People do some strange things when they aren't paying attention. Did you ever use conditioner as a moisturizer? Or hand cream as sunscreen? Did you ever spray shaving gel into the air, believing that it was air freshener? Once, I used … Read more
Author Archive
Lessons Learned
I was asked to write about the lessons that I learned while I was living with a broken arm. Here is one prayer that I prayed in various ways through my trauma, based on today's verse: Lord, I grasp for You now … where before I only … Read more
What Are You Throwing Away?
In Canada, we waste about 50 percent of the food that we buy. Just imagine what effect that has on our budgets, our garbage, and our economy! We are all just too fussy. One friend throws out leftovers because she is tired of eating the … Read more
Blue Christmas
One of our local churches has a "Blue Christmas" service every year. I haven't yet been able to get to one, but I presume that it is for people who are sad during the holiday. I think that when people are feeling sad, more sadness will … Read more
In Memoriam
Vena Poole was totally British, even though she became a Canadian citizen years ago. I wonder how she is taking to her new citizenship in heaven. I hope that they serve high tea there! At one time, Vena and her husband Ronald sailed a … Read more
Cold Lunch
My girlfriend served up these words to me about her boss the other day at lunch: He called for magic but I was out of practice. In order to meet the short-time turnaround deadline I have to use a little flimflammery and deceive him with … Read more
Is That All There Is?
The nine-year-old sat with his substantial pile of opened Christmas presents, gazed up at the adults around him, and asked, "Is that all there is?" That's also the title of a song by the same name. The verses tell of a house fire, a visit … Read more
Happy To Hear
When my editor sent me a reminder of my writing obligations, he added this line. "I'd be happy to hear from you." "Happy to hear from you": What a wonderful comment to hear. It got me wondering how often I say it to others. I thought of … Read more
Predictive Text
I learned to text, only to discover that the cell phone fancied itself a prophet. This is called predictive texting. Whenever I punched in a letter, it finished the word for me. Thus, I sent messages full of words like "spzxq". The last … Read more
Turnip Looks
"Before she got all gussied up, she looked as plain as a turnip," crowed the old woman. She didn't have much of an opinion of our locally-grown celebrity. Her comments reminded me of Mark Twain's famous line, "Cauliflower is nothing but … Read more
Hey, Jude!
I haven't been making much progress with my weight loss lately, so I prayed (again!) for God's help. He reminded me (again!) to consider the passage where unbelief hindered Christ's ability to do miracles in his home town of Nazareth. … Read more
Chasing God's Word
Even though my e-reader and I were barely on speaking terms, I was determined to take advantage of an offer for a free Bible. Nothing worked. Then, I got my friend involved. She couldn't help me, but she decided to get it for herself! That … Read more
After The Storm
I'm not saying that God created a storm just to give me a gift of His love, but here's what happened. It all started a few months ago when a fellow writer sent me a note encouraging me in my new life as a widow. It became the basis of the … Read more
A Kind Reminder
It is seldom now that others mention or even remember that grief continues to be a big part of my life. That's why this note from a fellow devotional author caught me by surprise. Dear Brenda, I guess you are now settled into being the … Read more
Froggy Grief
"So then, how are you doing now?" they ask. I muster up my best going-forward face and say "Oh, good, thanks," then change the subject as fast as I can. Some days, what I say is true, but some days, it is not. Grief is like a frog … Read more
Never Boring
Just when you think your life is made up of sheer survival, and it's boring and mundane, you find yourself designing and sewing a Perry the Platypus costume for a seven-year-old! I hadn't even heard of Perry. I certainly didn't know what … Read more
Partakers All
Have you switched yet? Studies suggest that whole grain breads are healthier than the white, doughy stuff our mothers used for our lunches. It includes the whole grain, not just bits left over from the milling process. You may have … Read more
What Are You Giving This Year?
Dear parents and grandparents: Are you stressing over gifts for those precious, darling, little children/grandchildren? Are you planning on buying the latest version of the newest computerized expensive something? When adults turn … Read more
Do You Tree?
December is the month of trees. Well, it used to be! Christmas tree putter-uppers used to wait till December 1 to place baubled trees in every retail establishment in North America. Little by little, the date changed to right after … Read more
Making A Difference
"Aw, shucks, I can't have that cake" doesn't work nearly as well as "I don't want that right now." "I can't" sets us up to feel deprived, while "I don't" makes us feel like we have a choice, which we do, as in all temptations. You see, … Read more
Basement Living
Our farmhouse basement had a dirt floor and stone walls. I never thought of it as a cosy spot, and I spent as little time there as possible. It was great for cold storage of vegetables, canned fruit, and homemade pickles, but, trust me, I … Read more
All Over Again
Do you remember that old math question about the frog in the well that worked his way up two feet on Tuesday and slid down one foot on Wednesday? Unfortunately, I did a frog and regressed somewhat. Perhaps you are doing the same thing, … Read more
Shoe Shuffle
Little ones sometimes get their shoes on the wrong toes, but eventually, they figure it out. We should expect that. After all, they are new to the foot business. However, try to explain how a woman of reasonably advanced years (not overly … Read more
Power Emergency
When the weather channel posts what's been going on around the world, most of us sigh, perhaps pray for the people involved, and then put the disasters out of our heads — not the smartest thing that we've ever done. Rather, we ought to … Read more
Texting Troubles
Are you a senior texter? Apparently the following terms might be more familiar to us than the ones younger folks use: ATD – At The Doctor's BYOT – Bring Your Own Teeth CUATSC – See You At The Senior Centre FWIW – Forgot Where I Was GHA – … Read more
Mincemeat Memories
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
When I Needed You
Mondays seem especially difficult. Then, I notice the emptiness more for some reason, and my heart is especially heavy today. So instead of eating, I write. The television blares behind me, but I don't really pay attention to *America's … Read more
A Great Movie Plot
Your friend is murdered. You are the one who ends up in prison. Everything seems hopeless. At the last minute, someone invites you to follow him. You find yourself outside the prison walls. You rush to tell your friends. This is a … Read more
Advice Guru
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, gave him sound advice in Exodus 18:17-24. The basic thought goes something like this: The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Share the work load. Select capable people, then teach and show … Read more
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