Sitting at the dining room table for my bio photo

You Need a Mercy Muscle For Forgiveness

I thought I was a merciful person and a good forgiver, but I’m not. There are people in my family that I’m not truly forgiving because I have a weak mercy muscle. I use it selectively when it should be a reflex. If you’ve got a good mercy muscle, you forgive people with empathy, compassion
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Writing Your Life Plan In Reverse

My Aunt Maureen died last month. We were planning on her living another year. The year turned into a week. I wrote her obituary asap and a eulogy with the same speed. When it was all over, I decided that obituaries and eulogies should be considered before someone dies. It sounds callous, but there is
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basement entrance to a house

In a Youthful Register

It was my day to deliver Meals on Wheels. It’s a small way to give thanks to the senior citizens of the world, especially when you only do it once a month and pick a short route. I was checking my addresses to see how many I had left. I get bored with the task
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wrapped in daisies

A Path To Healing Through Grace

We had such sad news this week. My son Matthew’s friend Jason died, a young man we remember best as a sweet and shy seventh grader. To put a positive spin on this would be a crime. He was a boy who struggled, and that is all there is to say. Remarkably, I found a
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Ceramic Artist Beth Bolgla

Artist Beth Bolgla Has A Wonderful Vision for Living

Beth Bolgla has a unique and wonderful vision for living. She’s present, clear-eyed, and curious, with the kind of positive attitude that seems both innate and thoughtfully considered. She’s is also optimistic about things that most people aren’t. Beth visited our home a few years ago to discuss featuring her ceramics at Catherine’s Table, my
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Grandpa Lou, the Optimist

An Optimist Who Lived With Intention

My father-in-law Lou died one year ago. His daughter Barbara and I sat with him for the last bit life and the final blessing. A year later Lou’s gifts of unquestioning optimism and confidence seem more remarkable than ever. All his accomplishments began with a foundation of consistent hard work, but they were realized because
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