Category: Spiritual
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“God listens to our heart’s wishes”
Jackie wouldn’t admit how painful her fever felt. On the contrary. She smiled to put us at ease. We didn’t pray for her to get better. I must have prayed for her as she seemed half asleep. In the morning, she gleefully exclaimed she doesn’t have a fever anymore, quite convinced that God listened to…
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Even if…
Even if the fig tree does not bloom and the vines have no grapes,even if the olive tree fails to produce and the fields yield no food,even if the sheep pen is empty and the stalls have no cattle— even then, I will be happy with the Lord. I will truly find joy in God, who saves me.1The Lord Almighty is my strength. He makes…
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A visit. Presence of mind and clarity
This past month I have had some aha-moments. I’ve been looking forward to Conrad’s parents’ visit for quite some time. We hadn’t seen them in a year and a half. And I believe they have a positive effect on Conrad. They are wise and trustworthy. They are godly and loving. And on a few occasions…
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We’re in this together
After feeling that I finally detached myself from the guilt of anger, I not just mustered the courage but I had the desire and drive to pick up and read the book “when parents get angry” by Carl Semmelroth. I just read the first chapter. It’s good! Here is what I want to highlight though. …
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About generosity
We woke up earlier than usual. Had coffee with a side of cold breeze on the balcony. Conrad went to work on the preservation of a castle with a team of university professors and landscape artists. He got sunburnt. Came home a couple of hours earlier due to torrential rain. Everyone is gone. The summer…
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Embrace being unique while trying to fit in
I worry about our kids copying others’ choices and behavior. But if I take an honest look at our girl’s short life thus far, her ability to imitate is what propelled her into the well adjusted kindergarten stage. She adapts. Our job is to help her discern between right and wrong, as all the matters…
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Despre lumină, claritate și încredere
M-am blocat undeva. Prea conștientă de sine. Intr-un punct paradoxal în care cred ca totul e clar pentru toti, si nimic din ce as spune n-ar fi relevant. Prea de ansamblu mi-e vederea. Încerc din răspunderi sa ma cobor din balonul de aer, aruncând greutăți, micșorând focul. Însă rămân suspendată încă. Sus. Prea sus. Si…
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Nothing to say
If I have nothing good to say, I say nothing at all. I’ve had smooth sails. I’ve reached a cruising altitude and I enjoyed it in silence. I must have started 20 drafts of posts. But none saw the light of day. Nothing seemed relevant or felt wise enough to share these days. The last…
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About being special
Humility was bred into me. It was the status-quo. But what I can vividly remember it that it was freeing! Hardy and common. Like the general low expectations. It was often declared with decisiveness from the school pedestal, that we are not special! I was born during communism after all. Yet. Telling our kids that…
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Hike in the hills
“Let’s pray together!” She says with a childish enthusiasm. It’s her birthday today. She turns 47. But there is a pleasant serenity about her. A youthfulness of heart and mind. A mother of four adolescents. A puzzle with such appealing kindness. I did not anticipate these new exuberant friendships. A few years ago I felt…
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A pillar of prayer
Ask and it shall be given to you. You do not have because you don’t ask. Ask without a selfish heart. I tell Jackie the story of her name. The week we met her we stumbled upon the significance of Jaclyn, rooted in the Hebrew Jacob, meaning “May God protect you”. That was our constant…
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Next stop: Fall
I wrote of faith, and as I got worried and impatient I wondered if my talk is empty. What of this tension between belief and action oriented trait. There is no exact recipe for a faithful walk. We adapt, we grow and we utter like David: “search my heart, Lord and straighten my steps.” I…