One fall day, just before Thanksgiving, my husband and I were driving by a large organic food market. It was lunch time, and we were getting hungry. "Look! People are sitting outside with plates of food. Maybe we could get something at … Read more

Don't get me wrong — I loved my old car. Though it was almost ten years old, it was easy to drive and was still in great shape. My family, however, strongly encouraged me to consider getting a newer car with better safety features. … Read more

This title, from a children's musical, reflects a common theme for kids' songs: the search for meaning in an unwelcoming world. Each year, I discover such lyrics through my involvement in Summer Music Camp. The lyrics may not resonate with … Read more

I remember a favourite saying of a friend of ours: "Lord, I'll climb the highest mountain, I'll swim the deepest sea, I'll be over next Tuesday … if it don't rain." Why is it that every good intention is so often accompanied by a … Read more

The title for this devotional might seem strange. I believe, however, that we can occasionally use a reminder to be ordinary. That's not so easy, after all. The soul instinctively craves to rise above ordinariness, lest we merge into a … Read more

This past summer, my washing machine broke down. The part to fix it costs almost as much as a new machine. While debating what to do, I began to wash clothes by hand. Hanging dripping items outside on a hot, sunny morning is a pleasant … Read more

I often notice people adding salt to their meal without tasting it first to see if it needs a little extra flavour. They just assume that it will be bland. Today, if a certain dish tastes bland, we might say that it needs a little zing. … Read more

I may be retired, but as so many "retireds" know, it doesn't mean that we are idle. It means that we have more time to do things that we want to do, or at least, we can choose what we will do. That, at any rate, is the theory. The reality … Read more

The dream seemed so real. Brilliant light flooded bright green trees and verdant grass. In the open air, a table covered with white linen stretched into eternity. Each place setting of fine bone china, crystal goblets, and shining, gold … Read more

There are many times when people are invited to attend certain functions, receptions, family reunions, weddings, etc. But not often do we get invited to come to a certain church. During my pipeline construction years, we lived in a … Read more

Because our generous neighbour continually shared the bounty from her pear tree, I had to come up with ways of using the things. You can only eat so many pears. Anyway, I found a recipe for pear mincemeat and made it every summer when the … Read more

As I entered the reception area through the main door, a mistaken usher, knowing that I was a relative of the groom, asked me to go to the far end of the room and up a few steps onto the platform where the head table was beginning to fill … Read more

I'll never forget that Christmas Eve. The sanctuary was beautifully decorated with all the trimmings. After the children had re-enacted the nativity story, the baby Jesus was left in the manger under the Christmas tree standing right beside the pulpit. … Read more

In Scotland, at wedding feasts, there is always what is called the "top table". Seated at it are the prominent members of the wedding party: the bride and groom, the best man and chief bridesmaid, the bride's parents, the groom's … Read more

As the mother of a child with a severe disability, I am always inspired by Scriptures that have a message regarding the handicapped. 2 Samuel 9:1-13 tells a story that reveals the tender heart and generous spirit of … Read more

"Scrapbooking is my passion", my friend said. "I love it. I could devote all my waking hours to it." Several more times during the party, I heard others describe their love of "scrapbooking" as their passion. Hearing their comments reminded … Read more

My mother told me that when I was a small girl, I had a hard time figuring out what "free" meant. I would ask, "How much is 'free'?" Everything has to "cost" something, right? Now that I am a grown-up, … Read more

My children's eyes widened as they looked at the array of sandwiches, sweets, and cakes on the table. I read the questioning looks as each of the girls searched my face to see how many cookies they were allowed to … 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

Once again, we had to drive to a far corner of the parking lot. There were no spaces near the door. I manoeuvred his walker out of the trunk and set it up for his use. Then we slowly worked … Read more

Our car muffler was making an awful racket. Previous muffler failures had taught us that we could expect a bill of at least three hundred dollars. We prolonged the agony, preferring to spend money on almost anything else. Finally, desperate … Read more

In November, one of the churches in my hometown was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, and, during their celebrations, many tributes were given to the five remaining charter members and the ninety-year-old minister who was their first pastor. During the Sunday … Read more

One rainy Saturday afternoon, I brought myself to travel a distance to visit a gentleman I had known for years, who was now in a nursing home. I should not have left it so late in the day, as the … Read more

Nothing tastes as good as a freshly laid, 2-3 minute, soft-cooked egg. Our family calls them "dipping eggs". These beauties take well to a sliver of toast or an English muffin. We are really spoiled! Because we live near a … Read more

Well, it's charge card season again! I shudder when I remember some of my previous Christmas bills. Perhaps I was trying to buy affection. For whatever reason, I gave too many presents, too often. January is too late to count … Read more

The hockey season in North America is reaching its conclusion this week with the start of the final playoff series for the Stanley Cup. Last night, New Jersey defeated Dallas 7 to 3. Watching a hockey game, I thought about … Read more

How does one go out to reach people in a modern city? The streets are so often unwelcoming. How? In the local mall, of course! We tried it one Christmas, and it was a wonderful experience. Our church organized a … Read more

"Have you ever had the awful feeling that you have forgotten something important? Did I forget to invite you to the barbecue?" I answered "Yes" to both questions posed by a friend earlier this week. My friend was so busy … Read more

When my daughter and I attended a concert recently, we were disappointed to discover that our seats were quite a bit farther from the stage than the TicketMaster chart had led us to believe. "At least we're not in the … Read more

Does it mean anything any more to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ? Do we count the cost, if in fact we think of it at all? Does a promise contain anything more than empty air? I … Read more

When it comes to our personal finances, we are like the ant, in that we have no commander, overseer or ruler to tell us to store up for the winter, and because of that, unlike the ant, most of us … Read more

Recently I was watching Guarding Tess, starring Shirley Maclean and Nicholas Gage, and, chuckling at a particular scene, it struck me that often we think of ourselves more highly than we should. We've all done it at one time or … Read more

Did you ever listen to the children in the school yard? "If you won't do it my way I won't let you play!" Did you ever listen to the adults at work in an office building? "Welcome to our company. … Read more