Bullying is a Word We Can Live Without
“Words are letters often shaped in quiet thought that paint a picture, recall a memory or tell a story.” My younger son made that statement several years ago and, strangely enough, it has stuck with me. In mid-June, I attended Write! Canada, a three-day conference for writers who are Christian. I had the privilege of being part of the faculty this year, leading an hour-long workshop on Writing Our Yesterdays. During the time we were together, pictures were painted, memories were shared...
Read MoreBreathing in the Peace and Tranquility
The long weekend in May is always a highlight. At least it is for me! We have a trailer in the Muskokas that sits empty from Thanksgiving Monday until the May 24th weekend. So once the park is open, the hour and three-quarter drive is done most weekends throughout the summer for a 3 day retreat. To say that I love being there is a little short of an understatement. I don’t expect anyone to feel the same passion; at the same time, I don’t try to explain it or even hide it! I welcome the...
Read MoreMothering: the Pleasing Punishment that Women Bear
Several years ago—back in the mid 70s!—I borrowed a book from our local library in London, Ontario entitled, Most of Us are Mainly Mothers by Carol Bartholomew (1965)…a pleasantly semi-serious book on parenting. From cover to cover, the author offered tantalizing ideas “for other mothers in the hope that they will be less frazzled and frantic.” A few suggestions were completely off the wall, but most of them made sense. For example: When packing a lunch, be sure to include something...
Read MoreThe Pleasure of the Moment
Do you remember the movie Back to the Future? It was released on July 3, 1985 bringing to the world an imaginary slant on visiting the past or jumping ahead into the future. Michael J. Fox played the role of a teenager who was accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown. The movie’s popularity demanded more—President Ronald Regan even quoted the film in his 1986 State of the Union Address—and Parts II and III...
Read MoreMaking the Right Choice
This is Easter week, a time to focus on the passion of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world and the Messiah for the Jews. And it just happens that forty-eight years ago today I married my high-school sweetheart! As far as Easter goes, there was no thought of it when Doug and I set our wedding date. As it turned out, it was mid-April that year. This year our anniversary falls between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Nothing profound about that; in fact, in 2005 our anniversary was on Easter...
Read MoreWhen Listening is Not on Our Radar
I’ve come to believe that listening is an art that many have neglected to develop or have no desire to practise. And just so there’s no misunderstanding, there’s no finger pointing here. I’m speaking to myself when I say this because I know who I am and am very aware of my shortcomings. If you’ve read beyond my blog, you’ll have learned about my Sharing/Caring Speaking Ministry (Sharing My Heart tab). You’ll also have discovered that the title is based on a gas station sign I saw...
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