The women’s Bible study was the first I had joined since becoming a wife and a mom. I had those initial years of marriage stuffed under my belt: where the honeymoon period morphs together with the commitment we made before God—and in my case—before practically every member of the church where I grew up. Those…
I think this whole life is a gift from God to me. Straight Christmas every day. Just look around at beautiful sunrises or sunsets, the ocean, the mountains, beautiful people and places all around the globe. I love the swallows that float so close to the ground and swoop and make beautiful poetry with the grass….
We’ve heard about her, sewing late into the night by a lamp that does not go out, gorgeous toned arms planting a vineyard, a prominent husband, self-designed purple clothing, and children that get up in the morning and praise her. All of that sounds like an unattainable biblical ideal. Reflecting on who you know that…
“…her arms are strong for her tasks.” –The Wife of Noble Character Proverbs 31:17b What does it mean to be a strong Christian? Thinking about a powerful faith elicits images of grit in the face of adversity, bravery despite mounting opposition, and endurance in the face of challenge. As Christians, being strong is something we…
The Redbud Post interviewed Catherine McNiel about her new book: Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline. Why did you decide to write Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline? A few years ago, I was a work-from-home mom with a baby, a toddler, and a preschooler. These precious, demanding…
From the beginning, my husband, Dana, and I planned to keep Christmas simple. Yes, we hung stockings, decorated a tree, and celebrated with gifts. But there were no extravagant wish lists. No blockbuster toys under the tree. No credit card bills lingering into spring. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas. I love watching ridiculously…
A few years ago, when I was recovering from an outpatient surgery, I was struck with a violent and all-encompassing headache. At the suggestion of my surgeon, I was taken to the emergency room for further examination. It was a cold and snowy February day in Chicago. As my mom and I walked into the…
“I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.” ~ Isaiah 45:3, NASB Suffering is universal. It is not a question of if we will suffer; it is simply…
My phone rang at 2 a.m., jarring me awake. I had been asleep for two hours in my hotel room, 1,000 miles from home. Not again, I thought. Which will this be—hospital or jail? It was jail. My son was calling to tell me it was all a mistake; he shouldn’t have been taken to…
You wake up late and rush through the morning. You haven’t had your coffee, cereal is all over the floor, and the children are screaming. It’s hard to be thankful. An opportunity you really wanted didn’t work out. You feel hurt, dejected, and maybe even, forgotten by God. It’s hard to be thankful. You’re pouring…
There is a scar on the wall of our garage. Few will ever see it, even fewer know its significance. It emerged slowly, like color bleeding through whitewash on the wall of an ancient building. As the wall continues to yield to the gentle impact of a small gate, the scar has become beauty to…
The Bible instructs us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:16-18) and to trade worry for thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6), but the question is how?! In order to appropriately address this question, we need to consider the source of gratitude. Gratitude is the appropriate response to God’s gracious work in the world. It is…
Over the past year, I’ve enjoyed the Grantchester Mysteries, both the novels by James Runcie and the PBS Masterpiece series. The mysteries feature Sidney Chambers, vicar and amateur detective of Grantchester, England. He spends his time all over town—visiting the sick, walking his dog, fixing faucets, and presiding over village fêtes. He’s available for his…
One of the interesting things about becoming an adult is that I find myself asking fewer questions about the meaning of life. When I was a child, I lobbed a constant barrage of “whys” at my parents from the backseat, the dinner table, or our nightly check-ins before bed. Why is the sky blue? Why…