Category / Ponderings

Ponderings

Pouring Out Our Hours

The element of time is strangely elusive. The value we place on time is even more so. Is one hour of life to be cherished more than another?

A young woman, mother and friend passed away recently. While her days on earth were waning someone posted on her Facebook page that visitors were being asked to allow her son, mother and others close to her to spend uninterrupted time with her because “the time was precious.”

It got me to thinking – – – are the hours near the end of our lives any more valuable than those leading up to it? Really, is any one hour, whenever lived, more important; is any single hour less priceless?

Ponderings

The Clarity of Success, the Illusion of Failure

One of my favorite bible verses is the King James’ version of I Corinthians 13:12 – “For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part, but then shall I know even as I am also known.” While this speaks directly to our ability to truly know and understand the things of God, I think it also speaks to our often false perceptions of the daily “things” in life – – – among them being our limited, man-made, quantitative (and qualitative) assessments of “failure” and “success”.

Ponderings

In My Face, in My Place, in My Space

“It’s not what I say, it’s what I do.”

“Actions speak louder than words.”

“Practice what you preach.”

We’ve all heard these age-old idioms. They all have the same thing in common – words and actions.

The last few months I have watched with interest, with growing bewilderment and perplexity, and now with concern, the display of words and actions our nation’s freedoms allow.  The hue of the public dialogue is changing.

Ponderings

Chin Up, Buttercup

Well, it’s Christmas Eve – – the last day to scurry around looking for that last or perfect gift. Then to finish wrapping, baking, traveling . . . today a momma’s day goes by quickly and tiredly.

I’ve been thinking about a gift that, aside from unconditional love and the truth of the Gospel, may be the very best present a momma can give her children: the gift of encouragement.

Ponderings

The Simple Art of Togetherness

 

In this crazy world in which we live and raise our families, there is an over-abundance of expectations, deadlines, aspirations, pursuits and a considerable list of sought-after achievements. We moms (as well as the rest of the population) expend a substantial amount of thought, time, money, energy, hopes and dreams seeking to simply “measure-up.”  And the result? We are often frustrated, weary, disappointed and usually a bit poorer.

Ponderings

The Melody of the Mundane

 

I woke up early this Monday morning. I woke up so early the brilliantly full “super moon” was still hanging over our neighbor’s rooftop. This “super moon” is apparently also known as the “beaver moon” because it occurs during the time beavers are actively preparing for winter.  I didn’t rise early because I had some prestigious, high-paying job to get to.  In fact, neither did I get up early to go to any place of employment. I didn’t even get up early to get my kids off to school. I got up early because I had things, like the beaver, to accomplish around my home.

Ponderings

Fortifying Against the Drain

water-going-down-sink-drain

As I was thinking about and writing my post from last week: “Am I a Life-Giver or a Life-Drainer?”  (If you haven’t had a chance to read it, I encourage you to take a few minutes to do so before you continue reading this; just scroll down), I sadly kept thinking, “but I really do have those moments when I feel like I pull the plug and begin draining the very joy or hope or enthusiasm out of those around me!”  I then asked myself, “So, how can I prepare for and combat the unpleasant dreadfulness of the inevitable results?”

Ponderings

Am I a Life-Giver or a Life-Drainer?

As humans, as women, as moms, as wives, even as friends, we underestimate the considerable power our words, our reactions, even our silences can have on others.

One of the most challenging and thought-provoking quotes I ever heard was Brennan Manning’s “In every encounter we either drain life or give life; there is no neutral exchange.” I’ll repeat it: “In every encounter we either drain life or give life; there is no neutral exchange.” Let’s say it together: “OUCH!”

I have thought about, taught about and shared that specific quote many times since I first heard it. It directly cuts to the heart.  It offers no exceptions. “Every” means “every.”

Ponderings

The Nest May be Empty, But the Heart is Full

A Basking Butterfly

Talk about pondering! I’ve been pondering this thing (or era, or phase, or freedom, or time of life) everyone calls “empty nest syndrome” for quite a while. Just like that, in the blink of an eye, in a mere twinkle, in a breath, 25 years of fairly intensive mothering morphs into the next phase, on to the next chapter. It’s something I’ve known would and should happen, but not something I’ve been eagerly anticipating. It’s now the day after Labor Day – most schools are now in session. It’s time to put this pondering to rest.

Ponderings

It’s Who They Are, Not What They Do!

Thankfully, I was able to raise my daughters, in large part, prior to the advent of social media. If you have heard me speak or teach over the last few years you know I’m concerned over the pressure mothers – of all ages, makes and models – feel to present their lives, homes and, of course, children in the best light possible. I’ve felt that pressure as well. Like most, I don’t post pictures or statuses displaying failure, anger, disappointment, weight gain, dust, dead flowers, etc. We seem to be compelled to present only our successes to the social media world – and, in a good many cases, that usually includes the achievements and triumphs of our children.