There’s Mercy and Then There’s MERCY!
For well over a year I have been mulling over the use of the word mercy. Why? I’ll explain later; but for starters, I will begin with its definition. Extending mercy can mean “to show great kindness or compassion toward the distressed.” It can be used in expressing surprise or fear (My mother used to say, ‘Lord, have mercy!’ when she was upset or startled.) But mercy can also be defined as “the withholding of a just condemnation.” For example, in our judicial system...
Read MoreThe Worry Monster
My mom was prone to worry. All too often she would lose her battle with anxiety, and peace would escape her. Yet even during those times of struggle and disappointment, she knew to take her worries and fears to the One who would give her the peace she longed for. She was secure in her relationship with Christ, and her desire to serve God at a young age remained with her throughout her life. This greatly influenced me and impacted a multitude of people who came to love and respect her. She...
Read MoreThe Tree that Wasn’t a Tree
Do you remember your first Christmas tree? You know, the one where Santa would leave that special something you whispered about when you sat on his knee. I wish I could say I do. There is no doubt that we had Christmas trees throughout my childhood, and they likely stood in front of the living room window, looking out onto Ossington Avenue in Toronto. But sadly, I have no recollection of what they looked like. I do have a picture of me with my ‘walking doll’ that Santa left for me when I...
Read MoreGuardrails
I have long since accepted that snow-packed highways and dense whiteouts are part of life in Ontario in the winter. And late winter storms have a tendency to surprise the unsuspecting public, or perhaps I should say the naïve who flip the calendar to April and think that winter is over! But on a particular day in late March 1965 ,we did not fall into the class of the naïve. We were prepared for a storm, and as predicted, it arrived without mercy. We had been married less than a week and...
Read MoreUnwholesome…A Word We Seldom Use
Question: What is worse than reaching into a bag of deliciously red apples only to find that the one you picked had a mouldy spot? Answer: Biting one that looked great on the outside but was worm-eaten at the core! If you have ever experienced this, I’m quite sure you were quick to dispose of the unwholesome food. Unwholesome…a word we seldom use. By definition it means rotten. (What better word to describe the infamous apple!), and although we may not use it in our everyday...
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