She didn’t have children of her own, so his grandchildren became hers. She loved them fiercely. She nurtured and encouraged and advocated and pampered those kids. She brought them to church and took them to lessons. She dressed them to … Continue reading
Have you ever had one of those moments when you knew your future was about to change forever—either in a good or bad way? You had butterflies in your stomach and you could hear your pulse pounding in your ears. … Continue reading
In John 7:40‒52, Jesus is teaching at the Temple during Sukkot, or the Festival of the Tabernacles, which is a time of remembrance commemorating when the Jews wandered in the desert before arriving in the Promised Land. The Pharisees are … Continue reading
Hebrews 1:10‒12 “But you’ll stay the same, year after year; you’ll never fade, you’ll never wear out” (Hebrews 1:12, The Message). As the year comes to a close, very little has felt simple. We have experienced tremendous political unrest, increasing … Continue reading
John 1:6‒8 A man named John was sent from God to testify concerning the light that shines in the darkness. John was not the light, but he came to testify that the true light that gives light to every person … Continue reading
Psalm 125 (The Message) says that those who trust in God are like a mountain that you can always depend on. As you read this, we have less than a week before Christmas―a good time to consider where we are … Continue reading
Hebrews 1:1‒4 The entryway table in my home holds a photograph of my grandparents with Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter. In the top left corner of my refrigerator you will see a faded polaroid, the kind you shook, of my husband’s … Continue reading
Psalm 126 “The Christian calendar,” as Richard Rodriguez writes, “has two ‘deserts’ ― Advent and Lent―two penitential preludes to the great feasts of Christmas and Easter.” When I was a kid, I lived in Saudi Arabia, in the heart of … Continue reading
One of the lectionary readings today is ancient words from Isaiah 61. It compels us to offer love to the oppressed, fortify the broken, and speak freedom to those stuck, with no way out. In the midst of Advent, busyness … Continue reading
Never great at small talk, I’m saved every year by the “Can you believe it’s Christmas already? Where has the year gone?” line I can use in countless awkward encounters. In a magical sort of way, the anticipation of Christmas … Continue reading