Making Room for More

Over ten years ago, I was at a women’s conference when a thought popped up in my head, “Do not let your tiredness be your ‘bowl of lentils’.” I was newly widowed. I was taking care of young children while handling a significant workload in my job, with functional responsibilities over a number of countries in […]

Thinking Differently: On Miracles

When God acts supernaturally and grants us a miracle, He does so to draw us closer to Him. This is a lifelong process, not an event. The miracle is not only what’s been granted but the change inside us. So when He grants our prayer, let us remember this is to beckon us closer, a step […]

To Mothers Who are Fathers, Happy Father’s Day!

To more than 780 thousand single mother families in Australia, to the mothers who are the fathers in their households around the world, Happy Father’s Day! In June 2012, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 780 thousand single mother families. They made up 81% of one parent families. Is your family like one […]

The Fire Within

It’s easy to be upbeat when all seems well in life. A peaceful home, good health, a loving family … that’s what makes me smile! And it’s even better when the weather is cooperating, too. To step out into the sunshine is like a punctuation mark in my day. I love it when I am hitting goals. […]

Deep Waters (Love Casts Out Fear)

I was twelve when my auntie nearly drowned. One minute, we were side by side lying on inflated tubes, bobbing gently above the calm waters, the seashore just a few feet away. The next minute, I saw her fall out, arms flailing, then quickly disappearing beneath the waters. Her tube had drifted farther out. I […]

When Sadness Saves The Day (Reflections On Life And The Movie “Inside Out”)

I saw the movie “Inside Out” and cheered for Sadness when she saved the day. My daughter was very persuasive. I only watch a few movies each year. Animated ones are not usually on top of that list. But here we are, adults, clutching our tickets as we made our way to an empty theatre. […]

Like New Year’s Day

It was like New Year’s Day when I brought her home, my gorgeous first-born. When that child, now a woman, came out of surgery with a spirit and a smile unscathed by the scalpel. When ten days later I brought her home, my gorgeous first-born. I could have lit fireworks. It was like New Year’s Day! It […]

Beautiful, Beautiful Philippines (May Peace Be Yours in Abundance)

The slaughter of the Philippines National Police – Special Action Force personnel #fallen44 in #Mamasapano have troubled me deeply. Where is peace? What is the price of freedom from the clutches of terror, greed and corruption, ineptitude and disunity? Where is justice and righteousness? Where is the dream that my country of birth will soar again? Though […]

What Is Simple?

Guest Post by Miriam Harkness It has been three weeks since my first (and hopefully last) major operation. Those twenty-one days have been some of the best and the worst of my entire life. It was remarkable how a situation can completely flip around in just a little over three hours. I am now only […]

It’s a Beautiful Day?!!

Whatever you are struggling with today, large or small, widely shared or yours alone, may you have hope. Early on Tuesday morning, lives were lost at the #sydneysiege. While I slept, others slipped to life beyond. Leaving many to mourn. Lives were changed, now always marked. How changed, no one can grasp. As I slowly went through […]

Papa, Can You Hear Me? (Loss and Hope)

It was a dreary day. And the sun disappeared too quickly. I was running late. So I half-ran to the small auditorium. “I hope I’m not too late to hear her sing.” I reached the door. Stop. Pause. “I hope the door will not creak when I open it. I don’t want to disturb the audience.” Applause. […]

Sometimes I Just Have To Twirl

A late evening at work. Heading down to the ground floor lobby. Walking towards the front door, absent-mindedly. Ooops. Almost crashed on the glass doors. They didn’t open automatically! I forgot. It’s after-office hours. Where’s the button to open the doors? Oh, there you are. The bright green button. How could I miss you, dear bright green […]