Bottoms up!
I recently became the mother of two. There are so many new emotions, joys, and lessons that come along with welcoming an additional child into the family. The newest chal... »
Personal Accounts
Butterfly encounters
As I was researching material for a short story about an antique dealer who collected rare butterflies, I came across a website that revealed a rich resource of stories i... »
Having faith in faith
It’s second nature for some people to have faith and show trust in God. They somehow see the good in difficult people or trying situations. To them, the glass is always h... »
Hope and the tree of life
He's a tall, tanned, lanky fellow in his mid-sixties—older than most of the other vendors at the fruit and vegetable market. He invariably greets his customers with a rad... »
The world’s best picture
The other night I watched a fascinating documentary about the famous fresco The Resurrection, by Piero della Francesca, painted around 1463 in Tuscany, Italy. Jesus is in... »
Beyond wishful thinking
I was eight years old when I lost my grandfather at the age of 65. My family is very close knit and this was a big blow to all of us. I remember kissing Nanu’s cold cheek... »
Discovering faith
I grew up in a Christian family, but at 13 I declared that I was an atheist. When I was 18, I left my hometown of Rio de Janeiro with a backpack and set off to see the wo... »
The jasmine bush
My brother’s death hit me hard, perhaps because it was so unexpected. John died of a heart attack at only 51. Until then, he had seemed strong, healthy, and in the prime... »
Passion rekindled
I don't remember the first time we met; he just always seemed to be around when I was growing up. My parents made a point of inviting him to join us on summer vacations a... »
A man among men
It looked like a small settlement—rows of matching buildings on one side and neat vegetable gardens on the other. In the distance was a basketball court. Further yet, a v... »
God never lets go
Quite a few years ago, when I had barely begun my journey as a volunteer missionary, I was faced with a big decision. I was fretting and fearful and ended up struggling f... »
Postcard from Verona
I was born in the hometown of Romeo and Juliet. Every day on my way to school, I used to walk past the famous balcony where Shakespeare has the pair exchange passionate v... »