Years ago I attended a parenting class focused on encouraging obedience in our homes. The following general expectations were highlighted: Obedience should be immediate. Obedience should be complete. Obedience should be with a joyful attitude. I sat in the classroom staring at the board in contemplative silence. Truthfully, I wasn’t thinking about my children’s obedience. […]
7 Ways to Combat Competition in Motherhood
Inevitably, as soon as children come into our lives, the comparison game begins. In the early days discussions regarding sleeping, eating, and diaper habits consume our conversations. Soon afterwards, we progress to comparing and contrasting the brilliance of our child’s language skills, walking dexterity, or artistic abilities. These conversations can slowly turn from simple observations […]
Lighten Your Load
One day while driving, I came upon an elderly man running. His frame was completely bent over, and each step appeared laborious. At first I thought it was his age, but as I looked closer I noticed what was keeping him hunched over—he was running with weights in both hands. Holding on to those weights kept […]
Valentine’s Day, “The Bachelor” & Finding True Love
I wrote an article for Christianity.com this week, reflecting upon TV shows like “The Bachelor” and our culture’s quest for finding (or watching) love in the exhilarating moments of life. Even in the church, we often prefer to be entertained by love (almost like watching a sporting event) instead of sharing and experiencing the love of Christ in […]
Why Am I so Cold Spiritually?
My son sat at the breakfast table shivering in his seat. With a pained expression he glanced up at my husband and me and exclaimed through chattering teeth, “I’m so cold!” My husband’s initial response was to turn up the heat, but as he looked at the table he noticed my son’s sweatshirt sitting right in front […]