Communication is an art — and difficult to master. Life is never easy when parents lose an infant or a young child. Though I've never said it myself, I've been in the presence of others who said to grieving parents, "God just wanted …( read more )

Forty years ago today, I tried to take my own life by overdosing myself with the tranquilizers that I was taking. I was eighteen years old, very selfish and self-centred. I wanted to end my life as a means of punishing my parents for the …( read more )

I'm not saying that God created a storm just to give me a gift of His love, but here's what happened. It all started a few months ago when a fellow writer sent me a note encouraging me in my new life as a widow. It became the basis of the …( read more )

Not long ago Mocha, our 17-year-old dog, died, and one of the questions people often have for us when something like this happens is, "Does having so many others help you to miss less the one that has died?" The answer to the question …( read more )

My first job was in a Christian organization. Even though I didn't know the Lord, I worked at this agency for nine years. It was here that I met my husband to be, and we were married at the church across the road. The man I married had …( read more )

A young girl witnessed a scary time when her parents disagreed and her erratic mother raised a sharp kitchen knife toward her father. God intervened and tragedy was prevented. Her father retreated. No one was hurt. "Yes, my son," Abraham …( read more )

Ernie, my husband of 37 years, died on October 10th. As we gathered in the sanctuary of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on October 19th to celebrate Ernie's life with a memorial service, there was a small …( read more )

Giving thanks doesn't rate highly in the socially-networked world where everyone is texting — very often to the person sitting next to them. Too many of us are so busy being "connected" that we have become disengaged from the world …( read more )

Years ago, on Thanksgiving Day, my sister gave me a book which included a number of traditional stories, poems, prayers, recipes, and games. Some of the games looked rather interesting, and I thought that it would be a great idea for …( read more )

I was told that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. However, as a young girl, I was not very domesticated, and the kitchen was an unexplored terrain that I did not desire to explore. That left … (read more)

I've just finished putting up our Christmas lights. Every year, I usually have to untangle the green wires and check the bulbs. It's very time consuming, but last year I was very smart. I rolled the wires up carefully and … (read more)

Dion is dead! He was so tiny, so young, so fragile. How did it happen so quickly? Why did it happen? I was saddened. Dion, my Venus Fly Trap, lived in my home for only a few short weeks. When … (read more)

I went to church on Sunday morning to get my cup filled. The music was inspiring, the fellowship was rich, and the sermon was powerful! Our pastor is beginning a sermon series entitled "Our Walk to Jerusalem". I'm excited about … (read more)

The hymn, "For all the saints who from their labours rest", echoes through my head as I write this. Have you experienced the saints of old around you, before you, even following you — a heavenly host of those who … (read more)

It was 1:30 on a cold, stormy, winter morning, and I was in labour with our first child. I was standing outside, while my husband chased a taxicab a block away. The snow was falling quickly, and all around me … (read more)

At first, our mailman thought it must be someone's birthday, but then he too offered condolences on the death of my sister. Many kind people remembered us with cards and letters. One of those cards has become especially important to … (read more)

A sunny Saturday morning in March was the first time in eleven years of walking with my dog that I'd forgotten to bring a bag or two to pick up after her. Rather than go back home, I reversed my … (read more)

A number of years ago, I had what many would call a "nervous breakdown". An entire generation of my family had died over the course of that year. My job as a family counsellor for a local mental health agency … (read more)

A month ago, I had successful pelvic surgery to remove two different types of ovarian cysts. Two and a half months prior to the surgery, my health had not been very good. The cysts had caused various health problems that … (read more)

The other day at work I placed a telephone call to a person at Michigan State University. MSU is many miles away from Saskatoon. While we were on the telephone, she sent me e-mail. I logged into my e-mail account … (read more)

How many times have you heard, or even said to yourself, "It's my life; I'll do what I want with it"? That is a very common phrase and usually it is used as a defence, or to cover up sin. … (read more)

I have a vivid memory of one particular day when I was ministering in Trenton, Ontario. The doorbell rang, and it was Lottie Jones Florist with a big bouquet from a member of the congregation. As if in answer to … (read more)