I hope to grow my very own fall pumpkin. But that hope requires me to water my plant and also keep people from mowing it down (an accident which really only happened once). The point is—I have to guard and nurture my pumpkin hopes. And then, in due time, I can enjoy the fruit of…
Tag: Eternity
Fireworks and Freedom
I watched the fireworks last night. One child likened them to fairies. A different child called them missiles. As I watched the fire fall from the sky, I realized that in some ways they were both right. For so many of us, fireworks are almost a magical spectacle of dazzling light, a symbol of freedom,…
Lent, Love, and Preschool
My youngest came home from preschool yesterday with a story. His class was making craft hearts with tissue paper, and he was running out of supplies. His friend across the table said, “Here’s some of my paper!” and freely gave it away. During the retelling, my son said thoughtfully, “I didn’t even ask for it,…
Home
I once lived in a little cabin on a piece of property where my family’s realtor lived. A house deal fell through at the last hour and we were homeless, stranded, scrambling. Our kind realtor, with a nice daughter my age, let my parents and their children stay in their two-room cabin with a kitchenette….
The Best Love Story
Last year, we celebrated my parents’ marriage with a renewal ceremony. They wrote and spoke new vows to each other, reinforcing the commitment they made years ago. They spoke in the presence of their children and grandchildren. It was a moment of hope. Love does that. It brings hope to the driest, darkest, hardest parts…
A Picture of What 