Sword Drills
Growing up, I was never super competitive...but come "sword drill" time (aka-Bible Reference Competition), I was all in. In case you are unfamiliar, a sword drill is a competition in which one person would stand in front of the church (usually at our once a month Saturday night youth meetings), call out a scripture reference and everyone (young and old) would frantically flip through their Bibles in search for that verse. Whoever found it first, read it out loud and received a point. At the end of the competition, the person with the most points, won. It's purpose- to entice
Sacrifices and Treasures
I had the privilege of visiting Ellis Island last week and it amazed me to hear about immigrants' experiences in their journey to the United States. It caused me to reflect on my own parents' stories, especially about both my father and my husband's father. Each one left their native Kerala as a young man and they were the first in their families to leave India in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when immigration from India was in its early stages. I often think about the courage they had to leave all that they ever knew: their families and
283 Diamonds
The New England Patriots unveiled their Super Bowl rings from their Super Bowl win earlier this year. The ring commemorates this as their 5th Super Bowl win which distinguishes them as an elite team in the NFL. The ring is rumored to have 283 diamonds. 283 diamonds seems random, doesn't it? Not exactly. The Patriots were down 28-3 entering the second half of the game. As a non-Patriot's fan, I sat and watched with glee as the Falcons outplayed the Patriots in the first half. I was ecstatic. We thought the game was over. OVER. No team in history had ever come back from
Bents
Sometime around the first or second grade, my teeth took on a mind of it's own. Let's just say, a significant gap began to form in the center of my smile. (The gap was only in its beginner stage in the picture above) My dads advice, "Molé (daughter), in your free time..try and close that gap." He gave me instructions on how I could use my thumb and index finger to squeeze my teeth together. (Sounds odd, I know...But I guess it's an old school version of braces) My response: "Um...okay, Daddy" I wasn't always the most compliant kid, but in
Seen
Is it sad that we are surprised when people are nice now? The waitress, the customer service rep on the phone, the driver who lets you in during traffic - when people are kind, it can feel like the exception rather than the rule. Here was my husband’s observation recently: "It seems like the norm now is that people are rude.” Right when I was ready to chime in with “I know that’s right!”, he finished his thought: “It just makes it that much easier for us to stand out as salt & light." Oh, yeah. That’s right too. This
Delayed Desires
While my family and I were recently on a flight to New York, I was seated next to an older gentleman. As we introduced ourselves, we discussed what was taking us to the Big Apple. I said we were going to visit family and friends. Then, he shared that he was going to attend his mother's homegoing service. Immediately I expressed my condolences and he shared that his mother lived a long life. He knew with confidence that she was with our Father. While he was somber, peace exuded from this man. Then, he shared some sage advice with me.
Wholehearted Devotion
As the pastor's daughter, I had the honor to play many roles at our church. Before the congregation would trickle in, our family would set up the pews with the appropriate books, choose the songs for worship, and get the projector ready for Sunday School. At about 9:45 am, I would sit at the piano bench and help lead songs for praise and worship. Soon after, I moved into teacher mode and taught young children a Bible lesson. When church service was over, it was clean-up time, making sure the bathrooms looked decent and the books were organized back onto
Work is Work
When I dropped my son off to his first day at work, it felt a lot like dropping him off to his first day at kindergarten. It was hard. If you are like me, letting go of our children does not come naturally. I do it because I have to. Because I know one day my son "shall leave his father and mother" and he needs to know how to survive. (Ephesians 5:31) And also because, as a coworker once told me, "We are raising children to become adults not children to become bigger children." So, before sending my son
Brushing Up
How do you feel when someone corrects you? Really, how do you feel? I'd like to think I'm one of those people that can just take it like a (wo)man and roll with it. But the fact that I feel myself getting hot and my heart rate climbing, ever so slightly, indicates that is probably not the case. Can I just be real? Beyond the heart pounding and hands shaking...I feel stupid. Yeah, maybe I don't take correction as well as I thought. Proverbs 9:8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and
Weary from Waiting?
Is there a need you have been praying about for a LONG time? Maybe there are days you feel as if you may not receive the answer any day soon. Perhaps all of the waiting is choking any hope you have left. I think that's what my husband may have felt like in the early years of marriage. Our wedding day was beautiful. The honeymoon was great. And then, we began life together ... let's just say it didn't look the happily ever after I expected. As much as I hate to admit it, the truth is that it had a
