Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing...

Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid

(as we're inclined to do),

I do not need a handsome man

b...

Looking back, I must have been mental!  Either that or I was simply an odd concoction of narcissism and ignorance.  5'5" and 117 slim pounds.  I hadn't birthed a baby, no sun spots on my face, fine lines around my eyes, or weird skin hanging from places that (no one told me) skin would eventually hang.  And yet I was having a "fat day."  A what?

My mom looked me over, up ...

"If I treat someone with indifference,

I am declaring to that individual, 'I don’t love you.'"

(Chuck Swindoll)

One of my 9 nine year old's vocabulary words recently was INDIFFERENT.  We defined it thus: To not have an opinion one way or the other....

In a mere 18 days, two and a half fleeting weeks, a handful of talented writers and photographers will descend upon our lake house for a glorious weekend of writing, resting, laughing and crying, and... eating.  Eating together, the breaking of bread,  inviting one another into the deep knowing we call friendship as we pass the sparkling blood orange juice around the table.

During one ...

A few nights ago my eldest son was up late reading.  When I was ready to take myself to bed I checked on him one more time. I stroked his hair and asked if he wanted me to tuck him in with a prayer.  He put down his book, smiled, and said, "I'll pray".  And he did.  

"Thank you God for making me one of the privileged boys who like to read — not a lot of boys like to read. Amen."

Three little boy butts lined up in a row,

In the pew between their Daddy and me. 

That's how we began the Mother's Day show

At the church just down the street.