In a recent pickleball clinic the coach told us that we if we found ourselves at the kitchen line "banging" with our opponents (meaning, a fast exchange) and losing control of the point, we needed to reset. In all racket sports, this word is important. In tennis, it might mean hitting a defensive lob or... Continue Reading →
BEHOLD!
Here in South Florida many homes have a sliding glass door leading from the interior of the home to a screened-in lanai. The other night, my husband invited me to sit with him in the lanai. Though it was a beautiful evening, I am not the best at being still and quiet. And I could... Continue Reading →
Walking by Faith
My grandson is learning to walk. As he toddles forward, he pauses every few steps to clap for himself. He is also fond of holding a yellow microfiber cloth while walking, as one never knows when the floor might need cleaning. For me, the funniest sight is when he drops the cloth and tries to... Continue Reading →
Loosening my Grip
Given my crippling fear of flying, it is hard to imagine that in my early 30s I actually jumped out of a plane. It was a crisp fall day amid the cornfields of rural Illinois, when my friend, Gina, and I were suited up with a toggle line that would open our parachutes once we... Continue Reading →
Our Inner Emily and How to Live in the Present
My eighth grade English teacher had us read the play, Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Mr. Greco was trying to teach us how to identify the theme, or the author’s message - that which lies beyond the mere retelling of a plot. My thirteen year-old brain, which up to this point had leaned toward Betty... Continue Reading →
The Thing about Grace
Relational conflict and the angst it produces can rob us of peace and devour our time. And for us older folks, there is little time to squander. I love how realistic the Bible is in its admonition to "try to the best of your ability to be at peace with everyone." So, to the extent... Continue Reading →
BIG Surprise!
My 3-year old granddaughter came home from her first day of preschool and announced with great delight, "Mama, BIG Surprise!" She then reached down the neck of her dress and pulled out a family photograph - the same photograph that she had brought to school that morning and was supposed to leave at school, at... Continue Reading →
On Waiting
I'm holding out a treat out for our six-month old puppy who sits with great expectation. (Did you know there are "high stakes treats"? For Lena, it's a morsel of smoked chicken.) But then comes the challenge. "STAAAAY!!" I back away and stare her down while counting slowly. Our goal is five. But Lena loses... Continue Reading →
Held
Natalie Grant has a song called Held which reminds us that even when life is at its lowest, we have the promise of the hand of God holding us up. When I am feeling low, I think of verses that support this message. In Isaiah 41, God declares, "For I am the LORD, your God... Continue Reading →
Foundations
It was October 12, 1964, and we had just moved from Long Island to Jupiter, Florida. I was a fourth grader at Palm Beach Day School, some 45 minutes from our home, struggling to make friends among the self-assured girls with their beachy blond hair (mine being brown and with bangs cut by my mother... Continue Reading →
Adverbs
In his memoir, On Writing, Stephen King expresses an aversion to adverbs. He does so unequivocally (sorry, Mr. King), saying, “F…k adverbs!” I read Mr. King's book as an assignment for a class called Writing for Teachers and sadly the only thing I have retained is this colorful phrase about a certain part of speech... Continue Reading →
Gripped
I was working on my tennis serve. My husband stood on the other side of the court, giving me pointers on how to hit a slice that could be (his word) "unreturn-able". He placed a water bottle in the service box so I could aim toward the receiver's forehand side - short and wide. The... Continue Reading →
Knock, Knock…
My son and daughter-in-law have an endearing way of waking their twins up from a nap or a night's sleep. They gently knock on the bedroom door and pause before entering. Even when the girls were infants, they knocked first, and I half expected one of the babies to announce, "Come in!" It reminds me... Continue Reading →
Martha, Martha, Martha
Do you remember the Brady Bunch episode where Jan complains, "All I hear around here is Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" She can't stand that her perfect older sister gets all the attention. Martha, a close friend of Jesus, is a bit like Jan Brady. She is slaving away in the kitchen, preparing a meal for Jesus... Continue Reading →
Where is God?
Brett and I are trying to reel in our consumption of cable news which has a habit of playing in the background on our kitchen TV. Staying informed is important, but when the dire images leave you distressed and immobile, it's time to make changes. Our TV now plays the Tennis Channel most of the... Continue Reading →
Shadows and Shelters 