Here’s one for those who enjoy finding hidden meanings in dreams. A few weeks ago, I had a dream about my mom. She came in through the back door of my house and stood on the landing leading to the kitchen. I was doing something at the sink — maybe preparing something for a family gathering. I was conscious of other people in the house — my kids, Paul, my dad — but they were not involved in the moment. I kept doing what I was doing as I turned to look at her. She was young and beautiful, clothed in a 1950’s style red dress — fitted waistline, flared at the bottom. Her black hair was short, framing her face with soft wavy curls. A broad smile made her face almost glow. She moved toward me to kiss me, but I stopped her cold. Don’t kiss me, Mom.…
International Widows Day is no laughing matter
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress …” (James 1:27,…
Cut me some slack
(Written one night while wrestling with the anger that finds its way into the process of grief, either on its own or provoked…
I am a literary worm!
I am not brilliant; not a genius. I’ve not read all the classics of literature; not even close. I couldn’t quote one sentence,…
Remembering Paul on his birthday
Paul would have turned 70 today. Id like to think we would have thrown him a party with family and friends, showering him…
Grief is a pain in the soul
Grief is a peculiar thing. It sneaks up on you when you least expect it, creeping into your consciousness through images and hidden…
Signed, sealed and delivered
I have always looked forward to getting the mail each day. (Is it any wonder I married a mail man?) Rarely is there…
How ancient words gave me hope for the journey
A few months ago I heard a preacher on the radio say something like, “God is willing to break you to remake you.”…
My friendship with Mildred Behn
My friend, Mildred, died on August 20 at the age of 102. I’ve written about her before here, albeit clandestinely. I was asked to speak at…
One of my Favorite Memories
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1965 release of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Academy-Award-winning film musical The Sound of Music. For me, the…