Tag: Children
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Sending into the void
It was like any kid conversation. A stuffed animal. Used to talk about feelings. But not a typical day. Not really sure why exactly. I hadn’t felt God answering me. I hadn’t understood the good in many things. I was emotional. The one place I felt effective many days was here, in one of my…
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Why I “make” them go to church…
“I can’t believe you are taking us to church when there is ice outside. You don’t even give us a choice!” And he is right. It was cold. There was frost on the windshield. On the porch. On the steps. And, no…he didn’t have choice. Yes. I MAKE my kids get up and go to…
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A friend to the lonely
“I don’t want to go to school! I.Dont.Want.To!” This wasn’t a cry I hadn’t heard before from this child. In fact, it’s often uttered daily. He doesn’t want to get dressed. He mumbles and grumbles many days all the way through the morning routine. But this cry was different. It was a gut-wrenching cry that…
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Pray. Believe.
One of the toughest jobs I have ever had has been being a parent. While wildly rewarding, it can also be the most heartbreaking of tasks. I question my influence as a parent and a caretaker of many other kids daily. Some times multiple times a day. I question if they even listen. If the…
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An open letter to a young father
The picture above is me at around 22. My oldest about 3. Tomorrow that little boy will be celebrating the first birthday of his own son, at the tender age of 21. Tonight as we settle down for Sunday dinner and celebrate this precious life on the eve of that momentous birthday, I want that…
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Why I Am Struggling with That Bunny
“So, tell me the one reason we celebrate Easter.” This is the question that I asked my class during the service at church on a recent Sunday morning. As the eager hands began to raise, I couldn’t help but wonder what answers were going to spill out of their mouths. “To have Easter egg hunts!”…
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Sometimes There Is Nothing Left To Do But Laugh
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy. Psalm 126:2 “Whose idea was this?” This is what I ask my husband as our son sits and screams on the bathroom floor. “Whose idea was what?” “Parenthood. Which one of us thought that was a great idea?” We know, we…
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Autism Came to Play
Autism came out to play today. It accompanied my boy down the steps of the bus. Followed its afternoon routine perfectly, never altering his course, until some unknown thing slowly created a fuss. Autism came home with Hunter, even though he wasn’t invited to stay. Smiles quickly turned to tears. Tears to wails. Why? Who knows.…
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You May Not Feel it Now, but You Are a Good Mommy!
It’s no secret around here what our mornings have looked and sounded like lately. Our little guy started school a little over a month ago, and while he is in the same building he has been in for 2 years now, this year’s transition to kindergarten has not been easy. A new teacher, a new…
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What Happened to Compassion?
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 1 Peter 3:8 It was bound to happen again eventually. We just didn’t think it would happen the second week of school. A substitute bus driver is usually…