My daughter once accused her older brother of opening his eyes during dinner prayer, not realizing, of course, she implicated herself in the process. Classic. But last week the violator of the “Super-Spiritual Guide to Prayer Protocol” wasn’t 10 years old, she was 49. Guilty as charged, I opened my eyes mid-prayer when a woman in my prayer group said a surprising thing: “Thank you, God, for the … [Read more...]
Life Lessons From Marathon Training
You remember that I said I ran a marathon after going through cancer treatment? I had always wanted to do so but had not pursued it because I am "not athletic." Well, after going through treatment 8 years ago I decided to pursue it, even if I failed. To fail in pursuit of a dream was o.k. with me. To fail to pursue it, however, was not. I realized during training there were so many life lessons … [Read more...]
What It Means To Be Independent
"She's never going to be independent." That's the fear I have, more often than I'd like, about my oldest daughter. Mostly it occurs to me when she's some combination of PMS/Bipolar and we have mornings like we did yesterday. Mornings when she's alternately weeping and giggling---in one breath accusing me of hating her and, in the next, begging me for pancakes. Here's what independent means … [Read more...]
praying through the start of the school year
Last year, I took pictures of my oldest daughter and shared a couple tidbits with the teacher as I dropped her off, but that was it. Our biggest concerns were if her best friend would be in her class (she was) and what she would wear on the first day of school (a frilly leopard print skirt with a kitty graphic tee, of course). This year was different. In the past year, our first son … [Read more...]
It’s Hammer Time
When I went with my family on an inner-city mission trip two years ago, I’d like to think it was because I am uber-spiritual and occasionally walk on water (when no one is looking). But the truth is, I was afraid. On the morning our bus pulled out of the church parking lot, I pleaded with God to overcome my fear, hoping for a heavenly hammer to smash through the challenges that inevitably seem to … [Read more...]
Special Needs, Special Community
When the young woman flashed me a friendly smile and asked, “How are you?” my involuntary shrug and the words “I’ve been better,” tumbled out before I could stop myself. I could have sworn I meant to offer her the obligatory “Fine,” followed by my typical Sunday greeting smile. My veneer, however, had worn too thin to hide the stress of another morning battle with my son with autism, the young man … [Read more...]