When I was a kid, my dad built our house from the foundation to the roof—with his own hands. It took him five years of weekends and pay-as-he-went trips to the hardware store, but in the end, my parents moved into a sparkling new home filled with sunshine and a deep sense of accomplishment. Building […]
Welcoming God’s Presence Into Our Parenting
The joy children bring to our lives is breathtaking. No doubt, parenting is an opportunity for deep, life-changing love. It’s also an opportunity to lose countless hours of sleep and prepare more meals and snacks than one would ever think humanly possible. The many demands upon parents today can be overwhelming and exhausting. It’s easy […]
A Harsh Word Stirs Up Anger
A couple of weeks ago, I heard a speaker say the next time their kid started the “mom, mom, mom… MOM!” thing that they were going to tell their child they had changed their name. That it is no longer Mom. Well, I tried that on my own boys after one irritating afternoon. And following […]
When Silence Is Enough
Today, I sit in a hotel room preparing to speak—not to a national audience, or even a small congregation. This morning, I slowly put on my spiritual armor to share words with three people. Just three. A mom. A dad. A daughter. It’s not a paid gig or one that will gain any second bookings. […]
Hope for the Overwhelmed Parent
Parenting is Intense. Even on the best days, all the needs and demands can feel like a whirlpool sucking us down the drain. How do we keep up, and better yet, thrive in this wild role we call parenthood? It’s easy to get overwhelmed—like when I’m trying to read a recipe for dinner with my […]