Inspiration/Encouragement Category
You make me SO mad!
Posted on July 12, 2012 2 Comments
“You make me SO mad!” she screamed at me through crocodile tears, then she turned on her heels and stomped off. My six-year-old’s words hit a nerve with me. Exasperated by her finger-pointing, I followed her and gently– through gritted teeth– reminded her that it was her actions that had brought down her undesired consequences. […]
Focus on the Path, Not the Problem
Posted on July 7, 2012 1 Comment
I remember seeing the images of Ground Zero in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and thinking, There’s no way that they will ever be able to clean that up. It’s too overwhelming, too big, too painful. Where would they even start? Of course, the answer is quite simple… they had to start in the […]
Gratefulnesss….and Prayers
Posted on July 4, 2012 4 Comments
Today, on Independence Day, I find so much to be thankful for… Last night, I went to sleep in peace, feeling great confidence that I would not be snatched from my bed by a secret police force and that I wouldn’t be awakened by mortar fire or explosions in my neighborhood. Thank you to our […]
Who’s in control here, anyway?
Posted on July 1, 2012 5 Comments
Some of you have probably heard this story (or a version of it) — I first heard it at a twelve-step recovery meeting, but its lesson is so important, it bears repeating: Jimmy was a young caterpillar who lived in a beautiful, lush garden. One day, a caterpillar friend visited from another garden. “Jimmy!” the […]
When You Weren’t “Parent of the Year”
Posted on June 25, 2012 6 Comments
An old man walked through the park near his house each evening. While the park was beautiful, his truly favorite part of walking there was the chance to meet other people along the way. One particular evening, as the sun began to set, he saw a sad young woman in her early 30’s sitting on a park […]
Put on the Right Pair of Glasses (Attitude Matters)
Posted on June 23, 2012 5 Comments
Before I had Lasik surgery on my eyes five or six years ago, I was blind as a bat. I couldn’t even recognize the facial features of a person standing 10 feet from me. So… for 30-plus years, I had to wake up every morning and put on a pair of glasses in order to function […]
Don’t Settle for the Puddle!
Posted on June 20, 2012 8 Comments
When I am in the middle of difficult circumstances, I want to take the easy path. I want the quick fix, the easy answer, the one-minute cure. I don’t want to work hard — not when I’m hurting so much. And yet, aren’t the greatest rewards in life often behind the highest mountain? When my husband was in […]
Once a soldier, always a soldier
Posted on June 19, 2012 3 Comments
There’s something everyone should know about soldiers — they never stop being a soldier, even long after the uniform is retired. I wish I had known that before I married my husband. Not that it would have kept me from marrying him….a nuclear bomb couldn’t have stopped me back then. But at least I would […]
Sharlene Prinsen 