This quote baffles me. I wish I could sit across from the illustrious Mark Twain and ask, “Who were you hanging out with?” I mean, really? He couldn’t find anyone who could tell him what they wanted out of life? And then there’s that other part of the quote — the first part — where Twain boldly proclaims that he …
In Others’ Words: Old History, New History
First the darkness … Then the waiting … Then the dawning of a new beginning for all who believe the miracle of the resurrection. May you embrace the truth of His story in a new way this coming Easter. [Tweet “In Others’ Words: Old History, New History #InOthersWords #lifequotes #Easter2016”] [Tweet “”Our old history ends with the cross; our new …
In Others’ Words: Headed Here, There and Everywhere
By the time you read this post, I’ll be in Seattle. Spring break — a great time to go someplace, right? And since my son Josh moved to Seattle last October, that sounded like a great place to visit. I’ve never been to Seattle and I’m ready to explore my son’s new hometown, rain or shine. (And I understand there …
In Others’ Words: A Different Perspective on Suffering
Dr. Kelly Flanagan writes the blog UnTangled. Today’s quote was in his post titled “This Could Be the Difference Between a Life of Suffering or Joy.” I’ve seen various definitions of suffering, but his statement — Suffering is the resistance to what is — stopped me short. Suffering? Resistance to what is? And then I continued reading: Suffering is opposition to the present moment …
In Others’ Words: The “More” of the Serenity Prayer
You have Facebook to thank for today’s blog post. Specifically, you have my friend Kim Henson to thank. She posted the complete version of the Serenity Prayer on her Facebook page last week, saying she hadn’t known there was more to the prayer except what we so often hear — or say to ourselves. Like Kim, I’d never heard the second segment of …
In Others’ Words: When You Lighten the Burdens of Others
There are times I get to the end of the day and I think, “What did I accomplish today?” Actually, I usually think, “I didn’t get anything accomplished today.” Somewhere along the way I lost my To Do list. Or circumstances ran over my plans for the day. I want to find a red pen and mark the day with …
In Others’ Words: The Demands of Insecurity
I’ve certainly sat on the ledge and attempted to reason with insecurity … and lost. I’ve tried to calm my self-doubts with both truths and the Truth and found myself staring down, down, down, realizing that insecurity is stone-deaf to that kind of wisdom and good sense. I also agree with my writing friend Jill Buteyn that insecurity is an all-too-willing assassin, one …
In Others’ Words: Finding the Right Place and Standing Firm
I remember the first time someone called me “narrow-minded.” Now, when I say “the first time,” please don’t get the idea that this happens often. It doesn’t. As a matter of fact, I can’t remember the last time someone called me “narrow-minded,” but I do recall the first time. I was shocked. Me? Narrow-minded? I called my good friend …
In Others’ Words: Patience and the Willingness to Stay
Sometimes the situations we are in don’t change. We look and we look, and there’s no door marked EXIT. Okay, yes, I’ll make this blog post personal. I’m dealing with several ongoing situations that, by definition — ongoing, right? — haven’t changed. Circumstances haven’t budged for months. Chronic health issues? Still here. Strained relationships? Still here. Some things I can’t fix. …
In Others’ Words: Once Upon a Childhood
There are books everywhere in my house. When e-readers came on the scene, my husband encouraged me to get one. His hope? That the multiple To Be Read (TBR) piles would disappear into virtual oblivion. Um, no. That did not happen. My Kindle is loaded and ready to go on trips with me … and the TBR piles continue to …