Common-sense grace for the try-hard girl
I’ve seen the commercial countless times, and every time I watch it, I feel both guilt and inspiration. This State Farm ad shows a bearded man who is followed by all the needs he sees: the abandoned dog, the military veteran, the at-risk student, the homeless man, and the polar bear. By the end of […]
I don’t want y’all to be jealous, but in the fall of 1993, I was crowned “Klein High School Band Sweetheart.” I got a sash, a jewelry box, and half-time recognition on the 50-yard line. At 17, being named Band Sweetheart showed that I was liked and I was enough. And at 40, what I […]
You are a daughter of the Heavenly Father, who has children of her own, and you often feel frustrated and overwhelmed by all the ways you’re messing up. Here are five truths you need to know today about you, “Good Mom,” and God’s grace. While I do not presume to be God, I do know […]
In the past, I’ve made decisions based on two criteria: (1) Do they need me?—which they did because they’re asking; and (2) Can I do it? —which I could technically do because I could find an opening somewhere in my schedule, even if it was every other Thursday for 45 minutes while the girls were […]
Tigger. The Energizer Bunny. Pollyanna. These are the characters people compared me to growing up. I love these adjectives because they’re accurate descriptors of me. I trend toward the happy, energetic, and sunny side of life. And yet… I was lumped in with fictitious creatures. I’m a real girl with real worries and hurts, but […]
Here’s wise counsel from pastor and writer Kevin A. Thompson, the lead pastor of Community Bible Church, a multi-site church in Fort Smith, Arkansas. You’d be remiss not to visit his daily blog focusing on leadership, marriage, and parenting (specifically parenting a child with special needs) at kevinathompson.com. Kevin’s wife, Jenny, is the owner of Forte […]
Our oldest has her heart set on starting a pet sitting business. She wants to care for dogs and cats, to show that she’s a responsible kid, and to seem older than her years convey. So in response to her idea, I asked her a couple of questions. “Are there any pets that you wouldn’t […]
It started in January when I read Moses’s words again, “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) As a wife, mom, and writer, I figured it was important to know what he was talking about—I don’t have life to waste, so I want to know what […]
Another Achiever is Going Rogue! Here’s the story of Cheri Gregory, one of my favorite podcasters who also happens to be a teacher, speaker, author, and Certified Personality Trainer. There are so many things to love about Cheri: her passion to help women break free from destructive expectations, her writing style, and y’all, her voice is […]
A dear friend asked me recently, “What does one do when she realizes that she’s a Martha who really needs to be more of a Mary BUT the world she’s carefully shaped and molded around her, full of high standards and expectations of achievement, requires her to be a Martha?” Her question acknowledged that, while […]
