During the sixth month of my pregnancy, I waddled outside. The June sunshine brightened my colorful zinnias, so I parked my lawn chair beside the garden and carefully arranged myself within its plastic womb. Six months. Three more to go. We had made it past the danger zone — those first 12 weeks when this […]
Many of us learned the meaning of the word “triage” because we watched M*A*S*H. Every week, the doctors and nurses on our favorite TV show worked through the triage episode. Some patients could wait a while. Others were taken immediately to surgery while several unfortunates received last rites from Father Mulcahy. The working definition of
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In the middle of supper, my son turned toward me and asked, “What do you think of my generation?” An honest question, laced with hope that my answer might satisfy or invite open debate. What do I think of his millennial generation, these precious ones born to Baby Boomers during the years of 1981-1996? “I
As we continue to discover the qualities of each Saturday Sister, Hope shows itself in the persevering life of Sharon. For over twenty years, my Saturday Sisters have met together – usually monthly – to eat lunch, talk about our families and prayer requests, to do life together. Sister Sharon and I have shared fun
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The visual was perfect. For each grief experienced, the group leader added another Lego to the crystal bowl. Griefs piled up as various women listed them: miscarriage, deaths, loss of a dream, divorce, infertility, unemployment, sexual assault, moving, rejection, feeling misunderstood, loneliness, the aging process, a husband’s infidelity, the illness of a child, et cetera.
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A copy of the Serenity Prayer is posted on my refrigerator. Such a beautiful reminder of the seasons of life. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” Wisdom was a frequent prayer as I worked in various
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It’s difficult to stay in hope while we’re standing in the darkness. Consider the faith of Mary Magdalene. Scripture tells us “While it was still dark, she went to the tomb” (John 20:1). While it was still dark, her faith was strong enough to visit the grave of her Lord. She wanted to be with
Two thoughts swirl through my brain this November of 2017: the rapid ending of another year and the Thanksgiving season. How can I find hope and share it as the calendar ends? In retrospect, 2017 was not a favorite year. Too many life-changing moments. Emotional whiplash. Yet gratitude simmers in three areas, ironically each beginning
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“It just takes time,” the experts say. “Time heals all wounds.” I’m sure those statements reflect truth. The passage of time DOES ease some of the sharpness of grief. Time allows us to ponder what has happened and leads us to a new perspective about life: How important it is to love those around us
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It is the season of mums – that glorious coloring of perennial happiness. Each year, I plant and nurture a variety of chrysanthemums. These are the plants I prune in the spring when everything else yearns to bloom. When late September and early October creep onto my calendar, these will be the plants that greet
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