I Noticed She Leaned Forward

Each time I sat down with her, I noticed she leaned forward. No, it was not a symptom of back problems. She leaned forward in a way that her physical posture spoke a language of care and personal interest. Leaning forward is a hallmark of great listeners. It is...

If You Only Knew

Did she have any idea what just arrived in the mail? What she had hoped for, been asking for, begging for? The Christmas gift she has wanted for several months had, unbeknown to her, already been ordered. It arrived that morning in the mail. It arrived when her...

On Tuesday I will elect…

On Tuesday I will elect…to get up before my kids do, fix a cup of coffee, and settle in for quality time reading my Bible and praying. On Tuesday I will elect… to cast my ballot with a calm centeredness, resting in the truth that God is my King. On Tuesday I will...

Crossroads

Some maps no longer work for where I am going. In our new city I have been very dependent on Siri’s voice for driving directions. There is a mall the kids like, and both times I have driven there I got turned around as I drove past the entrance. New construction...

License Plates and Patch Jobs

A raw, scraping sound emanated from the front right of my truck every time I turned the steering wheel sharply. I wondered, initially, if some steering components had come loose or if suspension parts had broken off. I pulled into the driveway and chocked the back...

Overcomers vs Overwhelmers

I spent an afternoon with my kids at the beach in Santa Cruz. Standing less than waist deep in the water, waves quickly climbed higher than my son’s head, then crashed frothy white on top of them, somersaulting my kids several feet towards shore.  Jack and...