From the backseat, my five-year-old asked, slowly, “Mommy, is ‘T’ the first number for God?” It took me a minute, but I figured out he was trying to spell. “No, baby,” I told him, “the letters for God are g-o-d.” He was fidgeting with his hands, I could tell, but I was driving and didn’t … Continue reading
Scripture reading: Luke 12:13-21 Prayer: Generous God, give us generous hearts. Help us to treasure what you treasure: Kindness, Peace, Compassion, Love. Take away our greed, Our longing for more, more, more. Help us to remember that you are what we need. Amen. Reflections: Our family has had many opportunities to reflect on … Continue reading
I believe it’s Woody Allen who is credited with saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” I always found this to be a little condescending. (Morgan Freeman’s God character in Evan Almighty really does just laugh at him when Evan mentions his plans). Nevertheless, it communicates a truth I’ve seen … Continue reading
We live hundreds of miles from our closest relatives, which means that my son only sees his grandparents, aunts, uncles and extended family one or two weeks every year. He’s the only grandchild on my husband’s side, and the only one of his generation—which means my husband’s aunts and uncles also lavish him with gifts … Continue reading
The editors over here at Practicing Families are going to have a busy week. Joanna is moving. Jill is traveling. Andrew is busy in his corner of the West Coast world. We don’t have a post today, really, just a request for prayer and a poem that I have been reflecting upon lately. The request … Continue reading
Last week we planned the Most Fun Day Ever. After packing a picnic lunch and finally finding a parking place amid the crazy summer crowds at BalboaPark, we found a great spot on the lawn in front of the Natural History Museum, ate our picnic lunch and then headed into the museum for the afternoon. … Continue reading
Last night our daughter, Amélie, left a handmade card out on the dining room table for us to find after she went to bed. The outside of the card says, “I am so thankful for 2 awsome, loving, kind, sweet, pashent parents. Thanks.” (Ignore the misspellings. She is homeschooled. :)) The inside says, “I love … Continue reading
Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 Prayer: God, you have given us many good things to do. We do school work and house work and yard work. We play instruments; we play sports; we play with our toys. We go to school and to the store and to church. It is good for us to work and play … Continue reading
There is a commercial out that shares a mom’s shopping experience with her grade-school aged boy. As she shops he passes through the aisles asking for something outrageous from the warehouse store. Each time it is met with a melancholy “No.” Until the end when he chooses a package of hotdogs that Mom finally agrees … Continue reading
“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” ~Exodus 20:12 At the church I serve, we are studying our way through the Ten Commandments in weekly worship. This past week, I had the opportunity to preach on the fifth … Continue reading
