I was looking outside a window, down into our chicken coop, which at the moment has no chickens! The chicken coop is covered with wire mesh, and there is a large door that we can easily walk in and out of when we gather the eggs. We haven’t had chickens the last while (maybe in…
Despair: What do you do with it?
I think everyone has had moments of utter despair. Despair is deeper than depression, or so intertwined with depression that the person cannot see past the moment. It isn’t always over circumstances, although circumstances definitely can make a tremendous impact. A lot of it has to do with our state of thinking and our ways…
Don’t Look Left and Don’t Look Right
(This was written July 2015- it is even more relevant now) We are living in troubling times. There is an increasing division between peoples for many reasons. What are we to politically stand for, and what should we not stand for? The amount of contentiousness that is in our country is increasing by leaps and…
Can You Hold the Line?
The Dad and the Son A while back I watched a dad in a confrontation with his son, and I expected to see a full out explosion from the dad. But it didn’t happen. His son was in his early teens and fairly mouthy. As he continued to argue, his dad kept his calm, and his…
Do you feel that you have just had it?
Sometimes we have just had it! We have had it with life, with others, and sometimes even with ourselves. I have met and counseled with many people who walk in the door and this is what comes out of their mouth: “I have just had it! I don’t want to do this anymore, I won’t…
Having patience for others: Can you agree to disagree?
In every relationship, family or community, we will disagree. These disagreements are almost always fraught with danger unless they stay in the light areas of life such as food, movies, etc. That doesn’t always happen. Is it possible to disagree, stay courteous and give the person the same courtesy you would if you were agreeing…
Listen to me! I told you I was sick!
The other day I was looking at some pictures of old headstones when one popped up that said “I told you I was sick.” That was all it said except for a small name at the bottom. At first I laughed. One never sees headstones like that anymore! Then I wondered who buried them and…
Don’t Z It!
I had a counseling session a few years ago with a young lady who showed up in a terrible state. It was her first time in counseling. She could hardly function and looked terrible. She was very down, sobbing, and ready to give up. I asked her what giving up meant to her. She told…
Don’t Give Up!!
The Spirit of Defeatism I was having a discussion with an old friend that I hadn’t seen for years. When I asked her how she was, I saw her pause and then tear up. She told me that it had been a terrible time, for her young nephew had just committed suicide. As I watched her, I…
Take Action!
We are often overwhelmed in our lives; feeling that we can’t get ahead or there is always something happening that we can’t control and that we don’t like! We definitely have times like that, but there is something we can do. First, is take action! A woman, depressed to the point that she would not get up, or…