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A wise man who spent many years traveling the world serving others said in his ninth decade of life: “Over the course of my years, I have met thousands of people. I have dined with the prosperous as well as the poverty-stricken. I have conversed with the mighty and with the meek. I have walked […]
We become our best and truest selves by helping others. Indeed, a good yardstick for measuring success is how our life influences other people for the better. Clayton Christensen, an author and Harvard business professor, has had remarkable professional successes, along with some serious health challenges. After all he has experienced, he has concluded: “The metric […]
Some problems are more obvious than others. When someone is clearly struggling, we are usually quite empathetic. We see them limp through life, and most of us readily help in any way we can. We may even make great personal sacrifices to ease their burdens. Other times, however, the afflictions people endure might be completely […]
Sitting at her window on a rather cold and dark winter day, a young woman began to feel very alone and discouraged. It seemed no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t keep up with the demands of life. The children always needed more of her attention, finances were tight, she felt like she […]
We live in difficult times. Trouble seems to visit every door. Some rally to the challenges placed before them; others struggle. These neighbors, friends, associates at work, family members, and acquaintances desperately need an outstretched arm, a kind word or gesture, a generous opportunity, or another chance. Are we willing to reach out to them, […]
Some people seem to have life firmly in their grasp, everything under control, and all things positive before them. But more often than not, it’s not the full story. Everyone struggles a bit at times, and we all know what it feels like to worry. But worrying is not all bad if it grows into […]
A young college student now living far from her family cherishes the memory of home. In good times and in bad, in times of gladness and in loneliness, the fire of a happy home burns in her heart. Now that she’s away, she can see more clearly and feel more deeply the love of home […]
Former British prime minister Tony Blair remembers very clearly the day his faith became personal. When he was 10 years old, his father suffered a severe stroke and was rushed to the hospital. Uncertain if his father would live, he went to school fearful of the future. His teacher, noticing his young student’s anxiety, suggested […]
Few things are more beautiful than a couple in love. Whether newly married or celebrating a golden anniversary, couples who keep love alive, who endure the ups and downs of life together, deserve our admiration. We may consider them lucky, but they will tell you that it’s not luck that keeps them in love. It’s […]
Have you ever noticed how innately curious children are? Just spend a little time with them, and they’ll ask you questions about anything and everything. How does electricity work? Why is the sky blue? How can airplanes fly? Why does it get dark at night? And a hundred other questions. Then, as we grow older, […]
As each new year begins, many of us think about exercising more and eating less, budgeting wisely and getting out of debt, or taking on a host of other challenges. But how many of our well-intended plans really become permanent changes in our lives? Because such change takes more than an impulse, more than mere […]
Great and talented people often struggle with disappointments and self-doubt. Though surprising, perhaps it’s no coincidence, for those very hardships help to inspire and shape their talent. This was the case for world-famous artist Carl Bloch. Considering his rich legacy and the acclaim that followed him throughout his career, one might think he was confident […]
Very often what we want most may not be what is best for us in the long run. In fact, sometimes our greatest growth and happiness come when we don’t get what we want. We’ve all experienced this. Because a young man did not achieve his dream of playing high school basketball, he turned to […]
Anytime is a good time to think about the purpose of our life, to assess where we are and where we’re going. But we definitely seem to do more of that at the beginning of a new year, as we make resolutions or set goals to do things differently. In the process, we might consider […]
Not long ago, a middle-aged woman walked the halls of her old high school. How different and small it seemed now. Memories happy and sad flooded back as she considered the brief moment that those high school years were. Along with some nostalgia, she felt a little regret. She imagined how she might do things […]
Christmas is a season like none other, and central to its celebrations is gathering. From near and far, down the street and around the world, we gather as family, friends, and neighbors to sing and to make memories, to share love and gifts, to warm ourselves in the sweet glow of the season. It’s as […]
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 […]
During this season we celebrate "peace on earth,” yet some of us find it the most busy and stressful time of the year. We worry about decorations and decking the halls, gifts and gatherings—and the many other things we feel we need to do. And, very often, amid all the hustle and bustle, we have a quiet sense that we want to make our celebrations a little different, a little more meaningful than they have been in the past.
At this festive time of year, we go to great lengths to assure that we have a happy holiday. Family traditions take on special meaning as we prepare favorite foods, light candles, hang ornaments on the Christmas tree, and sing the carols of the season. We do all this because we want to have a […]
As any child will tell you, the holidays are a time of eager expectation. Looking forward with hope has defined Christmas for many generations. Indeed, the anticipation of coming events is one of the season’s great joys. Who has not felt the thrill of opening a flap on an advent calendar, breaking a link in […]
In the lunchroom of a busy workplace, groups of employees were eating and visiting with one another at a dozen different tables. Suddenly one man stood, panic in his eyes. He was choking and couldn’t call for help. As he began turning blue, alarm spread through the crowd. But for several agonizing moments, no one […]
In the early morning hours of November 11, 1918, representatives of the Allied nations met in a railroad car near Compiègne, France, to sign an armistice ending what was being called the Great War. Meanwhile, somewhere in the trenches in France, shellings and bombings were proceeding as they had for the past four years. In […]
According to a traditional story, when English statesman Oliver Cromwell first saw his portrait, he insisted that it be repainted. His objection was that the painting portrayed him with a clear and flawless complexion. “Where are the warts?” he asked. The custom at the time was for portrait artists to idealize their subjects. Cromwell, however, […]
We live in a competitive world where everyone experiences something of winning and losing. Who has never tasted both sweet victories and bitter defeats? We’ve all had our moments. We tend to pay more attention to the winners, but how we respond to the disappointments and the successes says much of our character. Graceful winning […]
What does it take to jump into something new and come out triumphant? Why do some embark into uncharted territory with ease while others flounder? An answer may be found in studying the expedition of Lewis and Clark, who two centuries ago, with their Shoshone guide Sacajawea and 32 hearty men, set out to chart […]
It’s been said that “harboring resentment is like taking poison and then waiting for the other person to die.” Keeping a mental list of those who have offended or hurt us serves no good purpose. When we allow ourselves to be resentful, we only harm ourselves. A middle-aged man learned this much too late in […]
In these troubled times, it’s reassuring to know that God is in His heaven, watching over His children. This promise is perhaps best expressed in the Psalms: “He that keepeth thee . . . shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper.” The Good Shepherd is vigilant by day and by night. When […]
In these troubled times, it’s reassuring to know that God is in His heaven, watching over His children. This promise is perhaps best expressed in the Psalms: “He that keepeth thee . . . shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper.” The Good Shepherd is vigilant by day and by night. When […]
Noise seems to be a constant part of modern life. Everywhere we go, for much of the day, we hear clatter and clamor, jangle and din. Though there are times when we long for peace and quiet, for many noise has become a habit. Perhaps we enter an empty room and turn on the radio […]
Three mothers were sitting together at a school ballgame. Two of them were gushing about their children’s talents and latest achievements. One’s son had just won an athletic scholarship, and another’s daughter had just been chosen as valedictorian. The third mother’s son had no such accomplishments, but she seemed unruffled, even happy about the success […]