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Storm Preparation
A Creeping Crisis Some crises develop gradually. Some are excruciatingly slow. Perhaps it is the approaching death of a parent with terminal cancer. Or it is the military dad/son/husband who will be deployed to an overseas conflict. Or it may be a huge financial crisis, which will likely take away the family’s savings and home.…
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Disappointing Birth Brings Hope
By Julie Kerckhoff Mary and Joseph had just survived an untimely, government-mandated trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary “great with child.” Mary, who was chosen by God to have His son, had undergone six months of ridicule for being an unfaithful fiancé. By Jewish law, Joseph could have stoned her or at least dismissed…
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Same Lake, Different Boat
When you are a parent of a child with severe disabilities, you have to accept the fact that your life journey is going to be much different than most people’s and that you are not in control of circumstances. Those two truths are much easier said than lived-out, but they are crucial to living well.…
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Avoiding a Mid-Life Crisis
If you are growing old well, then you are likely to help a child grow up well. 40 is not old, but it’s certainly not young either. It’s the start of mid-life, and it has a well-earned, dangerous reputation. It’s when so many people have an inner crisis, even if life is sailing along smoothly…
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Finding Significance
I’ve had the blues for a few weeks now. It’s not a full-blown depression. It’s just a nagging funk that doesn’t seem to have a good reason for its existence and doesn’t seem to have an end. I get it once or twice a year, often on the backside of winter. Since I haven’t been…
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Faith Like a Child
Tonight, my 11-year-old son voiced one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard. As we sat on the couch as usual for our prayers before bed, I went through our ritual of thanking God for our many blessings, for health, for some recent good news, and so on. My son then prayed for…
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Life Is Not Fair
The Pitfall of Comparison (Part 2) In our house, there is little room for whining and complaining about how “It’s not fair!” or “But all my friends____________, so why can’t I? That’s not fair.” Fair is a taboo word in our home. It’s another F-word. When it rears its ugly head, I jump on it. …
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The Empty Nest
My children are just entering adolescence, so it surprised me that I had such a visceral reaction to this article about “the empty nest.” It made me realize that these days – right here, right now – with my children are absolutely precious and fleeting. Whatever you think of Dr. James Dobson, I think you…
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Role Models
Charles Barkley, the great basketball player and television personality, once said at the height of his NBA career, “I’m not a role model… Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids. If you want a role model, look up to your parents. A lot of guys can dunk a basketball…
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Success and Significance
Charles Schultz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip, had some words to say about success. It starts with a quiz. Name the five wealthiest people in the world. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest. Name five people who have won either the Nobel…