The alcoholic who lives only to drink, the workaholic who lives only to work–lives defined by what each does, not by who each is. The pleasure-seeker lives only for the moment with no thought of others or for the consequences of his actions. The “momaholic” lives only for her children–or so she says–but she uses […]
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The tree is down, decorations are stored–all that’s left of Christmas are the memories, both good and not so good. Now comes the “letdown.” Joy over that which went well dissipates, minor disappointments remain to mar my peace. Just plain tiredness catches up with me. Christmas is over–almost. I’m caught in the limbo between Christmas […]
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Christmas – Season of Promise “But you promised!” my child reminds me with a plaintive whine. I know, I know. But that was when I thought it would be possible. I made my promise before I had all the facts, before I knew how much money, how much time and effort was involved–before I knew […]
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Christmas – Season of Promise Three dreamers, chasing a star . . . Three dreamers come from afar . . . How I admire their ability to hold on to what they believe is true. How I admire those who risk everything because of a hunch, because of a promise from only-God-knows-whom. They kept their […]
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Christmas – Season of Promise “Poppa, what will it be?” “Wait and see,” the granddaughter hears. Lovingly Poppa examines the grain of the wood. This small piece contains a hidden promise, waiting for Poppa’s skilled hands to reveal it. A bird? A squirrel? A fish? An abstract design? The wood will tell him as he […]
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Christmas – Season of Promise Love conquers all–so we’ve been told. But sometimes love appears to be on the losing side in our world. Ultimately, however, love will prevail, if not in this life, then in the next. For God so loved the world that he sent his Son and he continues to send his […]
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Christmas – Season of Promise He is old, yet spry. She moves slowly, but gracefully. Their minds are sharp. Their reason for living has kept them active longer than their contemporaries. Promises pledged in youth and tended to these many years give meaning to their lives. Their promises to each other, spoken so many decades […]
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Christmas – Season of Promise My baby is born and my joy is complete. Will I ever experience greater joy than that of today? Daily he masters new skills and tricks–a twitchy smile, a purposeful crawl, “Mama.” For this purpose I was born–to prepare for his arrival, to carry him in my arms until he […]
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Christmas – Season of Promise I stand before you, Lord, ready for a new day, a new year. How quickly the years follow one after the other, piling up behind me. I have more to look back upon than to anticipate. The New Year’s Eve service is quiet, then a quiet celebratory dinner with my […]
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Christmas – Season of Promise It takes a village to raise a family, they say, but the reverse is also true. It takes a family to raise a village. God knew what he was doing when he put us into families. Kids fare better when raised by their mother and father in a family setting. […]
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