When I was in junior high school, I played the trumpet. I can vividly remember trying to learn how to play. It took a lot of air! When I look back...

I recently learned about “glimmers,” which are small moments in the day that make us feel joy, peace, and gratitude. The more we train our brains to be on the lookout...

My two young grandchildren arrived three days before Christmas to celebrate the holiday at my house. In the dining room, I had set out a decades-old nativity scene, except I left...

As evening approached, my spirit and eyelids drooped as the hurry and blur of holiday preparations took their toll. I had been joyfully anticipating the Christmas Eve candlelight service at my...

After nearly 100 years, the beautiful stained-glass windows in our church needed repair. Plywood panels temporarily fill the empty spaces, and our sanctuary is much dimmer now. We’re not sure how...

Sometimes I ask myself, What will be the last words people hear from me? The last words I heard from my cousin Javier were, “Take care of yourself, dear.” He died...

It was the week before Christmas, and I was pouting. “Bah, humbug, God; I’m estranged from my family so I’ll sit here alone again and make my own dinner. At least...

When I was a child, I would stare up into the sky on Christmas night and wonder if the brightest star I could find was the same one that led the...

Having grown up in an area known for its abundance of stone, I am fascinated by stonework. Traveling throughout the region, one can see houses, churches, walls, and fences made of...

The Bible study I was leading didn’t go well. People were distracted, and their comments were scattered. I couldn’t seem to bring their attention back to the study. As I drove...