When I was a child, I loved school, but even more, I looked forward to the start of summer vacation. As a teacher, I have been lucky enough to continue to have a taste of it. Although I work quite a bit in the summer—on research that gets pushed out of my schedule by my […]
This story is inspired by Matthew 18:1–5. We had just traveled from Galilee and stopped near the far side of the Jordan River. Bodies pressed close together and the dry, warm air caused me to be uncomfortable. I think it was ego that caused my friend to ask Jesus who would be greatest in heaven. […]
When I was writing The Prayer List, I asked our daughters (now adults) what they remembered about family prayer from their childhoods. Ellen promptly responded by reciting the prayer we most often said together at bedtime: There are four corners on my bed. There are four angels round my head. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, […]
When was the last time you contemplated the marvelous things without number that God has done in this universe? Do you know where to find the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south? Those are constellations, after all—things in the sky that in principle anyone can see for themselves. In The […]
I wear a gold cross on a chain around my neck. I have for as long as I can remember. Recently, a friend asked me why. “My grandparents bought it for me when I was really little,” I replied. “And my grandmother had a really big impact on my faith.” My friend nodded. “So it’s […]
I asked my boys to go get dressed for their dentist appointments. “Put on something that doesn’t look like you’ve been sleeping in it all week!” I shouted from the living room. One of my twins returned quickly and stated confidently, “I’m ready to go, Mom!” I looked up from my phone to observe his […]
How are we to interpret the alternately serendipitous and disappointing, unexpected and unpredictable, courses of our lives? What is happening when death or financial disaster force us to reconsider what we want from life, when teachers or mentors find and nurture talent we didn’t know we had, when we succeed beyond our wildest imaginings, when […]
You have my permission to do this. Really. No guilt whatsoever. Choose an activity that gives you joy and that feeds your soul. It can be anything—something you do alone or with friends, an activity that’s high intensity or more contemplative, something you do away from home or in your home. Schedule a full two […]
When my children were young and had their friends over to play, I would not necessarily join into their conversations. When they were playing together, they wanted my ideas and participation like they wanted toothpaste. I hung around, half-listening in case a quarrel broke out, and provided snacks when they were hungry. Maybe God is […]
