [keep reading]
Practical and achievable ways you can nurture your child today
If I could own one tool for promoting attachment and encouraging connection, it would be a rocking chair. Rocking my children is possibly the most important thing I do to nurture them. Over the past thirty-two years, I have spent hours rocking children in my wooden rocker, in my glider rocker, and in an old hand-me-down rocking chair. Some of these chairs haven’t matched my decor, but they’ve been the perfect place to rock my little ones (and even bigger children) on a hard day. One morning ... [keep reading]
When it comes to chasing your dreams, will you shrink back or show up?
Imagine this: You and I are training together, similar to that iconic scene from the movie Rocky. The theme song is blaring as we run around town in a really long montage of us flipping tires, boxing, and pretending the floor is lava. Kids and unicorns are running behind us because we’re freakin’ legends (or so we think). You’re wearing a two-piece gray tracksuit, and I’m in my elephant jammies because… well, it just seems right. The music peaks as we sprint-stumble up the steps of that fancy ... [keep reading]
Is God calling you to be a “morning person”? Nooooo…
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 I don’t know about you, but I’m not much of a morning person. In fact, I can be downright grumpy. But a number of years ago God showed me the verse above and others like it. “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Was God really calling me to get out of bed a few min- utes earlier to talk to Him? I ... [keep reading]
In Your Life, Who Gets the Glory?
I’ve always loved to read stories about people who praised God no matter what. One person I’ve always admired is Corrie ten Boom. Corrie was a Christian who lived in Holland and was such a strong believer in following Jesus, she risked her own life to protect her Jewish friends and neighbors during World War II. The Nazis caught her, though, and threw her into prison. After the war was over, Corrie was released from the concentration camp. She was so grateful to God for the way He had ... [keep reading]
Why God Wants Your Girl to Twirl
When I think about what I most want my daughter to know, I hope she always remembers two things: God is good, and she is loved. Right behind those most important two is a third desire. I want her to twirl. What does it mean to twirl, you ask? Years ago, the Lord put an image in my imagination of a little girl in a field of flowers with arms outstretched, face tilted toward the sun, her dress floating out around her as she spun around, so freely and lightly. And then he spoke to my ... [keep reading]
Bread and Beyond: How Jesus Can Satisfy All Your Needs
When we look around us, do we just see things for our consumption and comfort, or do we allow ourselves to see God in the world around us, revealing himself in the mundane items we encounter daily? Jesus used many commonplace items in his parables and teaching; mustard seeds, vines and branches, doors, sheep, to name a few. One of my favorites is bread. “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John ... [keep reading]
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find out what it means to teach it your child.
One morning when our son was six, he thrust his glass at me and said, “Milk!” This would have been cause for praise if he were a little one learning to talk, but at six, he could certainly do better than that. Rather than launching into a long lecture about that not being a respectful way to ask for something he wanted, I smiled and said in a light tone, “Try that again with respect.” He lowered his glass and said, “Mommy, may I please have more milk?” I answered, “Sure! Great job asking ... [keep reading]
Mom, here’s a suggestion on how to get more out of your reading time.
Over the years I’ve talked to thousands of readers about their reading lives. Some come to me because they’re seeking my help to read differently, better, or more; some are delighted with their reading lives and want to tell me why. In talking to all these readers, I’ve learned that those who are deeply satisfied with their reading lives hold several important things in common, and chief among them is this: they know what they like to read, and they discovered this by tracking their ... [keep reading]
Who are you, and why it’s okay if you don’t have the answer.
I sat alone on the warm sand. With my arms tightly hugging my knees, I listened to the rhythmic crashing of the waves. In and out. In and out. The cadence slowed my breath, and its low roar drowned out all other noise. In front of me, the deep blue ocean spilled over into the horizon in the distance. The swimmers and surfers and sunbathers had gone in for the day; the beach was dotted with only a few remaining vacationers. There was little to distract me. No one to impress. Nowhere to be. It ... [keep reading]
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