Category: Spiritual
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Rescue
Ivy invites me every evening to reflect on the day and pray with them. When Jackie said she doest feel like praying, my heart aches. She is not grumpy, or moody, or tired. Her mind is elsewhere. And after I call her out on her recurring attitude, she said she doesn’t know how to talk…
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About faith as teens
You are prickly when you feel that others expect or demand more of you than you are willing to give. It’s a defense mechanism – a gut reaction. And surprise-surprise: it’s healthy. If you would tone it down before you figure out why you feel this way, you may miss out on an important lesson…
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Trust
Ivy didn’t know what color group to join on the first day of Vbs. Because I didn’t have access to whatsapp where that information was shared. It ls such an experiment- flying dark. On one hand I felt that this is a kind of test. Can I take a break from the hubbub? Can I…
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Midsummer
Today mom & dad arrive for their summer visit. The house is prepared. Food shopping done. My favorite part this year was that the girls participated actively in thoroughly cleaning the bathrooms, we used the big vacuum, dusted the bookshelves, prepared the bed. Our hearts and minds are ready. There is going to be rain.…
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The meeting place
Love and faithfulness meet together Righteousness and peace kiss each other. Ps. 85:10 Alan facilitated this exercise, personifying Mercy. Truth. Justice. Peace. It is a brilliant exercise – though as I was talking with Nicole, the youth has a harder time extrapolating and understanding the reason for these four, if they never experienced war. Nicole believe…
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How frameworks change the perspective
Rachel is so smart, I worry that few can catch all the nuances & intricacies of her presentations. There is so much depth in the content she shares always. She started the conference talking about the identity under attack When a group feels under attack they go into defensive mode. When a group is not…
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My daughter
Selective & loyal Strong willed and sarcastic She speaks her mind Even as empathy rules her heart I have had a front row seat to her becoming And I know my personality & influence imprinted certain traits I love her wholly & completely Generously & freely She owes me nothing But I feel her generous…
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sharing bravely
They chose well for each other. In many ways inspiring me with their maturity and self-awareness, and well as ease in friendships and strong faith. I don’t like giving advice, but as their god parents I have asked for permission to share the things that I wished someone shared with me before I got married.…
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Projected belief
Kids become what we believe about them. So the challenge is adjusting our belief and our approach, to shape their character, their behavior, their self awareness. When my kids were annoying, I stopped to notice what exactly bothered me, whether I was the problem, or if I could help shape their behavior. I believed it’s…
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Little humans in our likeness
I did not give birth to my children, but with every conversation and day spent together, we shape their character, values and competence. They accuse me of bias when I use overwhelming words of affirmation, and I praise them, or acknowledge how wonderful they are. But I never say things I don’t mean. Kind words…
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