Words of Hope: Navigating Loneliness

I would really love to have a conversation with my dad about loneliness. I never asked him if he struggled feeling lonely.   The main definition of loneliness is a feeling of being disconnected. I can’t think of a more disconnected...

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Words of Hope: Remember Me

I read an evocative post about the thief hanging on the cross.   He did not get baptized. He didn’t do anything most churches classify as salvation. He simply honored and revered Christ and humbly asked to be remembered. It is...

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Words of Hope: Rational

I had a beautiful opportunity on a flight to Oklahoma recently to talk with a brilliant person who memorized the poetry of GM Hopkins and John Milton when he was younger. It is so rare to find readers and...

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Words of Hope: The Why of Rules

I recently wrote an homage to my dad on LinkedIn highlighting a lesson he imparted to me and Jay as a great father. A few people interacted with the post. One person mentioned the lesson of not walking on...

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Words of Hope: Lenten Season

Today marks the beginning of Lent. It’s a time that triggers strong images and memories of Dad. I can picture him walking around New York City with an ashen cross on his forehead. My children often had winter break...

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Words of Hope: Industrious

Dad had a paper route at the age of nine. He had to be out the door early in the morning, as early as 5:00 am. Anacortes is built on a hill. I hadn’t been there in years, but...

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Words of Hope: Presidents Day

My dad LOVED reading biographies and one of his favorites was John Adams by David McCollough. He includes letters Adams shared with his wife Abigail full of such tenderness, commitment to God, and some of the most beautiful relational records available...

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Words of Hope: TGBTG

Dad loved acronyms. He had a million different ones he used often. My newest favorite is from my brother Jay. He texted a response TGBTG which stands for To God Be The Glory.   I find it easy to say TGBTG...

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Word of Hope: Enough

I have been reading my dad’s Words of Hope messages lately. I was surprised to find one in April of 2021 where my dad wrote, “My promise for 2021 is just to live in the reality that enough is good enough.”  It...

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Words of Hope: Navigating Resentment

I have been pondering a message Brene Brown gave on resentment. She explains that resentment stems from envy rather than anger.   This would have been an incredible conversation with Dad. I imagine our dialogue. He would talk about resentment connected...

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