Lord, thank you for your compassion and being mindful of me. Help me turn from selfishness and find contentment in you. As a beneficiary of your divine compassion, help me advocate for the needs of others. Help me notice those in need, and help me honor others more than myself. I cannot do this without you, Lord. I need you.
Tag: Grace
New Every Morning
Particularly after having kids, I was struck by how different one day could be from the next. As an infant-mama, I might have had a great day that included a shower and engaging with the world alongside a baby who is both napping and feeding on a predictable, doable schedule. These days would include sun…
A Celebratory Dinner
We had been sitting at the table waiting on our food for over an hour. “We” included me, my husband, all four of our children, and all of their grandparents. We had called ahead to make sure a table would be available for us when we arrived. We were coming to celebrate. A few hours…
A Gallon of Water and God
Have you ever poured liquid quickly from a gallon jug to another container? At first, because of the jug’s small round opening, there is—for lack of a better word—“glubbing.” The water pours in glops that splash and then there is a smaller stream and then another glop. Eventually, you pour enough water out of the…
How I’m Coping with Kindergarten
So, I sent my baby to full-time big school this week for the first time. For the first time in thirteen years, I am home without a little person. For the first time in thirteen years, I do not have to be at home during nap time. It is weird. I tried to spend some…
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,…
Harper Lee
The author is gone, but what she contributed to the landscape of American culture will not soon be forgotten. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic, my favorite. Even the name of my blog is inspired by To Kill a Mockingbird. My family quotes the book and the movie on a regular basis….
The Puppets in My Purse
Sunday morning at church, my children had a difficult time leaving Oink and Ducky alone. Oink and Ducky are the puppets who sometimes live in my purse. Each week, a puppet or two makes an appearance in the kindergarten Sunday School. Oink has a British accent. Ducky talks really fast. I realized that if I…
Reflections on Bravery and Turtles
My daughter entered an art competition last year where she had to explore the concept of imagination. She chose to dance to a song about bravery because she felt if someone wants to soar away with their imagination, it takes guts. I agree. Many people try to muster the courage for new beginnings or try…
What Hurricane Katrina Survivors Taught Me
Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of the United States ten years ago this week. I wasn’t in the storm, but I remember the people. After Hurricane Katrina, my husband and I volunteered at an old military base where authorities bussed many displaced people from New Orleans. These displaced citizens, my neighbors, were in a…
When I Get an “F” in “Being a Good Christian”
At my children’s elementary school, several younger grades are transitioning to a grade system that is not based on numbers that relate to A+ all the way to F. Instead, each student is tested on specific skill sets and it is determined if s/he has mastered (M) the skill or is progressing (P) with the…
A Picture of What 