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A Season of Giving Grace to Others
An acquaintance of ours started a non-profit movement offering free yard signs reminding us to love one another. He posted it on our county’s social media page…and the war began. Within a short time, I counted 102 comments. Ninety-eight of the remarks were fighting with him or with each other. Ironic? Yes. Surprising? Big sigh. No. As I read these ugly comments on social media, I was insulted on behalf of this good man. Why the anger? Why aren’t we extending grace to others? At the same time, his responses – both measured and kind – filled me with hope instead of feeling overwhelmed by the inhumanity of the masses. I…
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It’s Terminal
Do you mean it when you say the relationship is over???? So, I’m waiting for my take-out order at a local restaurant and out of the blue, I hear… HER: (Loudly) “What the %$#@? I’m so $%% tired of your &^%$! I’m done!” (SILENCE THAT WENT ON FOREVER) HIM: (Quietly) “What do you mean ‘done’?” I glanced over and recognized that he was having one of those moments. You know those moments. The ones where you feel that sickness in your stomach? That knot in your throat? Honestly, I was having one of those moments, and I didn’t even know him. I moved away from their table quickly because this conversation…
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Blood Transfusion: How to Avoid Generational Curses
I’m a singer, so song lyrics matter. I’ve been obsessed with John Mayer’s “In The Blood” lately. Yes, obsessed. I’ve listened to it during my 45-minute work commute – on repeat – several times in the last two weeks. “Several times” is as close as I’ll want to get to revealing my level of craziness about songs. Now, don’t look at me so loud. You’ve done this. You know you have. This song made me wonder why so many of us repeat our parents’ mistakes. And our grandparents. We let our past cause unnecessary relationship struggles. A friend of mine calls this the Generational Curse. Would you kindly give it…
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Just Respect
I kinda fancy myself as being someone who knows a little something about marriage. I think it’s because it’s something I want to know about. So I study people, I ask questions and I read a lot of books. And, over the years we have counseled several people so I’ve learned from the inside the ways people can get off track and the ways they can turn it back around. That’s a beautiful thing, let me tell you. There really isn’t much that can’t be turned around if both really, really want it. It’s gotten to the point that when I read a book on marriage, there’s not much there…