"Why? Why do I have to?" I remember asking this question when I was a child. Back then, my mother would smile at me patiently and wait by the side of my bed, reminding me that it was time to … Read more

I have a remote control for my car. It has many purposes. It will start and turn off the motor. It will lock and unlock the doors. When it does this, the horn honks — once or twice — depending … Read more

In the late summer and fall, hurricanes and tropical disturbances blow into the southern United States. Many times when these hurricanes are approaching, school is dismissed, meetings planned for weeks are called off, and our one thought is of preparing … Read more

A pair of brand-name jogging shoes hung laced together over the telephone wire at a busy intersection by the lake. All summer long, traffic was non-stop every day until late at night. Finally, the first weekend of September was over, … Read more

I have babysat some of my grandchildren on a regular basis for the past nine years. They are all so different and yet similar in some ways as well. Children will be children. They know Grandma pretty well after a … Read more

When I was a teenager, I tried very hard to get rid of God in my life. I can even remember — when I was fourteen — saying to God, "This is my last prayer to you. I don't need … Read more

Lately, I have been walking in the early morning hours for exercise. Most people who have done this for awhile soon realize they are meeting the same people day after day. A few mornings ago as I was walking alone, … Read more

A member of my family had undergone serious surgery, and many people were praying for my loved one and me. I went to the hospital early in the morning and returned late in the evening. As I observed the beautiful … Read more

One of my clients lives on an acreage a few miles out of town. They have beautiful trees and flowers all around their yard. Beside the deck stands a tall cedar tree, in which is found a perfectly round little … Read more

My mother loved words. She delved deeply into dictionaries to discover their meanings. I have no doubt my mother could have had an excellent career. Unfortunately, she lost many of her teenage school years caring for her sick mother. Regardless, … Read more

The sunny weather was wonderful, but the heat and humidity were becoming unbearable — especially for those without air conditioning. Our daughter had just purchased her first home and had not yet taken possession of it. This caused her much … Read more

There have been times in my life when I have found that I just can't go to sleep quickly. When I finally do drift off, it is a restless sleep. I toss and turn all night. In the morning, I … Read more

Some time ago, on arriving home after attending a church service, I tuned in to "The Hour of Power" on television. At that moment, Seraph Lee, a thirteen-year-old pianist, began to perform the most technically challenging composition that any graduate … Read more

An article I was reading said, "Jet fighters take off land and are stored on deck." "How peculiar," I thought. "That doesn't make sense." Then I stopped to reconsider. My knowledge of such ships is limited, but I do know … Read more

It's very hard not to be judgmental of other people, especially if they are different. I can remember my eldest daughter coming home from Middle School in tears. Earlier in the morning, she had seemed so bright and eager to … Read more

A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of working with St. David's Relief Foundation in Bosnia. We were in a small town that had been attacked during the war. While our job was to put on roofs and … Read more

For years, we have had robins in our neighbourhood. We love to hear them sing first thing in the morning. In northern Alberta, that starts about 4:00 a.m. when dawn is breaking. They are so happy a new day has … Read more

For many days, Hurricane Isabel churned up winds and waves far out in the ocean. Labelled a catastrophic, Category 5 storm, she aimed her seemingly undiluted fury toward the east coast of the United States. Simultaneously, pandemonium became the order … Read more

Late one evening, my youngest son, Pete, age three, asked if he could have a bowl of Rice Krispies. I proceeded to the kitchen to prepare them, only to have him ask if he could "fix" them himself, just like … Read more

When I go to the mall by myself, I often come out and have to stop and wonder where in the world my car is. Other times, I park in the parking lot at work, and at the end of … Read more

When I first brought my infant son home from the hospital, I was delighted that he was relatively easy to care for. I'd heard horror stories of ceaseless crying, sleepless nights, and endless feedings. My son loved to sleep — … Read more

When I was about seven years old, I caught a large bumblebee by throwing my duffel coat over it. It was an act of bravado, which impressed my pals in the school playground where the event took place. Just as … Read more

Our week-long Vacation Bible School this summer focused on the Lord's Prayer, following Matthew's account in the King James Version. The first day's theme was "God Listens". By the second day, the ladies in the kitchen, knowing how many children … Read more

Ninety-nine percent of the time, I put on my makeup and do my hair before breakfast. One morning recently as I was getting ready to dash out the door to an appointment, I ran into the bathroom and put my … Read more

My husband has recently gone through major surgery and is struggling with his recuperation period. A member of his Sunday School class brought him a new Adult Quarterly. "Here is something for you to read and think about," he said. … Read more

I once had a red maple tree that grew from seed in a privet hedge that lined the driveway. I thought the tree was so precious that I let it continue to grow, with full intentions to transplant it one … Read more

For sixteen years, I was the captive of an addictive food disorder called bulimia. For the last four of those years, I was a Christian. I wanted desperately to stop this terrible cycle of getting rid of my food after … Read more

I was sitting out in my yard enjoying the beautiful warm day. I was soaking in the sunshine, as were the flowers in my backyard. As I was looking at each of them, I noticed that some of my gorgeous … Read more

For two days we received rain as an expression of God's grace. On many days during the hot summer, temperatures had skyrocketed to the century mark (on the Fahrenheit scale) in the middle of the country where I live. The … Read more

Looking through the bedding plants at the nursery recently, I noticed the plants were marked for "full sun", "partial sun", or "shade". This is important information for me, since I have large pecan trees in my yard that shade most … Read more

Our doorstep leads onto tarmac. The area is a sun trap, with a black surface that gets warm very quickly in the summer sunshine. We have a sizable pot of plants that sits in a tray outside the front door; … Read more