Equipping Parents for The Journey
Drawing near to Christmas, I have decided Facebook has ruined Christmas! There’s so much pressure! Mark Zuckerberg owes all of us a huge apology . . . and maybe a refund. But seriously, besides social media, why do we obsess so much about having the perfect family Christmas? Wouldn’t that require us to have...
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 I don’t manage stress well. In my mind, I have supernatural powers to overcome any mountain with grace and elegance, so I might have committed to a big holiday project at work, two volunteer...
If you are around young children for any amount of time, you will know that they are born into the world with an egocentric nature. One of the first words they learn is “mine.” And “mine” is almost always followed by an exclamation mark. Selfishness and ingratitude are just two more things parents are tasked...
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. President Reagan made it official in 1988, and I love what he says about parents who have lost children. “When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When...
In his recent blog post Exciting News: I’m Not Enough, and You Aren’t, Either!, Family Ministry Pastor Dave Carl said, “You are not okay, and you don’t need to pretend to be anymore!” Dave Carl I wish I could put that line on the marquee sign out in front of our church. It would...
When I was a kid, my dad had the cure for everything: Vicks VapoRub. Got a scrape there, buddy? Slap some Vicks on it. Coughin’ with a cold? Slather yer little-man chest with Vicks and get to bed. Got a sore throat? (you are not gonna guess the cure for this) Swallow a dab...
It is hard to think of allowing our children to make mistakes, but that is the only way they will learn. Not being successful at something on the first time does not mean your child will never get it; it only means your child needs practice. Children fall down a lot when they are...
I was having one of those parenting days. You know. Those days. My child was losing his ever-loving mind, bless his heart. And I was getting dangerously close to losing mine. So, I did the only thing a logical mother does in her time of stress… I sent everyone to their rooms for a...
You are at a restaurant to have a nice meal and a lovely time of visiting with your spouse, family, or friends. You are forced into hearing what is happening at the next booth. “Stop that! What are you doing?” the mom asks in frustration. “But I don’t want to eat it” whines the...
I have theories. Lots of theories. Some have been proven wrong, like the theory that bell bottoms will never go out of style and the word “groovy” will be used by everyone forever. It’s such a good word . . . But I also have more substantial theories, the parts of which have been...
Does this sound familiar? Yesterday morning went something like this: Me: Liv. Liv! Olivia! Olivia Marie! (at the top of my lungs) Liv: Crickets. Me: Stomping up the stairs, muttering under my breath, Disrespectful! She’s ignoring me!? I bet she’s just hoping I’ll give up. I’m not giving up! In fact, I’m the opposite of giving...
Special thanks to Daniel Lebsack, Associate Pastor of Recovery Ministries at Stonebriar Community Church. I can clearly picture the situation in my mind. It is late at night, and I am a couple of hours past curfew. The porch light and the light in the entryway are on, but the rest of the house and the...
