It seems as if my daughters’ social experiences this year have offered ample opportunities to learn about various facets of friendship. It’s been a blessing sharing my experience and struggles with them, and watch as they make wise decisions, while learning key principles one must know in order to better evaluate a person’s character. Several weeks ago, I wrote a column about how true friendships are tested in times of trouble. Later that week I ran across an amusing quote from an unknown Continue Reading
Grace to the Unlikely {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
I recently came across an illustration about patience and long-suffering that gave me great pause. According to a supposedly traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when a weary old traveler walked by. The old man looked tired and hungry from a long journey. Abraham rushed out to help the stranger, inviting him into his tent. There he washed the man’s feet and gave him food and drink. Without hesitation, the old traveler began eating his food before Continue Reading
Recognize When Your Faith Is Flawed {Atlanta Journal Constitution}
When I was in the process of writing my first book, I signed up to attend a writer’s conference, where I would meet with publishers to present my book proposal. After presenting my book idea to the first two publishers, neither requested a copy of the proposal that I had worked so hard to put together. After those two first appointments, discouragement started to weigh me down. That’s when I decided to retreat to the conference’s prayer room. In the darkness and silence of that room, a Continue Reading
Sometimes the Hardest Thing to Do Is Do Nothing At All {AJC Column}
"To do nothing at all is the most difficult thing in the world, the most difficult and the most intellectual." This quote from 19th-century writer Oscar Wilde was used in a psychology article that I read recently. The article explained the characteristics of manic defense. An example of manic defense is the person who spends all of his or her time rushing around from one task to the next, unable to tolerate even short periods of inactivity. The more I read about manic defense, the more I Continue Reading
Living Out What We Preach {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
If looks could kill, I would have fallen cold on my kitchen floor immediately. My daughter’s eyes pierced me with a mixture of indignation, pain and confusion. No wonder. My attitude was a far cry from the truths that I wrote about all day long. And she knew it. Children always know it. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Faithfulness. Self-Control. In just a couple of minutes, I was able to open my mouth and crush every single one of the attributes of the fruit of the Continue Reading
Come Soar with Me! {An Invitation}
About three years ago, God put in my heart the desire to put together a conference. A day in which a group of Jesus’ girls could get together and share their stories. A day of digging a little deeper… loving a little wider. A toolbox-kind of day. Here’s the idea behind the SHE SOARS CONFERENCE: We go to church, listen to our pastors and Sunday School teachers. We listen to our favorite preachers on the radio, read our Bibles and our favorite blogs throughout the week. But when life Continue Reading
