Archives for May 2015

After I graduated from college, it was several years before I picked up a book to read just for fun. I was burned out from reading so much that was required, mostly textbooks that were not usually the most interesting reads.

Besides, I wasn’t raised reading books. In fact when my parents moved out of the house I grew up in, I was surprised to find that there had been a complete set of the Chronicles of Narnia in my home–books that I now love but that I had not heard of until I watched “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” cartoon version on TV as an adult.Continue Reading

Last week Tim, Stephanie, and I went to the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas. It was time well spent as we took a trip down memory lane into some not-so-distant history. It was very well done, using technology at its finest and having displays and activities for people of all ages.

In the years of my formal education, I never really liked history much. It always seemed to me to be only about wars and dates–not very interesting. I blame that, in part anyway, on the fact that many of my history teachers were coaches, and for some reason it just wasn’t their first love. 😛Continue Reading

Since we’ve been on the topic of forgiveness, I’ve been thinking about Jesus’ command to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Um, did you notice that it was a command, not a suggestion?

How is that even possible?! It’s hard enough to forgive them, much less (much more?) to love them! But we’re commanded to do so. Wow, God! That’s too hard!

I believe it is too hard for us, that the only way for us to love such people is to ask God to love them through us, to give us His love for them. I have found that He is more than willing to answer that prayer.Continue Reading

Sometimes we need to forget in order to forgive. Unfortunately, when it comes to offenses, we often have very good memories.

Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, when asked by a friend if she remembered a cruel thing done to her, answered, “No; I distinctly remember forgetting that.”

As I was growing up, my parents were both alcoholics. My mom finally got sober and involved in AA before my first child was born. I rejoiced when this happened, but it took some time before the feelings of hurt and resentment were gone.

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