It’s Christmas. Peace on Earth. As the saying goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” But it doesn’t always feel this way. Right? Christmas can be a painful time of year for many people. It can be hard to find the joy of Christmas when we live in a broken world. For those who are going through trials,… Read More
Standing in the checkout line, I overheard the young cashier tell a customer that she was soon going home, which would thrill her three-year-old son. Earlier that morning, her little boy begged her not to leave. She said, “I asked him, ‘Do you want Christmas to come or not?’ He said yes. So I told him, ‘Then I have to… Read More
Rosie walked into the house carrying her famous apple pie. Everyone was happy to see her — and the pie — but also cautious. Rosie’s husband, Simon, died two years ago, and holiday family gatherings have never been the same. No one is sure what to say. They do not want to make Rosie cry by mentioning Simon. Rosie does… Read More
During an especially difficult time in my life, I walked into a church. “How are you doing?” someone asked me, a little too enthusiastic for the day I was having. Facing some hard issues at the time, I did not pretend all was fine. I replied, “OK.” He asked, “Just OK? Not great? You should be doing great.” He said… Read More
Forcing her feet to step out of the car, Susan dried her eyes before walking into the country dance hall. No one there knew that the reason she wanted to dance was also why her tears fell so easily. Her love for dancing started with the house dances from her childhood. Susan beamed, “I was not any older than five… Read More
Author note: Many years ago I wrote this article and it seems like an important time to post again and reflect on how to support those who are hurting. Give yourself and others the grace needed during these complicated times. Mother’s Day can be a miserable day. Countless women and children mourn for a mother-child relationship that is not as it… Read More
Do you have that one person still on your Christmas gift list for whom you have no idea what to buy? And if you are like me, after you choose something, you include a gift receipt anyway. It is challenging enough to pick out gifts, but what do you give someone who is grieving? How do you celebrate the season… Read More
It can be hard to find the joy of Christmas when we live in a broken world. How do we say “Peace on Earth” when children are gunned down in schools, people killed at concerts, and countries are at war? How do we sing “Joy to the World” after hearing news reports or seeing haunting images of terror? We know… Read More
