Words of Hope: Reaching for Comfort 

My husband Shann and I watched a touching movie about addiction called, “The Year of the Dog.” It speaks to how addictions enter our lives through our wounds and traumas often as a tool to cope with pain. Dad...

Continue reading →

RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF APPRECIATION

"The ability to appreciate is a learned behavior. Mastery of this skill of seeing the full worth  in people, in creation and all life is the difference between being a positive or a negative human being." Fred Crowell January 22,...

Continue reading →

Words of Hope: Take the Lead 

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...

Continue reading →

Words of Hope: A Pattern of Great Parenting 

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...

Continue reading →

PRACTICE GRATITUDE

"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...

Continue reading →

Words of Hope: The Miracle of Hope 

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...

Continue reading →

Words of Hope: How to Live in a Broken World  

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...

Continue reading →

FRIDAYS WITH FRED: IT’S ONLY YOU

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...

Continue reading →

Words of Hope: The First Habit of Atomic Love 

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...

Continue reading →

Words of Hope: Atomic Relational Habits 

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...

Continue reading →