Ever want to brighten your day, I would say visit your local Family Christian store. I have been a patron of Family Christian stores ever since my wife introduced me to them over a decade ago. Since then it has become a traditional store for us to visit. Usually around Christmas time as well as when there is a birthday or other celebration coming up. One thing that I have noticed about any Family Christian Store I have been in, it’s the people. My latest trip to my local store this past week was no exception. Driving out there on my lunch break, in hopes that I would be able to get in and out quickly. I was greeted by the assistant manager, Patricia with a smile and words of blessings. Only after the cheerful greeting did she offer assistance. Unlike many retail stores, you could tell her spirit and heart truly meant the words she shared. After declining her generous offer to help, I proceeded to peruse around the store. There was a buy one get one 50% off Sale going on that peaked my interest. With brick and mortar stores these days, without an appealing sale, people are inclined to stay at home and order off the web. I wandered around the store and before I knew it I had been there over thirty minutes. Still with no purchase in hand. It was not for not finding one; it was from finding so many and having to decide. Finally, I chose two books by Stan Toler that I […]

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As I alluded to over a couple of posts recently my family has shrunk a bit. It has been through these losses that true grace has been revealed. Anyone that watches as their parents or in my case grandparents as they lose their ability to care for themselves knows it is hard. No longer do you see them the same. No longer are they the same. Their true self shines through almost child like. My grandmother passed away a couple of weeks ago. She had changed from the steadfast strong lady I once knew. Her life began to dwindle with her memory. One moment she knew me, the next I was a stranger. I pray that the loving woman, full of joy and grace the last I saw her. I pray that was the real grandma I happened to never really know. We had our differences. We could go quite some time without even speaking. Now that she is gone, I pray the way she was the last few months. I pray that was God’s way of shining through her to speak to me. A couple of weeks after her passing at the age of 98, I lost my sweet beautiful cousin at age 33. My heart was devastated. Why would God take her so soon? In reflecting over the times we spent, my cousin was living a life full of grace. Her life was so full you could not help but be changed by her presence. Although her life was taken suddenly and what […]

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Dear Dad, I am writing this letter, and I hope it finds you in good health.  That probably sounds strange since we have not talked in many years or perhaps ever. Either way, I wish you only the best today which is different from the way it has been. I have tried to write this letter many times before and never succeeded. However, I do have a few things I would like to share with you, things I think you should know. When you walked away and left me behind, you left more than just a child. You left behind a part of you in me that I have had to live with my entire life, up until now. I doubt I cried tears when you left, at least not over your leaving. Perhaps when the hunger and dirty diapers that kicked in, I likely shed some tears, but they were not for you. I would have to have known you to cry for you, or so I thought. Growing up I got used to being called names like a bastard, I mean you did leave so it was somewhat accurate. Then again are you a bastard when both parents leave? Anyway, I digress, where was I? Oh yeah… As a child, it was uncomfortable never really fitting in. Fights were normal as I always felt alone and out-of-place. Anyone that called be a bas”….” or “son of a b….” , well those were fighting words.  I had parents, but they did not look like me. I had anger […]

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