Sticky desserts consumed, my extended family and I cram amiably onto the couch and dining room chairs around my narrow condo living room. It's Christmas night; 19 of us are gathered — my sister and brother-in-law, their children and their spouses and children, my husband, our three grown children and I. Gifts find their recipients…
A 20th Century Gentlewoman
In our small, bright yellow kitchen, you stirred your signature onion, chili powder, ground beef, tomato, kidney bean and macaroni dish on the stove. The delicious aroma wafted my way as I perched on the washing machine a few feet away, dangling my teenaged legs and talking with you. Every day, you and I were…
50 Years of Following the King: By His grace, I am what I am!
From a brown-haired teen to a graying older lady, I have seen the King in His beauty. The eyes of my heart have been enlightened. "Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth." His people are the majestic ones, in whom is all my delight. Today I celebrate…
What Name Do You Want to Be Known By? A (No) Rags to Riches Story
I would never want to be called any kind of harlot, especially one like this one — a wife who loathed her husband and left his embrace for many lovers. A wife who paid her lovers to help themselves. A mother who hated her children and put them to death for foreign gods. With this…
“Funiculi, Funicula” for people who have found eternal love and those who will want it someday
"This song is too much fun not to be able to sing it!" I thought one day, warbling a little of the beloved Italian ballad, "Funiculi, Funicula." The few English lyrics I came up with that day grew into a song telling the story of Jesus and His love for each one of us. I'm…
When You’re Crippled by Shame and Meet a King Compelled by Kindness
I had read this surprising story before. But for the first time I realized there was more meaning in it for me — for us — than I could have imagined. It's a true story, of a king compelled by kindness and a pauper crippled by shame. Years before he came into power, the king…
His Show is On All the Time
My son gestured to the view from our back porch. “That’s your TV,” he said to me. He’s right. God’s amazing show is always running and always worth watching. I love to look out and see Venus shining brilliantly in the dark morning sky. The outrageous oranges, pinks and golds of sunrise make me wonder…
How My Song Began
In the pink bedroom with the pink shag rug, two windows faced the maple tree and our suburban Maryland street, 67th Avenue. I lived in this house in Parkway Estates all my growing-up years. At night when it was very quiet, I could hear a train whistling miles away in Cheverly, or traffic rushing on…
Helping My Brother Through the Door
“Don’t you do what Ginny did,” my brother Terry said angrily. It was 1974. We were in Maryland at our parents’ home, talking about giving our hearts to Jesus, which our older sister Ginny had recently done. Terry was the big brother I had fought with growing up, but dearly loved. I was 19, and…
The Nearness of God 