Fifth Third Bank recently took over Comerica, and I was one of the unlucky folks unable to access funds, use my debit card, or even sign into my account. Standing in line a long time for assistance, I remembered that I needed to come home and write this blog about finding joy despite my circumstances. At the time, I found that rather comical because, quite honestly, I wasn’t feeling particularly joyful. My current circumstances felt pretty awful. A week later, I rolled my ankle, suddenly found myself immobile, and ended up in the Emergency Room. Two broken bones and a ruptured tendon later, that long wait at the bank suddenly seemed pretty trivial. I know Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning,” but I can promise you - the only time ... View Post
How To Be An Influencer
Spoiler Alert: You’re Already an Influencer You don't need me to tell you how to be an influencer. You're already an influencer. The question is: How are you influencing others—and who is influencing you? "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called," Ephesians 4:1 Let me tell you a little story... Several weeks ago, I was taking a break in between my typical Saturday chores when I sat down on the couch to watch a funeral being livestreamed from my church. I didn't know the woman who had passed, and I am not sure I had ever even met her. But my Pastor does such a beautiful job preaching funerals, and never misses an opportunity to share the Gospel, so I really wanted to listen in. Each of Janet's ... View Post
Let’s Really Be Kind
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 You've probably seen as many "Be Kind" T-shirts as I have. Tasked with writing this blog on the fruit of the spirit, and specifically on kindness, of course I now see them everywhere. For curiosity’s sake I began researching these T-shirts’ origin, quickly realizing it wasn't the kind of kind I was tasked with writing about. These movements are encouraging niceness, and calling it kindness. But... niceness and kindness are NOT synonymous, despite the fact that we often use them interchangeably. And we need to know the difference, because our kindness should be evidence of our transformation, reflecting ... View Post
Recognizing My Impatience
Traffic jams, construction zones, and frustratingly long lines at the supermarket - these are just a few of the daily opportunities for me to very naturally feel (and express) a lack of patience, probably even without batting an eyelash or thinking twice. Then there's that unseen roll of my eyes and the sigh of frustration over an unfair decision made by management at work... What about all of the injustices we see daily throughout the world? Or the personal injustices and betrayals done to us? Do you ever feel impatient and frustrated while it seems those who are guilty go unpunished, and often even seem to get rewarded? Our wrestling with the injustices isn't wrong, but our impatience with the Lord surely is - it's as if we don't trust Him to do the right thing. And then there's ... View Post
Running is Hard
LOL You might think it's tacky for me to start this blog with "LOL" but after toying around with several potential titles for this piece, and finally landing on the truth that - Running is, in fact, HARD, and always has been for me - I actually DID really laugh out loud. But wait, let's return to the blog. I can't run anymore. I'm too old, too injured, and too out of shape. And oddly enough, this is a story about running. It's a story about ME running. (Some of you are laughing right now). But it's also a story about you running. Yes, you. Stay with me. I actually learned to hate running just after basic training when I got stationed in Panama. Ever been there? It's hot, and it's humid like nobody's business. And instead of running at normal morning hours, our ... View Post
MACDONALD – Like the Farm, NOT the Restaurant!
I've spent a lifetime - 63 years - telling people how to spell my name... M A C D O N A L D 63 years. Can't find my file? My account? My bill? My records? Well, check under "M C D O N A L D" because frequently people like to drop the "A" in "MAC." That's usually followed by, "Ahh! there you are!" After many years, when asked how it's spelled, I just began telling people "like the FARM, not the restaurant." It's MAC, not MC. (But they still screw it up). But never... never in 63 years did I imagine we could screw my name up this badly. The following is a flyover of the timeline of events... Renewed passport on line that was going to expire in a couple of months. Planning to go to Italy in two years, one month, and 6 days, (but who's counting?) Passport ... View Post
On Becoming A Mother-in-Law
"A crackly voice saying blah, blah, blah, blah, blah..." This was a close friend's response to a text I sent to a few besties that read, "Send me the very first thought that comes to mind when I say the word, "mother-in-law." I sent it with a genuine sense of curiosity, but knew in the process I would enjoy some good laughs. Since the day my oldest son married his high school sweetie 13 years ago and my younger son left home for college at the same time, I have joked about it having taken me five years to learn how to make mashed potatoes for one. I say it jokingly, but it's my way of expressing that when the kids left home - everything changed. Everything. There was one-third the laundry to do, one-third the beds to change. Grocery bill plummeted. I stopped using the ... View Post
Leaving Camp Condemnation
Running into my friend Julie and getting to catch up for a short visit was the absolute highlight of my week, even if it was for only a few short minutes. I hadn't seen her in at least five years. Genuinely interested, Julie asked about something that had taken place many years ago. She wondered about an update - how a particular situation had either evolved, resolved, or eventually just played itself out. Initially, I had no idea what she was talking about, but as she jogged my memory with more details, I could feel my soul sinking into the hard wooden chair I was seated in. I felt suddenly so ugly and gross inside - reminded of how I had responded to the circumstances she was curious about - nothing in particular that stood out to her as appalling or sinful, but to me - I felt ... View Post