No tears in heaven
I have learned to appreciate every gift, big or small, that comes to me from the One from whom all blessings flow. The freedom of finding your identity in Jesus and knowi... »
Personal Accounts
What angels long for
I have often been intrigued by the scripture where, after speaking of the preaching of the gospel and the salvation of believers, the Bible says, “Even angels long to loo... »
A pandemic of loneliness
Many news articles are alerting us that a plague worse than COVID is ravaging countries around the world, one with silent symptoms but lethal aftereffects. Some have labe... »
Light in the Golden Years
As an empty nester, I’ve found that the twilight years of life hold a unique sense of quietude. My bustling home of previous years has transitioned into silence, and the... »
The power of silence
Henri Nouwen wrote, “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solution... »
A gift to be found
Loneliness is a slow burn as you go day after day without the connections and intimacy needed to feel fully alive. The changes in society over the past decades have resul... »
A friend of Jesus
Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14). Our priorities in life should be to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love ou... »
Of winters and summers
We all know it’s ideal to be thankful, to remain positive, and to show appreciation to people around us. It’s not that difficult as long as things are going okay, or when... »
The license to try
My friend phoned me, overjoyed. She had finally passed her driving test. She had persevered through many almost-passes and tough instructors, earning her license at last.... »
Hospitalization—my testing ground for patience
Patience in everyday circumstances is difficult enough, but patience in times of sickness and pain is a different story. Most of us are not especially equipped for exerci... »
It’s never too late to begin again
At seventy-five years old, I smile at the unexpected turns my life has taken. When I entered the mission field five decades ago, I imagined a lifetime of raising a family... »
Railroad tracks
As a young adult, I used to get stressed every time an obstacle or setback came my way, especially when big problems occurred. My husband was always the optimistic one, o... »
Start small and persevere
My father once told me the story of a chess-playing king. Perhaps you’ve heard it? Once upon a time, a king challenged a traveling sage to a game of chess, and the king p... »