A couple of years ago my family told me I don't laugh very much. I argued with them to assure them I do laugh. But they were adamant than I didn't laugh very much around them. It seems I was always trying to get something done or frustrated because they were goofing off when I needed help. My husband and my daughter rattled off all the reasons I didn't laugh ... and I realized something — they were right. I wasn't laughing very much, at least not at home. The Gift of Laughter Somehow ... [Read More]
The Gift of UNDERSTANDING
The benefit of the doubt. It's one of those things we all want to receive ... but sometimes we are not as good as giving it to others. But if I've learned anything about relationships in my forty-six years, it's this—the gift of understanding is one of the most precious things we can give our friends. In fact, I'd go so far as to say, the gift of understanding is necessary for a friendship to last over the long haul. THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING I haven't always been great at this—in ... [Read More]
The Gift of PEACE
We live in a contentious time, y'all. It seems as if people are longing for a fight and looking to be offended. Between 24-hour "news" and our social media feeds, we can find a reason to be hostile or hurt without much effort at all. And, I don't know about you, but it all makes me want to binge watch 80s sitcoms and eat all the Ben & Jerry's. Unfortunately, that doesn't make any sort of impact on the conversations or the relationships. THE GIFT OF PEACE One of the great ... [Read More]
The Gift of SONG
Do you remember the group Hanson? Their song "Mmmm Bop" was popular in the late 90s. The lyrics weren't especially compelling but pretty much everyone I know was humming the song. Why? Because it was so catchy. It's funny isn't it, the way a tune can get stuck in our heads. THE GIFT OF SONG But sometimes we get a song stuck in our heads and we really — REALLY — wish it would go away. Right? So we try listening to other music or distracting ourselves to get the words and tune replaced ... [Read More]
The Gift of NEARNESS
Scott is in Brunswick, GA, this week leading worship for a revival there. He left yesterday before I got back from the (in)RL conference in Nashville. And I'll leave for Raising Generations Today THRIVE conference on Wednesday before he returns on Thursday. We're on our fourth day apart and I'm already feeling the weight of the distance. Yesterday (Sunday) he had to go to urgent care for kidney stones. He was in a great deal of pain and I felt far, far away. There is a gift in nearness, ... [Read More]
The Gift of RELATIONSHIPS
Scott started a new job last Sunday. And for the first time in my life, a new position at a new church didn't require an immediate move. So, even though we no longer attend and serve at a church in our small town, we still live here. Which means, last night while we were eating out, we got to see several friends from our previous church. And yesterday while I was getting my hair cut and colored (hallelujah!), a sweet little girl from Calvary came into the same salon and we got to get our ... [Read More]
