Laugh
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Sarah Laughed At God’s Impossible Promise; God Named A Child After It
There’s a woman in Genesis 18 who laughed at the impossible promise. God heard the laugh. Named the child after it. And then, she lied about it when God asked why she laughed. “I didn’t laugh.” God didn’t give her a consequence, and God didn’t take the promise away. Instead, he delivered the promise. Most of us have the same kind of unconscious operating system running underneath our own faith. It sounds like this: “If I doubt too much — God will never grant it. If I’m honest about how much of a failure I am, I’ll lose the support I desperately need. ” So, we’re busy managing the…
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An Email I Hesitated to Send
An entire week of Esther Advent devos has sat finished for days… Who wants a daily flurry of messages in the middle of everything already tugging at your attention? So, I decided on one simple weekly email; all seven days stitched into a single place you could open when the moment felt right. But, I soon learned, not an easy task. My simple idea spurred a flurry of self-induced apprenticeship. Multiple tabs, videos and instructions. How to upload a PDF that will be readable on mobile screens? The font size? How to weave in links that actually jump where they’re supposed to jump. The result you have here is a slow untangling…
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Watch How God Works in the Messes
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This Advent, Wait with Esther
This advent season, walk with Esther for 21 days; and learn to see the God who hides His face— so you can recognize Him when He finally shows it. Free to your inbox every morning. Sign up, here: This isn’t the typical advent devotional, where everything is wrapped in ribbon. This is the book where God doesn’t have to sign His name, because he’s already there. Where a beauty pageant becomes a rescue. Where an orphan discovers the crown she wears is also a commission. For twenty-one days, we will sit in Xerxes’ palace— gold cups that prove nothing, six-month parties that celebrate emptiness, a king who mistakes noise for…
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Then, I Would Have Finally Had My Daughter
When Rosie was in the hospital, she needed two blood transfusions to stop the blood from filling up in her lungs, from the rat poison she ingested. The animal hospital had plenty of blood, that was not an issue. But, if the doggie blood bank was low, we learned later, that humans can donate their own blood, and a portion of human protein can be donated to the dog. So, if she had needed blood, I know of four boys, and a mom and dad who would have gladly rolled their sleeves. And if we had, Rosie would definitely be our “blood relative,” and I would finally have the daughter…
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I Knew So Much When I Was 40
But, now, I’m my 50s, I am much humbler. I am in awe at how vast and wonderful the world is, and how there is not just one or even three ways to do something — but one million. This is a vast and wonderful world, and I have just learned to be a bit more open and sit with things for a while. I hope I can keep this same open attitude if and when I ever become a mother-in-law or a grandmother. Just to let them make their own way, and to assume that they know what is best for them — rather than become a meddlesome, tiresome…
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The Lucky Ones
This beautiful onion was left in the lake house all winter long, from some time last fall. Trapped in the dark cold, it managed to create life for three new onions that are drawing nutrients from its mother. So many things to be grateful for in that tiny moment- thank God there is no mold or rancid smell. The entire plant is a perfect specimen of health. Gardening always mirrors life. I came late and the meeting had already started, but I snuck in the kitchen to have a chat with the one person I had been meeting to talk to all day. Our eyes met as if we were…
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Conquering Some Demons
Another snow day, the kids wanted to go skiing, they needed a driver. Why not me? And as I pondered what it would be like to work in the lodge, writing on my laptop, I realized I had no deadlines. In record time, after I announced my decision to ski, and not pound out another article on my computer, the boys had gathered my helmet, goggles and ski mask. I found my wool ski socks, jacket and pants, right where I left them after my accident, almost three years ago. At this point, I mentally congratulated myself for having my house far more organized and pulled together than I realized.…
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Being a Part of Something Bigger
While researching an article for a client on improving employee retention, I came across a highly-researched and in-depth article on the need to inspire employees intrinsically. The further I read, I realized I was heading down one of those time-stealing rabbit holes that I often do, when I am more interested in the article personally, and the article may have very little to do with the topic I’m writing for, and I should hurry up and stop reading before I’ve wasted hours and have nothing to show for my time. So, I pinned it for a later read. But to make sure I truly don’t forget about what the article…
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The Great Summer Letter Writing Challenge
Last summer, when my son volunteered at a camp for a month in upstate New York, the camp leaders emailed all the parents their addresses so that we could send them news from home. Phones would be confiscated, so our letters were the only connection to the outside world… So, I sent one letter — maybe two, and that was it, over the four weeks. Might I add — phones were returned at the end of every camp session, once each week, while the crew transitioned to the next group of campers. So, I talked to him every week, and if he REALLY needed something, he called me on the camp…
