Stuck: What do you do?

Have you ever been stuck and didn’t know what to do? Stuck in a job, stuck on a project, stuck in an unhealthy relationship? Recently I got an invitation to submit my work for publication in an upcoming book, but it came with a challenge: use only monosyllabic words, with a few exceptions. It took me three tries to produce something acceptable. This poem is my second try. Maybe you can identify with my struggles.

The Star: Bringing together the parts of the nativity story

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.     

—Luke 2:4-7

After viewing the delightful new holiday movie, The Star, with a couple of my grandkids, I decided to incorporate it in my Christmas card and quickly ordered nativity masks.

Like a Pattern: Teaching gratitude to our children

Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

—Deuteronomy 6:7 NLT

The morning air was chilly and the wind howled outside my window, but inside I was cozy, propped up in bed, pillows behind me and a warm quilt thrown over my legs. I sipped hot coffee as I read from Jesus Calling: “A thankful attitude opens windows of heaven. Spiritual blessings fall freely onto you through those openings into eternity. Moreover, as you look up with a grateful heart, you get glimpses of Glory through those windows” (Young 341).

Pausing to ponder those words so fitting on the day before Thanksgiving, I heard footsteps from somewhere else in the house, a sound quite unusual in my home occupied solely by myself. The steps grew louder as they approached my bedroom. The door flew open and my four-year-old granddaughter, Layla, padded to my bed.

Pain in the Chest: What do you do?

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

—Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

I can still feel that pain in the center of my chest every time I cough, sneeze, or pick up my grandbaby—even though the injury occurred well over a month ago.

I was working on establishing a regular exercise routine, which included daily low-impact aerobics. One day when my 4-year-old granddaughter joined me in exercising, I found it difficult to keep from stepping on her and quickly adjusted my footing, twisting my ankle in the process. My podiatrist prescribed an anti-inflammatory and a period of rest—no more aerobics. But upper-body exercise was not off limits.

That’s how I found myself in the kayak on a beautiful afternoon in August. My friend, Michael, joined me, and we rented the boats for an hour—an hour that passed all too quickly. Before we knew it, we had overstayed our limit and had to hurry back to shore. I reached the launch first, then turned around to see Michael way behind. I was worried about getting out of the kayak and putting pressure on my injured foot. Although Michael had assured me he would help, just sitting there waiting on him seemed silly. With both hands, I gripped the sides of the boat and attempted to lift my body. At that moment, something popped in the center of my chest, shooting severe pain straight through me. Tears stung my eyes. I couldn’t move.