A Higher Calling

My long hours working as a childcare provider often tempted me to complain about my job. Although I didn't know what work God wanted me to do, I was ...

Best Intentions

One day, I taught my young class the story of Jesus visiting Mary and Martha. I carefully explained how Martha had hurried to clean the house and cook ...

Stories: Preparation for Life

Children love stories. Even in an age of computer games and electronic toys, there is still resonant power in the phrase "Once upon a time ..." ...

Plugged In

Our six-year-old son, Alex, was looking at a picture of himself when he was one week old. Upon seeing his umbilical cord still attached in the picture, ...

Ready for the Rapture

After church, where she had been taught about the Second Coming, a little girl was quizzing her mother.

"Mommy, do you believe Jesus will come back?"

Go, Granny, Go!

On a hot summer day I was sitting near an open window sewing and keeping an eye on my three grandsons playing outside.

"Let's play cops and robbers," ...

Locked up Tight

One night I went into my 8-year-old daughter's bedroom to pray with her before she went to sleep. In the course of her prayer she said, "Jesus, ...

Weddding Vows or Miranda's Rights?

I was watching my 5-year-old granddaughter Christy play with her dolls. At one point, she "staged" a wedding, first playing the role of the ...

A Still, Small Voice

It was an exasperating morning. Our phone rang constantly, I washed a contact lens down the drain, our dryer died, and our dog, Princess, sat on the deck ...

Bitter Inheritance

As so many abused children learn, without forgiving those who hurt us, we cannot free ourselves from the grip of history. ... I have a friend whose marriage ...