Taste and See
If you lost your sense of taste, what would you be willing to do to get it back? This past Thanksgiving, after a recent bout with Covid, my younger son found himself in that predicament. On the biggest feasting day of the year, he couldn’t taste. Like most teenage boys, my son loves food…so this boy was willing to try ANYTHING to get those taste buds working again- ginger, turmeric, even consuming a burnt orange (a hack he heard about at school). Seeing how desperate my son was, got me thinking…Am I that desperate to experience what David wrote about
Treating Others With Love
Lately, there have been fewer employees at the stores I shop at. And what a time for it to be happening in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season! In fact, while I was at my neighborhood grocery store last week, I noticed how none of the regular lanes were open. Surprisingly, only self-checkout was available. I saw the friendly employee who was supervising the self-checkout and we began having a conversation. I asked her about work especially with how short-staffed they were. The young lady looked at me and answered that it’s been hard. She
New Parents
"Make sure you call them Daddy and Mommy." That was my father's advice to me in the weeks leading up to my wedding. It felt strange to think that I would use those beloved names on people other than my own parents. I had to wrap my mind around the idea, but it started to become natural over time. In the years that followed, I realized the reason my dad wanted me to do start my relationship with my in-laws that way. He wanted me to establish my place in the family and ultimately show respect by honoring them with
Remembering His Faithfulness
Today my Google photos made a suggestion for a 2021 year in review photo book. Of course my first thought was that they just want me to spend more money on their products. But as I started looking at my 2021 photos, memories of this past year came flooding back to my mind. In fact, I realized just how much had happened in this past year that I had already forgotten. Through these photos, I saw just how MANY things God had brought me through this year alone. It was refreshing and overwhelming at the same time. I decided to
True Friends
While attending a wedding recently, a friend and I were chatting. Not only had we realized that it had been quite a while since we conversed, but it seemed that was the case with many of our friends who were also at the wedding. What had happened? Oh right … 2020 … ‘nuff said, right? Well, after spending the evening enjoying each other’s company, I had resolved something. I missed my friends a lot, so I was going to reach out and schedule times to visit with them. Since that moment, I have had the privilege of meeting up with
A Change Will Do You Good
The saying goes that the only person that likes change is a wet baby. I fully embrace this phrase. I do not like change. I can be a slow adapter. I know this about myself and try to keep it in check. When I can sense that change is coming, I start mentally preparing myself for the transition. I have been through a lot of change in the last 2 years- some planned and some spontaneous. My life looks very different now than it did in 2019. With each transition, I have felt myself going into 'crisis' mode to cope.
Overflow With Hope
After spending my entire life gathered around the Thanksgiving table with family in New York - immediate and extended, it was surreal the first time it was just my family of five in Texas. Don’t get me wrong. We made it special as we set the table and cooked every side dish imaginable. We began many traditions of our own and it was memorable. Yet deep down inside, my heart missed all the laughter of my lively large family. However, it wasn’t something I grieved aloud with anyone. After all, we had made the decision to move across the country
Thank You
As we come to another Thanksgiving and I think about what a year it’s been, it can be easy to focus on the more difficult and sorrow filled times of the year. Many have lost loved ones, received tough medical diagnoses, or have faced difficult financial situations. As I reflect on this past year, even through the challenges, what I see is that God’s goodness is still so apparent. It’s through the difficulties that I feel His sweet presence so strongly...and for that I am so grateful. As you celebrate Thanksgiving with your family and friends and as you focus
Grateful
I don’t know about you, but I cannot believe Thanksgiving is this week. Where did this year go?? While many are planning menus, shopping at the grocery store, and arranging travels, the fact remains that the holiday season is filled with mixed emotions. For some, this is a reminder of loss. Maybe you lost a loved one who is no longer on this side of eternity or you have been out of a job. Maybe you are grieving a relationship that was severed or your health has been adversely affected. I’m truly sorry, Friend. Experiencing any one of those things
Serving Others
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is after the resurrection, when Jesus appears to his disciples who have returned to fishing. Simon Peter goes fishing and takes several of his disciple friends with him. They fish all night and end up with empty nets. Jesus stands on the shore and tells them to cast their nets on the other side. The Bible tells us that the crew did not recognize that it was Jesus when he was just standing on the shore, but after He spoke, John and Simon Peter realized who it was. The crew hauls in
