The Desecrating Snowball
Growing up as a child my waking days focused primarily on my neighbourhood friends. Across the road, down the street, and around the corner… there were many of us and we had a ton of fun. We were simply boys and girls being kids, enjoying the freedom and innocence that comes with childhood (although I’m quite sure we were unaware that such freedom and innocence was ours!). Life was simple and geared to mischievous children determined to play nicky nicky nine doors every Halloween on...
Read MoreFriends and Friendship, and the Greenhouse
Please indulge me for a moment with two thoughts centred around friends and friendship, and gardening. Thought # 1 In 1982 Jerry and Mary White, a godly couple who love the Bible and all that it represents wrote and published a book entitled, Friends and Friendship: The Secrets of Drawing Closer. Through 1986 to 2005, Jerry was International President of The Navigators in Colorado Springs, CO whose mission is, To know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same. During my time...
Read MoreOur Daily Day
In a recent conversation with some friends, I listened to a lady share how time seems to be moving too quickly. We understood her to mean years, but she extended her comment to include her waking hours, and we all nodded in understanding. Another lady pointed out that all too often her day seems to go by so quickly that before she knows it, it’s over and she’s accomplished very little. Still another remarked that as long as she keeps busy, she doesn’t mind when the day comes to an end;...
Read MoreThere’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 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...
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