Opening my favorite Bible, I trace my fingers across the front cover, gently holding the book in my hands. The goatskin leather binding is soft, “as smooth as butter,” I told Lori when I first purchased it. With an understanding grin as if for one who can’t help themselves, she gently reminded me that I …
I immediately thought of Jesus’ words, “Let the little children come,” when I heard the news of the gunman opening fire through church windows during a Mass attended by school children at a Minneapolis Catholic Church. Glancing at three of my grandchildren, who happened to be close by, I wanted to reach out and draw …
A tear appears in my brother’s eye. It wells up before spilling over, trickling down his cheek as I kiss him on the forehead to say goodbye. He lies immobile in his bed, ALS having attacked him relentlessly, rendering his muscles useless, reducing his voice to a whisper. Soon, he will be unable to speak. …
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It’s been years now, but I distinctly recall how Lori answered the phone when I called to check on her. “I’m doing better this time,” she said, “I’m not crying…at least not much.” Two days before, we had left our youngest daughter, Madi, at her apartment, where she would attend her first year of college. …
Many parents have grown frustrated with the “gentle approach” to parenting. A new trend has emerged based on the idea of allowing children to experience the natural consequences of their actions. The slang acronym for this style of parenting is “FAFO,” short for “F**Around and Find Out.” So, for instance, if a kid refuses to …