Each Remembrance Day, November 11, we hear the familiar words, "Lest we forget". It's been said that we're at risk of forgetting what's most important. I ask then, what exactly must we never forget? Indisputably, we can't forget the … Read more

I'm a planner, and it's always gratifying when the last plane ticket and hotel room have been booked and the last excursion tickets reserved for my trip. At that point there is nothing left to do but patiently wait until Departure Day … Read more

I was telling myself a big one — lying to myself — and the trouble was that I believed it. My lie began about the time I turned fourteen. It went something like this: "You don't need school." If I didn't need school, I didn't need to … Read more

Our daughter is a horse lover. When she was 13 years old, she got her very own horse, Jewel. She had been present at the birth of this horse and spent time with her for her first three months. Then the owner asked us if she could have the … Read more

When I worked at the hardware store, one of my jobs was to cut keys. People would arrive with a variety of keys and ask me to make duplicates for them. Duplicating a key required three steps: – Finding the right key blank to match the … Read more

On a recent television news broadcast, before the short Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, got up to speak, I saw that a platform or stool was put in behind the lectern. The riser enabled her to use … Read more

Perhaps, like me, you periodically wonder why God Almighty takes actions like He does. At this time of the year, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, why did God decide that the best way to show His love for us was to send His Son as … Read more

The English meaning of the name "Kayley" is "keeper of the keys; pure". In regard to keeper of the keys, this suits my collie, Kayley, very well. Right from the beginning, she has had a habit of lying in front of the dog door. Whether … Read more

I recently had a colonoscopy, as many others have had. It's described as a medical test that is used to detect changes or abnormalities in the colon or large intestine. During the procedure, a tiny video camera allows the doctor to view … Read more

It's the season. He's the reason. It's that time of year again when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Born in a lowly stable. Heralded by a host of angels. Worshipped by shepherds and wise men. A tiny baby. A … Read more

A broken cup. That is what I saw when I asked the Lord to show me what had happened to my life. Sick with an illness, possibly a viral attack, which robbed me of my life and for which doctors had no answers and no treatment, I was able … Read more

When the practice of Hallowe'en is upon us, I am bothered by the activities of the day. It just rubs my spiritual health the wrong way. I have seen the dark side of that day and night. For many, the scarier the decorations for the day the … Read more

"Left" versus "right" — these two ideological sides are splitting apart our world with increasing intensity. I find this unsettling. Perhaps it's because there's no actual midpoint, no fixed place where a plumb line of truth can rest and … Read more

Some days, I'm in a lot of pain. It seems that my whole body aches. Other days, it's like the pain moves from one place to another. It might be my legs or my feet or my knees or my hands. Oh, the joys of getting older and having arthritis! … Read more

When I taught children of Wycliffe Bible Translator personnel in the Peruvian highlands in South America, the children would pick the raisins from their recess snack cookies and drop them into the grass saying that they didn't like … Read more

This morning, I was driving through badly needed rain to have my vehicle serviced. As I looked to my left, I saw a break in the rain. The sun was shining brightly on a point of land. The contrast of the red shore, the blue water, the … Read more

To give something away signifies generosity, or at least that is what we assume. Is it always true? Once, I heard it said, "Don't give away more than you can afford to lose." I pondered this, for it did not make sense. Later, I was … Read more

I have an interesting application on my cell phone that tracks my driving habits. It's for my insurance company, which sold me on it by saying that it could save me "up to 25 percent" on my vehicle insurance, which would be really neat! As … Read more

A friend of mine called to let me know that her young grandchild, whom they had been worried about, was just diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Along with the diagnosis came training for both parents and child. Amidst the training, it was … Read more

I've been reading a lot about grace lately, and the more I read, the more I realize how amazing God's grace really is. G – God's R – Riches A – At C – Christ's E – Expense Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that will cleanse and pardon … Read more

When I retired, I made a list of all the things which I could do that would make me still feel useful. Looking back, I have accomplished many of them. The studies that I have been leading and the devotionals that I have been writing are … Read more

My three miniature long-haired dachshunds love to be with me. They follow me wherever they can, which includes going up to bed with me at night. Unfortunately for them, however, they cannot get onto my bed. Their little legs are simply … Read more

I have been travelling the same way to work for the past four years, and I have been aware of the posted speed limit for this stretch of road. Today, on my way into work, I noticed a new sign that lowered the posted speed limit for a long … Read more

There are a lot of For Dummies books available. We have a few of them around our house: – Guitar for Dummies – Digital Photography for Dummies – Scrapbooking for Dummies – GPS for Dummies – PCs for Dummies I must say that … Read more

I like my set of little living-room tables. They are finished in a warm brown walnut. The middle-sized one sits under the largest, and the wee one under both. I bought them tagged as is at the furniture store. The wee table had a … Read more

I walked on air, it seemed. I felt expanded, extended, moving in sunlight that was more than real. Never before had I experienced such elation. I was alone out on the sidewalk by the hospital after visiting the newborn in her crib and … Read more

Among my treasures I have a letter.

The letter is from a lady who was the young wife of a student minister. I was a very young teacher when I received it, and had been home for a weekend or two when the young couple was ministering in … Read more

This will be the sixth year that our church has presented "Scenes of Wonder" — a display of over two hundred crèches/nativity scenes from all over the world. The crèches are brought in by members of our … Read more

Two years after we were married, my husband took a second job as a social worker. His main duty was to supervise teens and plan activities at a teen centre. Despite well-meaning programs, the teens still got into trouble. Sometimes, … Read more

There are so many antibacterial soap scents. These are some of my favourites: – warm vanilla sugar – black raspberry vanilla – winter candy apple – cucumber melon Antibacterial soaps claim to leave hands lightly scented and gently cleansed while … Read more

This past Wednesday night, we were in the crowd of 100,000 watching on several JumboTrons in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as the hometown Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League Stanley Cup final. As we … Read more

Today is Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, as the French call it. It's also known as Pancake Day in Britain, or more precisely "Shrove Tuesday". Historically it was the day that all went to confession to have sins "shriven" or … Read more

One summer, I decided that I would read through the book of Romans. I'm a detailed, orderly, organized person, so I thought that if I could read two chapters a day, that would take eight days to complete. That would … Read more