When I was a young child, I started to ask for a pony for my birthday. We lived in a town where there was a good-sized empty acreage across the road from our house. I thought that a pony could live there and that I could ride it every day. … Read more

My four-year-old granddaughter had a peculiar bedtime habit whenever she stayed here overnight. She'd soothe her fretful whimpers by clutching a photograph of her mother, which she borrowed from my bookshelf. This item was anything but … Read more

Sophie is one of my mature dogs. She is a great help to me, especially on winter's icy paths in the corral, when I steady myself by holding on to her collar. There are times, however, when I don't want her in the corral with me and I … 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

Sometimes, I find myself thinking that God has no more for me to do, as I am old. Then, I remember that the apostle Paul said that he was old, too, a vulnerable thing to admit. But lately, when people ask how I am, I say, "Elderly", … Read more

During a Bible study class, I learned that some of the older women had asked for and received a verse from God for their wedding, a verse that sustained them through the ups and downs of married life. I had thought that the "Love is…" … Read more

The driveway at the place where I work is flanked by two deep ditches, one on each side. We have stakes marking the edge of the ditches for people coming and going from the driveway to navigate. A few days ago, though, as I backed into my … Read more

It was another day in the dentist's chair. The previous visit had been somewhat complicated, and I had a lot on my mind as I gathered my thoughts to prepare for this surgery. I trusted the procedure to the skilled hands of the dental … Read more

I couldn't believe my ears when I heard the final report. The tale had grown, and the details were altered. You've probably played the game. Everyone sits in a circle, and the first person tells something to the next individual. The story … Read more

He was passionate about his passions, and his dedication resulted in excellence. Dad was devoted to his favourite hobby: woodworking. He could take a raw piece of wood and turn it into anything he wanted … eventually. Since he was a … Read more

"Why does it matter? It's not hurting anyone but me." I once owned a habit about which I thought the above. I could engage in this practice while driving and not kill anyone. And unless someone were sitting in close proximity to me, my … Read more

When I saw the "Hot Now" neon sign, all sense of self-control vanished. I had to have one — the heck with calories and sugar levels! My wife and I were ushering mom to a Christmas concert. As our car crept up to the parking lot and we … Read more

Late in the summer, we here in the Maritimes were battening our hatches down, awaiting the arrival of hurricane Earl. Forecasters alerted us to the fact that Earl was coming in all his dangerous splendour, and they were advising the … Read more

Did you know that the blue-footed booby bird with the bluest foot wins the girl, that an anteater has a blue tongue, that a bonga's rusty colour rubs off, that a newborn wallabee weighs less than a paper clip, that … Read more

It's amazing to find "encourage" and "rebuke" in the same sentence. Usually, they are complete opposites and don't have anything to do with one another. If we were to hear the same words today in a sentence, it would probably … Read more

In the gift shop of the local Chamber of Commerce, I was examining an ornament created by a local artist. The artist had spent many hours carving the wooden base and sculpting the ceramic rose. Each petal was created exactly … Read more

One day when I was very young, I ventured off by myself to the dime store. I looked over all the things that took my eye, and with no money to buy, I looked at an eraser that I wanted … Read more

Recently, I was in need of a couple of photos: one that needed to be sent away, the others, of someone who had passed away. Knowing the dates particular photos had been taken, I sifted through my negatives to choose … Read more

If Psalm 130 begins with the author "in the pits", it ends with a call to hope. There are two grounds for this hope. One is God's "steadfast love," God's loyalty to his promises, God's absolute commitment to keep his … Read more