Finding Peace

This world is crying out, “Peace, peace!” Yet there is still no peace. Only turmoil.

Peace is not just the absence of turmoil. Have you ever experienced a calm before the storm? Eight months ago I remember having that almost eerie calm before the labor pangs begun. I knew indescribable pain was imminent. But just because there was a momentary lull, I was positive it wasn’t going to stay that way. In my head there was still the fear of the unknown. The future, was it going turn out okay? Could I endure the pain? Hey, would we even survive?!

Major Missteps in Mothering

The topic of parenting, specifically child training, comes and goes in consuming my mind.

Naturally, I think about it more when dealing with one of my own children and wondering how to properly handle various situations. Or when one of the young people from our church youth group willfully leaves the faith of their parents in a desperate worldliness crave.

It’s in these moments that I start to examine my mothering. A big fear for most moms is failing. Will my child be successful? Be liked? Be a hard worker? Have character? etc…

In this state of vulnerability it easy to look to another mom whose children look respectable and try to mimic their mothering style. Words like, I want to be like so-and-so enter my mind. But disappointment seems to always be the conclusion – probably because I am not them, nor will I ever be them…

I am what I am. That’s Popeye🙂

The Clothesline

Poetry and I don’t usually see eye-to-eye. I cannot write poetry (although my last poem was written in High School…maybe it’s time to try again?) and even reading poetry feels like a chore. I usually have to discipline myself to finish any poem but in the end, once the main point has been discovered, I re-read the poem again, sometimes a third time, pondering each phrase. Poetry is great like that. Anything that gets the wheels of the mind turning and contemplating the things of life, or better yet, the things of God, is good for the soul.

Servant Leadership

Most people don’t want to be labeled as a follower but would much rather be known as a leader. If the motives are pure, desiring to be an effective leader is a great objective in life. What about those “natural-born leaders?” Perhaps we envision a natural-born leader as someone who has people fawning over them with eagerness and are willing to do whatever to please them. Their word is gospel. They have the power to hire and to fire. They never do small or menial tasks. Everyone is waiting on them.

But a servant leader is much different.

Sunshine in the Home

I think it goes without saying that every one of us, whether a wife, a mother, a sister, or a daughter, want to live in a happy home. We need a place where we feel secure, loved, and comfortable…a place that is full of sunshine! Here are eight things that will bring S.U.N.S.H.I.N.E. into our homes: 

Casting Pearls before Swine

I love the beauty of snow-capped mountains that disappear into the clouds. Having grown up in Washington State, I grew accustomed to their beauty. Now every time we get to visit the Evergreen State we are sure to acknowledge its breath-taking scenery.

Too Busy to Wait

I use to think I was so busy.

My single years were kept busy working overtime at my much-loved job. I was involved in children’s ministries at my church. I tried to stay in the social ring, although I’m really not the social butterfly some might think. Fast forward to my married-with-no-kids years – we traveled a lot and invested as much time and energy as we could into the teenagers at church. Being a part of an active church certainly kept me and my husband very busy. It was about this time I believe I started to mistake busyness for a badge of honor. Busyness meant I was productive and actually doing something with my life.