My son Chris is getting married in a couple of weeks, our first. Whew — the pulse rate quickens! Have I told him enough how proud I am of him, how I love his beautiful bride? Have I told her enough how sweet they are together, that I’m thrilled she’ll be in the family? And how do I sufficiently warn them of the pitfalls? (I’m finishing a book on marriage—I have a lot to say!) I received no advice when... Read more
SourceURL:file://localhost/Users/Susan/Desktop/Blog%207-31-12.doc Have you read the story about God bringing dry bones to life? Listen to this: God grabbed me. God’s Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun… God, the Master, told the dry bones, “Watch this: I’m bringing the breath of life to you and you’ll come... Read more
Rob and I married twenty-five years ago. Wow. That’s a long time no matter how you figure it. I think back on the kids we were those many moons ago, and I can’t believe how far we’ve come. We were wonderfully in love, giving, appreciative… immature, self-focused, lacking in wisdom. I mean, that’s how it is when you’re twenty-something! But how grateful I am that God does not leave us there. He has a path of growth for us even... Read more
Amy Grant was seventeen the first time she was asked to play a concert, she tells in her book, Mosaic. “Up to this point, I had only sung for people I knew–family, friends, and schoolmates–and the idea that a total stranger would call and ask me to sing for a group of more strangers was mind-boggling.” She said the request was for three hundred dollars. Her mind raced, thinking of what she had saved, of how three hundred dollars would... Read more
I don’t know about you, but I like acceptance. I like to be liked and appreciated and, well, adored! Okay, adored may be a bit much, but I do respond to people who think I’m smart and funny and interesting — and whatever other qualities you want to throw in. Surprisingly, not everyone thinks that. Sometimes, someone I was sure would accept me, no matter what… doesn’t. It comes as a nasty little shock. I don’t know why, given how... Read more
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Helen Keller Today, I talked with a lovely friend over lunch about things we enjoy: painting, creating, writing. I said I love to speak – I’m especially excited about an upcoming event. Am I afraid when I speak and do it anyway, she asked, or not afraid. I liked the question! I said I’m usually not afraid, I’m so thrilled. I’ve been afraid of many things, most of which never happened –... Read more
Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. Antoine de Saint-Exupery I’ve read this quote several times as I’ve been completing my marriage book, a beautiful thought from the author who gave us The Little Prince. I love the idea of it — gazing off together toward a common goal. But suddenly today, it hit me anew. You see, I’ve been writing that we cannot look to each other to... Read more
On my recent writing sabbatical, I took a long walk down a country road. A bird flapped mightily above me, to free himself — just his foot was caught in some entanglement or another. My heart went out to him. I’m not in the least an animal person, but this poor creature was struggling away fruitlessly. He was too far to reach with a stick, and I was sure my intervention would only hurt the bird, anyway. Unnerved, I took... Read more
I don’t know about you, but things don’t usually go as I expect. Sometimes events turn out much sweeter than I anticipated–like the surprise date with my husband to the Cajun restaurant for a beautifully seasoned haddock and laughs at our own silly jokes. But often events are much, much harder–like the extended period of financial hardship. Then I read Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians: “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever... Read more
Our church is doing WayFit, a fitness program led by Mark and Chism, contestants on last season’s The Biggest Loser. I usually work out in my own living room, so I wasn’t sure about this group situation. I showed up with some 250 people, off all sizes and fitness levels… and I loved it! Mark and Chism taught us simple exercises that take under half an hour (…simple but not easy!). Mark’s wife and a friend showed us how to... Read more
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