I was in a situation once where I could not get any work because a college had not trained me correctly, and therefore I did not get the experience I needed. I had undergone back surgery a few years prior … Read more

World War II has begun to fade into the mist of time. This is the way it should be — with the exception of the good it produced, and the wonderful and seemingly impossible courage it brought out of ordinary … Read more

I have bought a second-hand car recently. When I put my foot on the accelerator, the engine just died. Aarrgh! The garage salesperson assured me that it would be fixed. They also promised to repair any faults over the next … Read more

When our children were little, I would often tell them "No". They would want to go play in the mud puddles. After I told them "No", I realized that I didn't mean it at all. It is fun to play … Read more

On a visit to the big island of Hawaii, I stood looking at one of the beautiful rainbows that can be seen so often in the Pacific skies. A stranger spoke to me. "Do you know," he said, "that no … Read more

Recently I returned home to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, from visiting my two children in British Columbia. While there, I was constantly thrilled by the beauty of the trees and shrubs seen at every turn in the road. I think it … Read more

Over the years, I have approached the throne room of God, asking Him to help me find my earrings. God, in His graciousness, has continued to place them where I could see and find them. However, these days I am … Read more

I walked into my favourite supermarket to find a good friend handing out samples of papaya, which she was promoting. This is something I've avoided all my life, insisting that I did not like it. My friend spotted me right … Read more

As a little girl, my parents took me to church. Yet before long, they stopped going. At first I missed it, but then they took me for long walks through a beautiful park-like cemetery, so I spent a lot of … Read more

One of the best programs that our church offers is called "Bread Breakers". For six months in the year — usually October through March — people in our congregation open up their homes, once per month, on a Friday or … Read more

During the recent past, I have been having worries that ranged from layoffs at work (and subsequently how to be able to pay the bills), to having to care for an ailing parent. One Friday as I was driving home … Read more

Recently, I decided, as part of my legacy for my children, to compile into a small book some of the devotionals I have written. Afterward, it occurred to me that I might make a copy of the book available to … Read more

What kitchen product will never go bad? That's the question our local radio station asked. (Here is a hint! The answer isn't transfat, hydrogenated, artificially flavoured cookies!) The answer? It's honey! Apparently honey has a natural preservative, and it never … Read more

While in a local farm supply store, I noticed a brightly painted wagon. Wagons and "dad-made" wooden scooters were an integral part of my childhood. Both could be used as a means of transport. We had a wagon with a … Read more

Occasionally, I buy for one of my grandchildren a gift that requires batteries. Then, of course, I have to buy the right size of batteries to make the toy work. I am careful to read on the box what size … Read more

Having been diagnosed with diabetes, I was placed on a diet to control the level of sugar and thus control my diabetic problem without medication. I strived to do this, with success. It seemed a simple thing to do, and, … Read more

Other cars whizzed by us. We were stopped. I mean — really stopped. While dad had just been keeping up with traffic flow, a policeman perceived that as speeding. Yet even as he wrote out the ticket, other vehicles continued … Read more

It was a dry, windy day when I tilled my small vegetable garden plot. Upon completion of the tilling, I discovered that I was covered in dust. Even my eyeglass lenses were dust-covered. Looking at the world through dust-covered glasses, … Read more

One of my worst faults is "assuming". How easy it is, when one thinks one has all the facts. What I need is discernment, which God can give. There was a wonderful hardware store in the place where I lived … Read more

Spring had finally arrived! The buds on the trees and bushes were slowly starting to unfurl, clothing their surroundings with varying shades of luscious, bright greens. This is the time of year that I like going for walks. My friend … Read more

In our ladies' small group, we are learning to say a simple "Thank you" when someone compliments us. Most people try to minimize a compliment, so this is a learning process. We also give each group member a hug when … Read more

I have a friend who says she's a mountain climber, because she's always climbing out of deep valleys. Trouble seems to seek her out. There's always something painful going on in her life. Don't get the idea she's a pessimistic … Read more

I was observing a robin as he scurried along through the tall green grass. He moved quickly, then stopped, tilted his head, and bang — down went his beak into the ground. Often he came up empty. Then he got … Read more

My lawn was full of cinch bugs! As a well-known beagle would say, "Argh!" While I was otherwise occupied, they invaded my lush green lawn, eating its root system and killing the grass. My only economically feasible recourse has been … Read more

I turned to see where my house guest was. Had she stumbled in the dark? "Gloria," I called, "Are you okay?" "I'm fine," she replied. "I just can't move." My first thoughts were that she'd probably tripped on our sidewalk … Read more

"I'll just turn off the stove; be right over." No matter how late the invitation to dinner, our neighbour Ray always gave us the same answer. One week he turned off the same pot of carrots two nights in a … Read more

When I ministered in Scotland, I served one of the most beautiful parishes in the country. Every morning, I would head out along the coast road to the village of Dunure, passing by many farms, fields, and forests. At the … Read more

We have just returned home from the 150th year celebration of a little village in south-western Ontario. We joined others for a parade, the official opening, band performances, and a community dinner. The parade consisted of antique and new cars, … Read more

A beautiful big Western Cedar sits outside our kitchen window. Balancing on its branches are a few feeders which attract several sorts of little songbirds, such as pine siskins, chickadees, finches, sparrows, and the like. It's interesting to watch the … Read more

Recently, I heard a group of Christian women on fixed income lamenting that they had nothing to give the church and the kingdom of God. Someone in the group replied, "We can share our faith stories with others. Every Christian … Read more

I've met a couple of people who lived to be more than a hundred years old. One of them was a lady whose family were west coast of Scotland fishermen. She lived with her 75-year-old daughter, who treated her mother … Read more