Never Alone, No, Never Alone
An old gospel chorus is buzzing in my ears today reminding me that even when I do feel lonely, God’s assurances state otherwise. The chorus goes, “No, never alone, no never alone. He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone.”
In the hope drenched dewy spring morning, when I’m confronted with the birds and bees exuberantly all-a-flutter doing their thing, I sometimes experience the opposite. I instead feel a sharp stab of being an outsider, alone with chronic pain, not belonging to the riotous activities surrounding me.
Perennials, Flowers Forever
Perennials are the roller coaster of the amusement park, the thrillers and architectural giants of the cottage style garden. They are plants that live for three years or longer. Most go dormant, returning better than before each season. Perennials operate like loyalty customer schemes where the longer they are planted, the more they reward you with spectacular profits year after year.
What’s a Blessing?
I was flipping through some old journal writings and came across an entry I had written after visiting my mom in 2014 in her assisted living apartment. She had been legally blind for at least a decade, so bringing a new person to visit presented a challenge. As usual, she faced and leaped over that hurdle.
Seasonal Retreats, Libraries
The first books I ever checked out of a library were from my elementary school in Beirut, Lebanon. I can still feel the cold tile floor I was sitting on cross-legged and eye level with the young reader books. We always had books at home, but this was a new supply every week! All I had to do was sign my name on a card and promise to return the books the following week undamaged. My love of libraries started at a tender age and has grown exponentially.
Disabled, but Spiritually Enabled
I started my doctoral studies in Curriculum and Instruction because I wanted to understand why our education system purges out students with disabilities from participating in post-secondary education. Their dreams of succeeding in college were being censored by a society that would prefer that they remain in the background. My students inspired me to chart a path for them through my doctoral studies, a path tailored for their advocacy.
Fruit Slush
June starts tomorrow! The days are longer, the children are out of school, the weather isn’t too hot yet, so close your eyes and imagine a perfect summer evening.
Lie, Who Me?
Can you remember what you got in trouble for the most as a child? In other words, what did your parents emphasize as the worst possible thing you could do? With me, it was lying. Telling the truth was expected and punishment came easier if I confessed and repented first.
May Garden Checklist
On those perfect, just right May days, we’re content to putter in the garden, because the actual work has already been done. The fruits of your labor are vying for attention as they show off their splendor! There are only a few maintenance chores and selective plantings to take care of this month.
Even the Birds are Loved
I was digging in my garden as usual one morning, when my tomcat brought me a present, a young cardinal clenched firmly in his mouth. He dropped it at my feet and to my astonishment, it hopped up with an unearthly ear splitting screech! I quickly yet gently scooped the bird up and placed it high up in a tree where I watched it stutter and start, stutter again, and fly away.
I Love Me Some Books
We have a quirky tradition in our family. We gift books. It all started with my Scottish grandparents who could only see us every 4-5 years on our scheduled furloughs. So, since phone calls back then were only for emergencies, they chose books as the conduit for staying connected with their grandchildren.