For my entire life, I have had a prayer habit. For my entire life, I have also been afraid of God. Not the fear full of awe. The distrustful fear of a person who has been hurt.
The God I was introduced to was never satisfied with me just the way I was. I assumed if I prayed for guidance, that when God answered, it would be with a demand for change on my part. Never mind that when I’ve actually asked for and received guidance, the most clear and meaningful messages I got were those of reassurance and acceptance.
It’s that time of year again. Tomorrow is the first day of Black History Month. Here are four books to read to your kids. Don’t be afraid to take your time with these, and to sit with discomfort as you answer your kids’ questions.
When you think about sorting your belongings before your death to ease the burden on those who come after you…
Does it make you feel uncomfortable? Or do you think, hmm, that’s a good idea? Or are you like those people who are finish Christmas shopping by November and you’re thinking, I’ve already done that?
I read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson because I’m curious about the concept. I felt that having the death cleaning framework in my mind might inform the way I keep house right now.
It’s been a while since I read a book I couldn’t put down. It’s been some time since I shared any of my reading here. Depression can dim the light of brilliant books, and dampen enthusiasm for sharing them. That is still a problem. But this book cut through.
Last year, I shared a book at this time of year that fit perfectly with the moody, cool, often damp world that is November. This year, coincidentally, I have another book that fits that category. It’s spooky season, but this book is more in the haunting category.
What makes this one special is that both of my daughters have been telling me to read it for quite some time. This is of note, because they rarely like the same books. When I finally started reading it, I finished in less than two days because I couldn’t stop.
