The first word stops us, doesn't it? Everyday struggles. Life is full of things (and people) that get in the way of easy days and a trouble-free life. What matters most is how we label our experiences--in the moment or years later--and that's up to us. Take hardship, for example. At any age or stage of life, hardship is real--and it's hard. Some who experienced it seem unable to move past an inability to cope with the ordinary ups and... Continue reading

Some of us assume what's being taught in the schools needn't concern us unless we have children still attending. Are you sure? Today's schoolkids will be tomorrow's adults. Tomorrow's leaders in every community and in every level of government. What these children learn in school and adopt as their personal values today will determine how they will live--and lead--tomorrow. That kid on the corner who "drives you crazy" today may grow up to be President tomorrow. (And you may still... Continue reading

Sometimes a slight twist of our perspective leads to major changes. That happened to my husband and me the week our entire family went to summer camp on the shore of Lake Michigan. At the time we lived on and operated a dairy and grain farm, with all the constant responsibility that implies, plus we had four lively children. Between cows and crops and kids, both of us were running on fumes by July and needed a break. Needed time.... Continue reading

What an odd mixture of Easter symbols we have in America...and probably all over the world. Bunnies, butterflies, baby chicks, eggs, flowers and green grass, chocolates in foil wrappings. And once in awhile, a picture of a man hanging on a wooden cross. But hey, isn't Easter really all about Spring and everything greening up, blooming, growing? No, not really. The deeper meaning of Easter Easter traces back to the life and death of a man called Jesus, who was... Continue reading

Have you ever considered the influence other people--real or imagined--have on how you think and how you live? It's worth thinking about because such individuals easily become our role models. After that comes trying to measure up to them. What we forget is that most of the time what we see is a carefully staged image. We already know that's true with celebrities, but we may not factor that in once we get on social media. Even when we don't... Continue reading

They're all around us, the people who drag us down and leave us mired in their words. Or attitudes. Some of us call them turkeys--and don't ask me why. It might be a neighbor or friend who harps on the same gripes, time after time. Or it could might be someone seated beside you and for whatever reason, you can't escape. It could even be (gasp!) someone in your family. A number of turkeys have their own talk shows, either... Continue reading

What are your thoughts when you see a flag flying, whether outside a home or at any public place? It seems that many consider the flag a visual offense, wherever it is--just by being there. And they're not all young, not all "radical," or whatever convenient label might come to mind. An area realtor told of a recent experience with an older married couple who were looking for a house. Both were Caucasian and judging by their clothing and their... Continue reading

Fathers come in all shapes and sizes and all personalities. One thing is common to all: Even the best of them have--or had--flaws because, well, they're human beings. Some dads provide for their family and are physically present, but they remain detached emotionally. Others live with one goal: Provide for their family and give them what they need, plus surround them with love. Perhaps the man who reared you and did his best to love you wasn't your "natural father,"... Continue reading

Many of us aren't sure about the answer. You know the kind of questions I mean. "Okay, if there really is a God, why would I think he cares about me?" "From what I know of God, he is more about Dos and Don'ts than about caring for ordinary people like me." "Don't talk to me about God. Not when innocent people get shot while walking down the street or riding their bikes. Not with little kids getting abused and... Continue reading

Have you ever identified with a fable or an old folk tale and been surprised by a flash of insight into your life? I have. I think this might be one of those. The story goes that somehow an eagle's egg got mixed in with the chicken eggs in a nest. The mama hen seemed not to notice. To her an egg was an egg. Period. So she sat contentedly on her nest, waiting for THE day her eggs would... Continue reading

Have you "had it up to here" with all things connected with the Covid 19 pandemic? Most of us would shout, "Yes!" Collectively and individually, we need a lift. Something like a catchy song that gets us all singing along and tapping our feet to its rhythm would help. That's what Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer gave our Nation in 1944. Exhausted Americans were scraping bottom. World War II had dragged on since the December 7, 1941, surprise bombing raid... Continue reading

We're grieving the loss of what we believed America is all about. That a mob would batter their way into our U.S. Capitol building makes us heartsick. "This is America!" we want to scream. "That does not happen here! Except it did. On January 6, 2021. Many of the folks in that mob no doubt considered themselves "good people," who were upholding truth, justice and what is right. Reportedly, many were Christians. Yet everyone with even a smidgen of Bible... Continue reading

A lot of us are thinking Christmas won't be the same this year. Some of us are feeling our necks and shoulders tightening as each day goes on. Why not take a break you'll remember? Sit for a moment and catch the sheer joy of these children--and adults--as you watch and listen to this YouTube of some years ago. First, a bit of background Their story began when James Barthelman and his wife moved from Nebraska to the tiny village... Continue reading

Some of us think we have no influence in the world because we've never held an important job, never been celebrated in any way. Let go of that lie! T ake my friend Alice, for example. This tiny, smiling woman--barely 5 feet tall--saw herself as "nothing special." Yet when Alice died six employees from her local Post Office attended--in uniform. One stood up to tell how much they would miss their friend. "Usually we get complaints about this and that.... Continue reading

Reality has a way of blasting away our self-delusions, doesn't it? It usually happens just as I'm patting myself on the back for maintaining a cheerful outlook on life. Bingo! Something goes wrong. Maybe I drop a glass and have to clean up the mess. Or I accidentally delete a piece of writing I'd been working on. More often, it's my balky computer acting up again. Small things, really. Just the drip, drip, drip of daily life. Some days such... Continue reading

It's hard not to feel the heaviness, isn't it? For months we've chafed under quarantine restrictions this Covid-19 pandemic pushed upon us. We live by new rules, trying to protect against exposure to this frightening, ever-changing virus. We long for someone who can lay out what will come next, but it seems no one can. Not even the multitude of Experts. Once we thought that was a lot to deal with Now many U.S. cities have become war zones. We've... Continue reading

How are you doing with all the restrictions of this Covid-19 quarantine? For many of us, peace and patience are wearing thin. We feel overwhelmed. For all of us, fear laces through every day and wakes us in the night. Some of us are good in a crisis, but a crisis has a beginning and an end. This Covid-19 quarantine situation may stretch on for months, but nobody knows for sure. And that makes it worse. How do we stay... Continue reading