Your loved one has died. The shock wears off and there are arrangements to be made, people to call. And in between, you ask yourself if it’s real. Grief comes and makes himself comfortable in your life. And you quietly wonder if he’ll ever leave. But what if there are...
Standing There
I was afraid to walk into my pain, but I saw you standing there. Your arms opened wide, so I’d slip right inside, I could feel how much you cared. My tears fell like rain, again and again, but you gathered them all, as you felt all my pain. I know who you are, for...
When God Opens a Closed, Metal Heart
“You have to come and see Dad,” my sister, Peggy, said. “He’s dying.” My words were also to the point. “No. I ca...an't.” Stuttering was something new for me. But I found I did it whenever I thought about my father. My words would just get as nervous as I had been the...
Why Confess if We’re Already Forgiven?
I remember the day I met Jesus. It was in a basement in Chicago. I was invited by a friend and when I got there and swung the door open I saw other 20-something people like me. They were sitting around long tables that had Bibles piled on the ends. There were bowls of...
A Wrong Number … or Not?
I really don’t consider myself a generous person, but maybe that’s because when I think of generosity, I’m usually thinking about money. But we can be generous with other things as well. And one thing we all have is time—a precious commodity. Too often, we tell...
10 Cents with a Side of Anger
It started out like any other day. I worked in a small National Tea Grocery store. It was Friday and the store was pretty full. The time would fly when we were busy, and that was fine with me. Other than a “price check,” it was business as usual. Or so I thought. I...
Loving, Not Judging, Those Who Have Less
Every person has worth and should be treated with dignity. When a person is in need, they sometimes feel like less of a person. And when they receive help, they could feel like a project instead of a person of worth. No matter who you identify as those who are...