It took about 10 minutes to print on my high school’s dot-matrix printer. When the final flourishes of clip-art rolled out of the printer, I ripped the hole-y edges off the sides of my five-foot paper banner. At my graduation reception, it crowned my shrine of photo albums, news clippings, and guestbook. There was just one problem. While it was supposed to proclaim to family and friends that I had learned what I needed to know, it actually declared that there was still more to … [Read more...]
A Mother’s Heavy Burden of Being a Good Example
Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went, The lamb was sure to go. In nursery rhymes, pithy sayings, Sunday school lessons, books, blogs, social research and Scripture we learn that for better or for worse, our children will do what we do. Our little lambs arrive in our arms pre-programmed to learn by imitation. When we teach them to speak, clap, or play peek-a-boo, we use their most natural and effective mechanism for learning. When we … [Read more...]
The Fervent Prayer of a Ragged Woman
Wake. Feed. Dress. Transport. Bathe. Times five kiddos. I was a childcare machine, and I do mean machine. I was a cold, unfeeling, maternal robot programmed for quick response. Our home had become an institutional parenting operation with gaping holes where loving discipline and nurture should have been. While everyone was being fed and clothed, the lack of individual attention was showing up in constant behavioral “episodes.” I had been begging God for months to either change my … [Read more...]
Six Word Story
Several years ago, blogger Rachelle Gardner challenged readers to write a six word memoir. She gave her own example: "Too much coffee? No such thing." As someone who struggles with being brief, I thought it would be a good exercise. It was, and I finally landed on these six words: "Jesus used motherhood to change me." I wouldn't have always summed it up that way though. It began with a more unfortunate six word story. I'll serve you. You serve me. See, I am a recovering religious … [Read more...]
Zooming In: On Magnifying Mirrors and Mountains
Kurt and I recently stayed in a pretty swanky hotel. We were swimming in “amenities” we didn’t even know how to use: For the safe keeping of my Walmart jewelry, there was a safe which I couldn’t open. There was also a spa and fitness room which we never found. But there was one “amenity” that was familiar. There on the bathroom vanity, towering over the travel size toiletries was a lighted, double-sided magnifying mirror. You know the kind? Where you have to lean in 3 inches from the mirror … [Read more...]
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