I love doing jigsaw puzzles, so I was delighted to discover the puzzle table when I moved into our retirement community. This table, located in a central area of our building, is open to anyone who wants to help work on the puzzle. There … Read more

When my husband retired at age 55, we moved to a mountain community in central California, USA. Soon, he began to lead Sunday services at the nearby home for disabled adults. Struggling to find ways to help them understand God's message, … Read more

At ages fourteen and nine, my sister Tracey and I were invited to spend the summer without our parents at our grandparents' homes, one in North Carolina and the other in Georgia, USA. Mom and Dad always had one rule for whenever we were … Read more

This Christmas season, I've set up an unusual, private nativity display which I'm eager to describe for you. It features several photographs of tiny babies born at the Memorial Christian Hospital in Bangladesh. Two photos are of triplets. … Read more

We had just finished trimming the goats' hooves and removing burrs from their coats when I noticed that my horse Frank had a large burr in his tail. As I took the shears to cut it free, I realized that it wasn't just one burr; his whole … Read more

My daughter, Mary, was running some supplies into the gas station. As she left with the box, five-year-old Ade asked why Mommy was taking those tiny rolls of toilet paper into the gas station. My first reaction, which I did not act upon, … Read more

Love will always compel us to do something good for God. The Pastoral Care Ministry in our congregation provides spiritual care to the families in our church and community who are struggling with health issues, among other things. We … Read more

The recreational vehicle park in which I live during the summer has a variety of activities, many of which include a meal, often for as many as a hundred residents. This involves several days of preparation by the person who is in charge … Read more

Marshall, our goat, is a greedy goat. Whenever I throw scraps or take treats into the corral, he rushes ahead of everyone else and gobbles down as much as he can as quickly as he can. When Frank, the horse, and Lily and Agnes, our other … Read more

Our dogs were barking and barking. Every time I went out to speak to them about this, they would calm down but begin barking again as soon as I turned back into the house. Watching them through the window by the door, I realized that … Read more

I was driving north on Interstate 15 in southern California, USA, on my way to a granddaughter's wedding. I'd left the San Diego airport in a rental car, following the GPS on my phone as I drove. After half an hour, I was directed to take … Read more

I stopped into a local fast-food restaurant for a late lunch. The teenager who took my order was obviously a new employee who was still being trained. When my food appeared, he stuffed it into a paper bag. I was waiting at a nearby table, … Read more

Sixty years ago, I was with a major accounting firm and was responsible for the auditing of a large Canadian retail chain. Spending several months each year at their main store, I had an office there and frequently rode in one of the … Read more

In yesterday's devotional, I described my incorrect conclusion about the absence of a fellow resident. In further discussion with Valerie, we were both amazed at the rest of the story. … Read more

Recently, Jess's grandmother passed away. What could she do to honour her memory? Many times, we glorify our Father by showing His kindness and love to others in ways that may not be our usual way of doing things, because our heart is … Read more

Both were named Mike, both were good friends, and both had vastly different influences on me. I met the first Mike when I was 15. My dad had been called as pastor of the church where Mike and his family attended. I was in the rebellious … Read more

"Is this guy any good?" I heard a customer ask my husband, as I came downstairs into our tiny bookshop in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was holding a copy of The Great Code: The Bible As Literature. The back cover of the book was a … Read more

One of our main objectives as parents is to prepare our children to be successful adults. We're delighted when our children remember their "please" and "thank you" and learn how to be good team players. But, if our teenagers don't show any … Read more

During the 1960s and 1970s while John and I farmed, we also had a heating business servicing all of Manitoulin Island. We were located in the centre of the island, so the distance was pretty well the same for service calls going east or … Read more

Each year on the farm, we would buy day-old chicks — 150 of them. Three large boxes with fifty female chicks in each would be delivered to the farm by a transport truck. The chicks rode in the cab to keep them from getting a chill. For … Read more

"I'm in the middle of the road with a flat tire. Can you tell Dad to come and help me?" My daughter was under the gun. She had given her landlord notice that she was moving out by the month's end. Though she took a few days off from … Read more

My job was taxing but fulfilling. Deciding whether or not to leave was difficult. Five years had passed since I'd been employed by a local county. I began as a teller and had moved up to supervisor. Though some days found me wishing for … Read more

One Saturday afternoon, my car suddenly shut down; all the yellow warning lights flashed at me. Conditioned by a similar problem last year with another car, I focused on the battery lights, as I knew that I had just put gas in the … Read more

A number of years ago, my brother moved onto my property with me. When we were children, he, being two years older, helped me to learn my alphabet, and taught me how to tie my shoes and ride a two-wheeler bike. Now that we are adults, I … Read more

Living where I do in the north of British Columbia, Canada, makes gardening difficult. Our growing season is not only shorter, but also our soil often lacks the necessary nutrients for healthy plants. In addition, we live two hours … Read more

On the seventh of June, I went to a funeral of a lady whom I have known for about seventy years. She had just celebrated her 105th birthday. In the order of service, there was a card with a poem written on it in her own handwriting. Her … Read more

Recently, Caroline managed to snag her engagement ring, caught in her coat. The central ruby was lost somewhere on the floor at college. Being well acquainted with my role as a husband, I took the ring off to the goldsmith to get it … Read more

Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Victor Frankl said, "Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for." He was referring to what I call "the crisis of purpose". I think that it's a huge part of the general … Read more

At the end of a Sunday evening dinner, some of us observed a resident taking the fresh flowers from several different tables. She assembled them into a small bouquet and left the dining room. Each Monday, fresh flowers are placed on our … Read more

Recently, I moved to a seniors' residence. I am trying to make the adjustment to living in a different setting without my wife of over 60 years and with daily mingling among people that I never knew previously. Drawing on my personal … Read more

I'm a romantic. I love to read Christian romance books. I enjoy watching Hallmark movies. I love happy endings! The greatest love story ever written is God's love story. God is a good, good Father — it's who He is. How amazing is this … Read more

Recently, I did something unusual. I wrote to a media commentator appealing for mercifulness in his rhetorical style. I offered this reason: Our adversarial world desperately needs moral exemplars — those who consistently exemplify the … Read more

I was watching a program recently where the power of the name of Jesus was the topic. As I listened, I thought about the post office in the store where I work. People come in all day long with letters and parcels to be mailed. Those … Read more