Dec
04
2024
My dad understood the importance of initiative. In Latin, initiative means to take the lead. We talked about initiative often. For example, Dad believed car use without car care and maintenance was a recipe for disappointment and frustration. He...
Dec
02
2024
Dad and I often discussed healthy relationships, especially between a father and sons or daughters. I don’t think many parents talk this way with their children.
He and I agreed when we mentioned something that irritated, frustrated, or hurt the...
Nov
29
2024
"As medicine is to the body, gratitude is to the soul."
For the past six months, Words of Hope with Fred Crowell has been a source of joy and thanksgiving to me. Knowing God and enjoying him forever is my...
Nov
27
2024
I have been praying about a few life situations for a long time. It’s easy to begin to feel discouraged because there remains no answer.
I think of my mom praying years for her dad to become a Christian. She...
Nov
25
2024
It is a serious thing
Just to be alive
On this fresh morning
In the broken world
This poem by Mary Oliver brings me back to my center. What is required of me? Gratitude and praise for the world around me. Thanksgiving to...
Nov
22
2024
When life gets so hard, we seem to be in a place we cannot describe. In fact, we do want other people, but it seems to be ONLY YOU. Please let me explain.
When cancer is so difficult that the doctor does...
Nov
20
2024
The first habit needed to live from a place of abiding love for others is to sincerely seek God. This is the filling station. It is the source for this love to arrive and overflow. When I find myself...
Nov
18
2024
I love James Clear’s work on “atomic habits,” and his research on how to make long lasting changes.
Dad naturally understood how to build tiny daily habits that accrue over time. He lived this with his parenting. Having a terrible...
Nov
15
2024
The apostle Paul encouraged us not to be anxious about anything. Unfortunately, too few people take his admonition seriously or take the time to learn the skill mastery to defeat this common enemy.
Recently I had a stimulating and enlightening...
Nov
13
2024
One of the greatest gifts my dad had as a father was his insistence on total relational transparency regarding emotions. He wanted a home where truth reigned. He didn’t want a home where family members pretended to like each...
