Our pandemic has brought many miseries, but the biggest loss may be its loneliness. There since the beginning – along with fear, alarm, frustration, confusion, and anger – to name a few of its covid-spawned siblings – our ache from unconnectedness has formed the backdrop of our nearly year-long experience. With Christmas only…..
In the days when I was raising my children and not working outside the home, I would sometimes bristle at calling myself a “homemaker.” It made a better title than “housewife” (which I couldn’t stand!), but didn’t seem to cover what I considered the extraordinariness of my job. Often I would correct people and insist that I…..
An Imagining of Mary’s sister, referenced in John 19:25
Mary and Joseph must be in Bethlehem by now. She could have the baby any day now.
It aches that they’ve left, that Mary won’t be here to have the babe. It meant so much to me to have all…..
This week I look at Mary’s courage in the making of that first Christmas.
An Imagining based on Luke 1:26-58; 2:1-5
When I was a little girl I remember so clearly my father talking about how much he wished the Lord would send His Messiah to us soon. Then, my mother would…..
Part of celebrating Advent is remembering that first Christmas and all the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth. In the piece below, I try to imagine what this time was like for Joseph.
An Imagining based on Matthew 1:18-25
I admit I was angry when Mary went off to visit her elderly relative…..
This past Thanksgiving week became an extra-special occasion with the November 21st birth of my third grandson. Now my week filled up with the combination of preparing for the feast and minding the two, newly made big brothers. Precious hours spent in my home, caring for these no-longer youngest…..
An Imagining based on Luke 1:26-58; 2:1-5
When I was a little girl I remember so clearly my father talking about how much he wished the Lord would send His Messiah to us soon. Then, my mother would say how blessed would be the woman whose privilege it would…..
An Imagining based on Matthew 1:18-25
I admit I was angry when Mary went off to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth and never even told me she was going. It should have made more of an impression on me when she returned after three months full of miracle news. Elizabeth…..
Part of celebrating Christmas is observing Advent – a period of purposeful waiting.
I’m not talking about the frenzy that commercialized Christmas-making ushers in long before Thanksgiving. Rather, holiday preparations ought to be highly personal and particular, reflecting what makes Christmas meaningful to each of us.
I begin observing Advent by decorating my…..