Monday felt like Monday today. I tried to avoid it; I even gave myself a pep talk before getting out of bed. “It will be okay. You have so much to be thankful for. Choose joy.” Before breakfast, the third sibling tells me what the first one did and how angry they are over the […]
Identity
who I am in light of the Great I AM
Deborah, Abigail, Esther, Xena, and Other Warrior Princesses, This is for You
My parents raised a good, Christian girl–a homeschooled, preacher’s kid for the first 16 years of my life (I found a lot of identity in that label). I understood the Mary and Martha illustration better than most and knew that a pure life was the highest calling. On the flip side, I was naive, easily […]
Straight to the Heart
This morning, as most mornings go, I was in my room reading my Bible and my youngest came in, complaining about his brother’s selfishness and how he wouldn’t return something that belonged to him. He then proceeded to tell me that his brother threw the piece at him and that made him so mad that […]
Poor Dumb Bunny
My littlest man and I are snuggled on the couch together, jazz music and Christmas lights shimmering in the background. I asked Corbin what I should write about on my blog today. He shuffled his LEGO pieces and asked, “what’s a blog?” I explained and then he offered, “You should write about Seymour.” The only […]
Hi, I’m Kimberly and I’m black
Kathleen Kelly mocks: “Hi, my name’s Joe. As if you were one of the stupid 22-year-old girls with no last name. ‘Hi, I’m Kimberly.’ ‘Hi, I’m Janice.’ Don’t they know you’re supposed to have a last name. It’s like they’re an entire generation of cocktail waitresses.”Joe Fox: Look. I am not a 22-year-old cocktail waitress.Kathleen: […]
The Shape of Leadership:A Soft Heart with a Strong Spine
Aaron was reading a section out of a John MacArthur book on the strengths of the apostle Peter. His impulsive, go-for-it attitude endears him to me, and I feel a keen sense of hope knowing that Jesus chose him despite his rash run-and-then-trip responses. Yes, he sunk under the waves, but he did get out […]
Saying Goodbye to the Celebrities
Cancelled TV shows, film sets closed down, sports barely played, and through it all, I’ve said, “What’s to miss?” Another lesson of 2020 is this: we don’t need our celebrities to survive…or even flourish. We need to realize this truth within the church as well. Where are the bold and courageous leaders now? Where are […]
Well-Fed When Starving
Last night, my daughter wanted to make a Greek meal. Like most ideas, I don’t know where the thought originated, but if it comes to her mind, it tries to find a way to materialize tangibly. My husband and I love gyros, hummus, olives, and all things bread and olive oil, so of course, I […]
Why Touching People Is Essential
A precious woman in my life finds herself in widowhood earlier than she anticipated. She lives alone now–something she’s never done. My friend’s main love language is physical touch (hugs) and she gives great ones. When this corona-virus quarantining isolation started up, I asked her if she wanted us to stay away and she emphatically […]
When Silence Screams
“In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies…but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. I grew up just outside of St. Louis in suburbs with picket fences and gardens, but seeing and interacting with African Americans was normal to me. My dad invited black preachers to speak […]