November. Not my favorite month of the year. Darkness draws in as days shorten. Temperatures drop. The furnace hums. Coats, scarves and hats hang from the hall tree. I’m constantly wrapped in an alpaca blanket, trying to stay warm. I love the glories of fall foliage, but some of us (me included!) suffer from SAD—Seasonal Affective Disorder—so this can be a tough time of year. No wonder … [Read more...]
It’s Okay
“It’s okay.” These were the words a godly counselor shared with me one day when I was distraught over my child’s diagnosis of autism. Clifford was a friend of the family and a marriage and family therapist who had come to town for a visit. My first thoughts were to scream at him, “No, it’s not okay. How can you say it’s okay?” But he was a wise older gentleman so I unraveled my emotional … [Read more...]
Love in the Age of Worry
Love in the Age of Worry “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” – Psalm 91:4 NLT I’d planned to write about Jesse this week. I'd planned a piece about theoretical fear. Jesse is my youngest child, and has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD. As He is wont to do, God changed the plan. On a Tuesday … [Read more...]
How to Be Jesus With Skin On to a Family in Need
Have you ever felt so emotionally and physically exhausted, that it was all you could do to just keep going? Ten years ago, we moved to Fort Worth, TX in pursuit of a calling that God had laid on our hearts. We were going to help bring his word, the Bible, to millions of people who had never seen it or heard it in their own language. At the same time, our youngest son was born…allergic to all … [Read more...]
Just As I Am
I was not a fan of Billy Graham as a child. My dislike had nothing to do with him or his message. Rather, it had everything to do with the disruption his televised crusades brought to our family's TV viewing schedule. Mom, a school teacher who wanted her kids to be active readers and not passive consumers, controlled how much television we watched at our house. However, she granted Dad control of … [Read more...]
Why The Older I Get The More I Look to God
I have to be honest. After 25 years, the pressures and strain of raising a child with complex disabilities have never gone away. They’re not always top of mind but they remain, nonetheless. Most of the time, these pressures don’t bother me since they’re just a part of my life. But I’m finding that the older I get, the harder life gets. Life isn’t supposed to get harder as you get older. It’s … [Read more...]