Sandra Stein: Lessons on Rest
Rarely do we get away from them. And most times, they’re what causes us more frustration and stress than we care to admit. Yet, we keep on doing those same things, refusing to rearrange our schedules to include time for rest. …
Continue reading →
Martin Wiles: Passing the Heritage
Of Mom and Dad’s three sons, somehow, I received most of the family heirlooms. As family members aged, they either offered me these items or I asked for them. Since I’m a nostalgic kind of guy, I grabbed every piece of furniture and nick knack I could. …
Continue reading →
Cynthia Mendenhall: My Childish Dinosaur Ring
I was thrilled and immediately placed it on my left ring finger, laughing as I flashed it around as if it was a whole carat of sparkles. …
Continue reading →
Evelyn Mason Wells: My Mother’s Day Prayer
At the end of the day the water was turned into wine because You honored Your mother….
Continue reading →
Charles E. Maldon Jr.: The Master’s “Right Tool”
Trees had overgrown the fence, and the shrubs needed a trim. Numerous weeds had overtaken what used to be a vegetable garden. I was overwhelmed at the scale of work that I needed to accomplish, but I knew I had brought the necessary tools. …
Continue reading →
Martin Wiles: Gone but Not Forgotten
In our area of the United States, hummingbirds arrive in late March or early April and hang around until mid-October. A few weeks before their arrival, I hang three feeders for the scouts who arrive earlier to find so they can tell the later arrivers. One feeder outside our back-porch window, one outside our dining room window, and one outside our kitchen window. Almost anywhere we sit or stand in the house, we can view the beautiful little birds feeding. …
Continue reading →
Martin Wiles: Doing the Family Thing
One year before, the app showed my wife and I had joined our daughter and her two boys for a trip to Granddad’s Apples in Hendersonville, NC—a trip we made annually, either with them or someone else. This particular year, things had gotten busy. Had the app not reminded me, we may have forgotten to go. …
Continue reading →
Cynthia Mendenhall: Bathtub Tea Party Hope
On a trip north to visit my family, Lydia, in all her audacious two-year oldness, pointed to me as the one to oversee her bath time. With no grandchildren of my own, I hesitated at first, but two-year-olds do not accept an “I’ll pass” or any of the other flimsy excuses I tried. …
Continue reading →
Charles E. Maldon, Jr.: This Is Your Moment
As he peered out, the reflection of light on the ocean created the appearance of a million shimmering diamonds. He focused on the sound of the engine coming from the rear of the speedboat as he heard the captain’s baritone voice say, “Two minutes out, get ready everyone.” Jake knew this was it. Was he ready? Or was the sweat on his brow just nerves. He knew it was now or never–if he was going to break free of his fear of the ocean, he had to jump. This was his moment…
Continue reading →
Martin Wiles: First Things First
Firsts are important. On this day, two of my cousins brought a mahogany china cabinet to our home. The reason it was a first was not that it’s the first one I’ve ever owned but because it was the first piece of furniture my mom ever bought with her own money. She purchased it to hold china she planned to purchase as a part of setting up housekeeping with my dad. …
Continue reading →
Martin Wiles: When God Hides
I am familiar with hiding. Apart from the normal game of hide-n-seek, my cousin and I often invented other hiding games. We invented imaginary giants to hide from in my grandfather’s barns. If we chose to play cowboys and Indians, one group would hide. …
Continue reading →