My cat doesn’t do anything other than be.Yet every day I pat him and say, “What a good boy.” My partner does far more.And yet he’s rarely told that he’s a good boy.Instead of patting him and telling him he is loved, I point out what needs to be done.Better. Right. Properly. While journaling, the … Continue reading Loving Him Like My Cat
Tag: Relationships
Snagged
I was out walking when the path narrowed because of overgrowing blackberry bushes. I couldn’t take a step without being caught by their thorns. I had to keep stopping to carefully remove the barbs, doing my best to protect my skin and clothing from being torn and scratched. Lately, I have been reflecting on the … Continue reading Snagged
Love
We often measure our self-worth by what we have or how well we are doing. Yet when it comes to the people whom we like spending time with the most, it’s not what they have or what they have done that makes that so, it’s who they are… and how they make us feel. “What … Continue reading Love
Differences
“In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But … Continue reading Differences
Squinty Eyes
“… Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky…” Luke 11:33-36 … Continue reading Squinty Eyes
Words matter
I remember a story Joyce Meyer told once about how she and her husband were having a fight one afternoon when the doorbell rang unexpectedly. Joyce recounts how when she opened the door to see her pastor standing there, she was able to immediately switch from being angry at her husband to all smiles and … Continue reading Words matter
Head-tale
I’m driving home from work and the guy in the lane beside me, cuts in front of me. Expletives pour from my mouth, the horn is honked. And thus begins a charged narrative about “that stupid jerk”. From this single encounter, an elaborate head-tale, a story I believe. Byron Katie challenges the narrative: Is … Continue reading Head-tale
Tough conversations
Broaching tough subjects with people we care about is hard. I know. I've avoided my fair share and one very significant one. And I can't deny that I heard the still, small voice telling me to speak. It’s easy to chicken-out of tough conversations because we don't want a fight, we don’t want to offend. … Continue reading Tough conversations
Being heard
On the night of the shootings in Christchurch, I was watching the news when my brother video-called me. He asked if I was ok and I started to cry. He didn't say anything else, just held the space for me to be sad. His focused presence touched my heart. My brother often gives me a hard … Continue reading Being heard
Am I invisible?
This week I was standing talking to two friends when another person joined us and started talking to just one of the group. I don't know this person well but we have been introduced before and often see each other at other gatherings, so my initial response when she ignored us, was to think she … Continue reading Am I invisible?
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