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An old proverb states that “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” Mothers everywhere do His work on earth. This divine work includes the demanding but rewarding sacrifices of child rearing. Mothers teach and inspire, comfort and encourage, and even take time out for fun. The role of motherhood is a calling […]
At the neighborhood picnic a toddler finishes eating a chocolate cupcake, and the evidence is all over his hands and face. We step back and make way for him, hoping none of his mess will touch us. Just then his grandmother picks him up, hugs him, and says, “Isn’t he cute?” And we think, “’Tis […]
If all God’s creations could sing, what beautiful music might we hear around the world? Perhaps such beautiful music is already there, and we simply need to listen. Certainly nature gives us music: the melodious warble of the nightingale, the haunting moonlight song of the howling wolf. Leaves rustling in the breeze make soft, whispering […]
Deep within the human heart lies the unquenchable desire to share joy. When we experience joy, it’s incomplete until we’ve rejoiced with another. A toddler runs to show a parent his newfound finger-painting skills. A teenager dashes home with a good test score. We phone loved ones to report a promotion, an engagement, a new […]
One way we can express our love for God is by treating our fellow men with kindness and love. When we love others as our Heavenly Father loves them, we begin to realize our real potential. Think on the divine origin of every human soul. Wordsworth wrote: “Our birth is but a sleep and a […]
Life has purpose. A loving Heavenly Father didn’t send His children to earth without providing a plan for their happiness. We can find the joy and peace that God intended for us if we “pursue the path that leads to it.”1 All too often, however, we’re like the child who can’t find the next number […]
It was an early spring morning. Grieving women made their way to a garden sepulcher. They had prepared spices and ointments to anoint the lifeless body of their Master. But arriving at an empty tomb, they heard angels proclaiming: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.”1 They […]
Many years ago David Grayson wrote, “It is only as we discover a rhythm in life and move to the cadence of it that we grow tranquil.”1 Grayson’s way of finding that rhythm was to move out of the city to a farm. There he worked the soil, contemplated nature, and found the peace he […]
How often do we catch ourselves using the same phrases we heard our parents use as we grew up? “A man’s word is his bond,” “Haste makes waste,” or “If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” We also mirror our parents’ ways—from little mannerisms like whistling as we work, to the habit […]
The world we live in may be compared to a boxing ring. Sometimes we’re at the top of our game. Other times we feel like a featherweight being pummeled by the heavyweight champion of the world. What if, during our most painful bouts, a friend could stand in and take the punches for us? The […]
A man walked sadly along with his hands in his pockets and his eyes to the ground. He had no work, no food, and little hope. He thought he might find a coin or some small valuable lying on the ground, and so he walked on with eyes cast down. He passed a factory with […]
In today’s busy world, few of us can manage without a daily list of things we can do. Our agenda reminds us to “mail the bills,” or “buy dog food,” to make medical appointments, attend meetings, or remember birthdays. We carefully plan to meet our responsibilities, from putting out the garbage to paying our taxes. […]
Most of us want to know that our life matters—that we’re doing something worthwhile, that we’re not just existing. Across time immemorial, this quest for significance has inspired us to live better lives. Harold Kushner wisely notes that most people aren’t afraid of dying; they’re afraid of not having lived—not having found purpose or meaning […]
Throughout the world’s many countries and cultures, love is the human family’s universal language of understanding. When love’s bright flame burns within us, it warms our hearts and illuminates pathways to a better world. Because God has woven the tapestry of humanity with threads of many different colors and lengths, one of life’s most important […]
There are times when we sense God’s presence in our lives, and there are the difficult times, when wemay feel completely abandoned by Him. How do we find faith to make it through the difficult times? In the burning deserts of Sinai, where food and water were scarce, the Children of Israel felt abandoned by […]
The scriptures tell us that because the Lord suffered, He’s able to comfort us when we are suffering.1 He knows our pain and sorrow because He experienced and overcame pain and sorrow Himself. He loves us, and He can soothe our suffering.2 In the Old Testament one of the words translated as hope literally means […]
At times our world is a world of sorrow, of war, of fear, and of grief for those we have lost. Each new year comes upon us cautiously as we step most carefully into the unknown future. Yet, amidst the swirling eddies of tragedy, is it possible to find peace and joy? Peace is far […]
Life can be dangerous. Sometimes darkness or clouds obscure our view and threaten our safety. It takes great faith to get through unharmed. In 1929 American military hero Jimmy Doolittle made a daring flight that changed the course of aviation. He strapped himself into a plane, took off, and then landed in the same spot […]
Sometimes things happen that just make our day. Such was a time when a seven-year-old boy sat down to breakfast with his family. His grandparents had come for a visit. His mother had made his favorite breakfast—biscuits and gravy. As he sat at the table between Grandma and Grandpa, he couldn’t contain his delight. “I […]
One of the marvelous qualities of being human is the ability to speak. Human speech has such power that a single inspiring voice can influence the minds of multitudes. The scriptures inform us there is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”1 One appropriate time to speak might be when we’re struggling […]
This is the season for bells to ring the joyous sounds of Christmas. But bells are more than just a sound of Christmas. We sing about bells and deck our streets and homes with real bells, with pictures and lighted representations of bells. People around the world tell stories of how all the bells on […]
The Christmas story teaches much about recognizing true greatness. Who would think to look in a manger, among animals and straw, for the newborn King? The humble shepherds would find Him there. The wise men would follow His star and come to worship Him. But who of Jesus’ own household would herald His birth? After […]
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of […]
Near the end of each year comes a wonderful feeling that is almost universal. It’s a feeling that fills the air like the sound of a beautifully sung hymn. It brings people together in joyful celebration. We call it the Christmas spirit. Much has been said over the years about the true spirit of Christmas—what […]
In trying times there’s no more reassuring feeling than to know that God is in control and that His love for us is real. God’s love can provide the hope and encouragement we need to face our challenges and move forward with our lives. God’s love for us is not diminished by the evil actions […]
Thanksgiving is a coupling of two universal principles: thanks and giving. When the two work together, lives are changed for the better. The Apostle Paul said: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.”1 Giving thanks is an expression of a heart full of gratitude, a heart full of love. The Lord, […]
We often speak of a young person’s life as “full of promise”—marriage and children, friendships, productive work, contributions to church and community—a rich harvest. When a young life ends on the battlefield, the harvest is cut tragically short. But a moment’s reflection reveals a bigger picture. Those who fall in the cause of justice, secure […]
It’s not uncommon to find people trying to avoid unpleasant responsibilities. But heroes of everyday life don’t evade responsibilities. They keep striving in small, seemingly unimportant actions. Simple responsibilities are the hardest, most important work we do. There are a few extraordinary moments along the way. But most of life is not spent on emotionally […]
For many, the most difficult commandment of God is that we love our enemies. Hating our enemies comes naturally to us. When we’ve been hurt or when our families have been attacked, it’s easy to respond with hatred and fear—often expressed in a desire for retribution and revenge. But the words of Jesus are clear: […]
It’s easy to be thankful for spring sunshine, the laughter of children, fields of colorful flowers, and rain. However, we often fail to think past the obvious. We get caught up in busy lives, feel overwhelmed by negative events, and forget how much there is in life to be grateful for. If someone gave us […]