People hold strong opinions as to when it’s acceptable to start listening to Christmas music. For me (while I briefly turn on Bing Crosby’s Christmas album in July), I usually begin listening to my Christmas playlists towards the beginning of November—right around the time daylight savings ends. While the days grow shorter, darker, and colder,… Continue reading Repeat the Sounding Joy
Today, I finished the one-year Bible reading plan I started in January…of 2021. Yes, it has taken me one year, ten months, and eighteen days to complete 365 days of readings. In the past, I probably would have felt anything from mild embarrassment to deep self-condemnation over my inability to keep up with the reading… Continue reading He’s Where the Joy Is
My jaw dropped when my four-year-old daughter willingly donned her puddle jumper and sauntered into the water without protest. Holding onto her daddy’s hand, she laughed as the foaming cold waves slapped against her thighs. She yelled for them to go deeper, and eventually I could only make out the tops of their goldens heads.… Continue reading Slow Growth Through Ordinary Moments
A few weeks ago, I spent two and a half hours chatting with three different Apple support staff. I read no less than a dozen how-to articles from various tech websites. I even called my PC-loving husband with a last-ditch request for help. The first question was always the same: “Have you tried restarting it?”… Continue reading Have You Tried Restarting It?
At 6:41 a.m., love is patient. He is patient with me as I press “snooze” on my phone alarm once, then twice, finally a third time. He waits as I check my email, scroll social media, and sip my coffee before finally pulling out his Word. He does not hold my tardiness against me but… Continue reading Love Is
My hands gripped the steering wheel, my mouth was pulled taut, and my eyes squinted to discern the lines on the interstate through sheets of rain. I heard the peaceful breathing of my sleeping children in the backseat, blissfully unaware of the terror seizing my heart as I drove through minute after minute of pouring… Continue reading The Lord is my Shepherd
I’m a word person. My favorite games are Scrabble and Bananagrams, and I have a thesaurus app on my phone. I love to read and write, and my husband probably gets tired of all the words that pour out of my mouth. So it’s of no surprise that I’m also one of those people who… Continue reading Remembering God’s Faithfulness in 2021
“‘Absolute futility,’ says the Teacher. ‘Absolute futility. Everything is futile’” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, CSB). The words from my morning quiet time (that had unfortunately been cut short) echoed through my mind as I stood in a long line, tapping the strap of my purse and straining to glimpse what was happening at the front of the… Continue reading Absolute Futility
Every October, it would take a little longer for my parents to take me to kindergarten. The extra minute or two delay began when our neighbors at the end of our street covered their small yard with every kind of Halloween decoration. Plastic gravestones lined the driveway. White ghosts swung from the oak tree. Fake… Continue reading When I Am Afraid
“Grown-ups come back.” “Find a way to play together.” “If you have to go potty, stop and go right away.” If you’re currently a parent of toddlers, you will know the melodies that accompany the lyrics above from our favorite friendly jungle animal. Each day, my daughter jumps out of her bed after naptime—excited for… Continue reading Lessons from Daniel Tiger
Bethany Broderick 