by Inspiration | May 16, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Inspiration
“Everything you have done” is a reflection of all that you are. Every step you have taken was necessary to get you to this point in time. Even the times… “Everything you have done” is a reflection of all that you are. Every step you have taken was necessary to get you to this point in time. Even the times you felt lost and alone helped to build your integrity and bolster your self-image. If these times are a challenge and you’re feeling down, remember the journey that took you to this place. “Everything you have done” on this long and twisted road through life, had to have happened in order for you to be all you are today. Do I believe in destiny, fate or choice? Choice. It is by far the greatest gift, next to the ability to love and be loved, that God has given us. Yes, He has plans for you. Greater plans than you could ever imagine, but He also has expectations. Thus the gift of choice. “Everything you have done” or will do, either adds to your potential or delays the fulfilment of His desire for you. If you could make a map of the journey of your life, it may appear to you that you have travelled a long distance and yet, not
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by Inspiration | May 15, 2023 | Archives, Family, Featured
The Other Grandma We were grandmothers together to two of the nicest grandkids anybody ever had. It makes great comedy on television for the two grandmothers to engage in rivalry,… The Other Grandma We were grandmothers together to two of the nicest grandkids anybody ever had. It makes great comedy on television for the two grandmothers to engage in rivalry, but that never happened with us. We both babysat—sometimes on the same day—passing those wonderful children between us with her sometimes coming to get them from me and I sometimes going to her home to pick them up. I liked her a lot and never doubted that she gave my grandchildren the best of love and care. Even after our children divorced, our relationship remained the same. Can you imagine how sad I was for my grandchildren when I recently learned that her cancer was terminal and she did not have much longer to live? It was heart-breaking for me because of those grandchildren. They were facing one of the most difficult losses of life at a time when it would be most devastating. When I saw my four-year-old granddaughter a couple of days later, I said to her, “Honey, I’m sorry your nana is so sick.” Perhaps she didn’t want to talk about it; perhaps she was busy playing
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by Inspiration | May 14, 2023 | Featured, Inspiration
I like eagles. These creatures are swift and reach amazing altitudes. Other birds cower at the thought of even nearing one thousand feet, but eagles go twenty thousand. And while… I like eagles. These creatures are swift and reach amazing altitudes. Other birds cower at the thought of even nearing one thousand feet, but eagles go twenty thousand. And while others seek shelter during violent storms, eagles soar through the raging winds, and they actually “have a ball.”Its secret? It doesn’t fly.The eagle soars. You see, it doesn’t use the energy of its wings to move about. It wisely takes the power of the rushing wind, catching its quiet force behind and beneath him. And that is why they love the storm: The stronger the wind, the greater their strength.Eagles make me think about how I try to do things on my own, propelling myself to reach higher altitudes by the vigor of my own wings. No wonder I tire easily. But if only I allow the Glorious Wind of His Spirit to move my soul, to carry me beyond my own failures and weaknesses…I can boldly face the most difficult situations, soar through the most violent of storms. Yes, the greater the problem, the stronger I can become.“Strength of my soul, desire of my heart, let me trust in
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by Inspiration | May 13, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Marriage
Carol’s husband was killed in an accident last year. Jim, only fifty-two years old, was driving home from work, the other driver was a teenager with a very high blood… Carol’s husband was killed in an accident last year. Jim, only fifty-two years old, was driving home from work, the other driver was a teenager with a very high blood alcohol level. Jim died instantly. The teenager was in the emergency room for less than two hours. There were other ironic twists: It was Carol’s fiftieth birthday, and Jim had two plane tickets to Hawaii in his pocket. He was going to surprise her. Instead, he was killed by a drunk driver. “How have you survived this?” I finally asked Carol, a year later. Her eyes welled up with tears. I thought I had said the wrong thing, but she gently took my hand and said, “It’s all right; I want to tell you. The day I married Jim, I promised I would never let him leave the house in the morning without telling him I loved him. He made the same promise. It got to be a joke between us, and as babies came along, it got to be a hard promise to keep. I remember running down the driveway, saying ‘I love you’ through clenched teeth when I
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by Inspiration | May 12, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Spiritual Growth
Tell Them Some 14 years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our opening session in the theology of faith. That was the day I… Tell Them Some 14 years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our opening session in the theology of faith. That was the day I first saw Tommy. He was combing his hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders. My quick judgment wrote him off as strange – very strange. Tommy turned out to be my biggest challenge. He constantly objected to or smirked at the possibility of an unconditionally loving God. When he turned in his final exam at the end of the course, he asked in a slightly cynical tone, “Do you think I’ll ever find God?” “No,” I said emphatically. “Oh,” he responded. “I thought that was the product you were pushing.” I let him get five steps from the door and then called out. “I don’t think you’ll ever find Him, but I am certain He will find you.” Tommy shrugged and left. I felt slightly disappointed that he had missed my clever line. Later I heard that Tommy had graduated, and I was grateful for that. Then came a sad report: Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search
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by Inspiration | May 11, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Parenting
When a young child dies, we are advised not to tell the parents we know how they feel because the depth of their anguish is something we can’t really imagine…. When a young child dies, we are advised not to tell the parents we know how they feel because the depth of their anguish is something we can’t really imagine. I do know how they feel, if not for the months and years to come, at least for that crushing moment when they realize their child is gone. I have always had a hard time talking about the day thirty-five years ago when my sister’s home, next door to mine, was consumed by fire. My sister was gone somewhere, as was my father who lived on the other side of me. In my own home, there was a lot of confusion because relatives were there with a new baby and my father-in-law had also shown up unannounced. In the midst of all that confusion, my sister returned to her home and found it in flames. At that point, we immediately began to search for our six-year-old son. We could not locate him. My sister never locked her door and our little boy habitually ran in and out of all three houses lined up on our street as if they were
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