Woman Telling Story to Two Children in Bed
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Telling Stories

“Tell me a story! Tell me a story!” When I was a little girl visiting my Granny, I often asked her to tell me a story, particularly at night after I climbed into bed. Granny told the best stories, and they were usually silly ones she made up, as opposed to just telling me true…

Thoughts on Alexander Hamilton’s Bio; Can we keep this republic?
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Thoughts on Alexander Hamilton’s Bio; Can we keep this republic?

I’ve been reading the very in-depth biography of Alexander Hamilton that was the inspiration for the hit Broadway musical about his life. It’s been quite the educational read. I’ve learned so much about our nation’s early days, and I’ve also kept a journal of all the words the author used which I had to look…

Ministry of Presence: what I learned sitting with a dying woman, part 2
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Ministry of Presence: what I learned sitting with a dying woman, part 2

In Part 1, I mentioned Job and his three friends who came to sit with him during his time of intense suffering and grief. For seven days and nights, they ministered to him with their presence. But soon, they began to offer Job their opinions on why he was experiencing these tragedies. I imagine that…

Ministry of Presence: what I learned sitting with a dying woman (part 1)
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Ministry of Presence: what I learned sitting with a dying woman (part 1)

Recently I was asked to pray with a nursing home resident who was nearing the end of her life. Other than her name, the only thing that I knew about her before I arrived was that she was in her fifties though she looked like a much older woman, and that she had had a…

R-e-s-p-e-c-t; What does it mean?
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R-e-s-p-e-c-t; What does it mean?

I’m convinced that most people today conflate the concept of manners and respect, and I do not believe that the two are the same. The Oxford online dictionary defines manners as “a person’s outward bearing or way of behaving toward others.” Think of it like saying “please” and “thank you,” “yes ma’am” or “no sir,”…

The Guitar
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The Guitar

My grandfather and his brother Nathan were musicians in a band that toured. Well, actually, it was just the two of them, and by “toured” I mean they played the fiddle and guitar at parties and barn dances. This was rural Kentucky pre-World War II. They wore their best suits and provided the entertainment for…

My Way
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My Way

I had a very proud momma moment last week. I hopped in my daughter’s car for a short ride across town and, as she always does before she puts the car in drive and after she puts on her seatbelt, she turned on her music. Then she said, “This is the song I’ve been listening…

Hot Dogs Instead of Steak
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Hot Dogs Instead of Steak

This Christmas was my second year singing Handel’s Messiah with a large choir and orchestra. If you aren’t familiar with The Messiah, it’s an oratorio (similar to an opera but without the theatrics), written in 1741 by a composer named George Friderik Handel. It tells the story of the coming of Christ through some of…

Being Present
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Being Present

I recently enjoyed a much-needed vacation to Hilton Head Island. I was blessed to spend some time relaxing on the beach and bike-riding on the trails through the pine trees and live oaks. The beach was fairly empty, with only a handful of people setting up their chairs and umbrellas each day. At times it…

What test scores and transcripts won’t tell you and letting God do the talking
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What test scores and transcripts won’t tell you and letting God do the talking

My daughter is in the process of applying to vet schools. It’s a highly competitive field, and though there is currently a national shortage of veterinarians, there are only so many slots in each university’s program. Maybe because I was Riley’s teacher for so many years, I feel extremely responsible for her performance in college,…