In just a few days, the world (well, our part of it) will celebrate mothers. Happy Mother’s Day!

Few days on the calendar hold such a mixed bag of emotions like Mother’s Day. Few days on the calendar can trigger the heart of a hurting woman like Mother’s Day. There are also fewer days on the calendar that can bring such joy and delight to a woman’s heart. 

The hospital, for many, is a place of help and healing. However, for others quite the opposite is true. Within the medical community, there is something known as Nosocomial Infections - “nosis” - one who is ill and “comial” - one who tends to the sick. This occurs when a patient becomes ill, sometimes fatally, from instruments of healing such as catheters, ventilators, and surgical lines. What makes them difficult to treat is that they are multi-drug resistant, require quarantine, and can easily spread into the community. It is shocking because it is unexpected and it prompts the question, “Is the hospital a safe place for me to go?”.

Similarly, for many, the church is a sanctuary—a place of solace, community, and spiritual growth. However, for others, it can be a source of profound pain and disillusionment. Quite often this is described as “church hurt”. I would like to reframe or redefine that term to “complicated hurt”.

This month, my baby girl turns 22!

Six months before the birth of our second daughter, my first daughter was born to me. Wait, what? Six months? You’re doing the math and it doesn’t add up. That’s because both of my daughters were born to me through the miracle of adoption. At the age of 39, I became a mom for the first time dispelling the myth that you have to be young (or pregnant!) to be a “new mom”. 

What are the circumstances surrounding you being a “new mom”? Are you young, newly married, and expecting your first baby? Perhaps you are like me, older (I mean, seasoned) and adopting for the first time. Could it be you are fostering or unexpectedly raising your grandkids or others and it all feels new? Whatever the case may be, one thing you all have in common — one thing you all - we all - need today is a word of encouragement.

How we were parented has a direct impact on how we choose to parent. You may commit to never do what your parents did, to emulate everything they did or you find yourself somewhere in between. Wherever you land, what you experienced being parented colors how your children experience you as a parent.

This blog is less about the transmission of helpful information and tips and more of an invitation to stir your thoughts and memories in a way that will hopefully shed light on your present parenting patterns.

So, grab your journal and something to write with.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines contentment as, “the quality or state of being contented”. Okay, what is it to be contented? Again, Miriam-Webster defines contented as, “Feeling or showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, or situation”.

Our current culture has a curious way of pursuing and defining contentment. We are being taught by our culture that contentment in life is the result of satisfying your every desire. If you have the right home, the right job, good relationships, abundant finances, good health, or the perfect body, then you are content. Conversely, we learn that if we are in a hard, difficult season or a season of pain and suffering then we cannot be content. 

I believe it is possible to be content regardless of our marital status, the number of our likes or followers, regardless of our financial status, our GPA, our weight, or whether we are in a cubicle or the C-Suite.

I love uncluttered spaces. Peter Walsh is a professional organizer, yes he is a professional. He comes into your home and de-clutters your life, creating space in short order. It’s quite amazing what he can accomplish really. I’ve never met him but I wish he would visit my home. One thing I’ve learned after 37 years of marriage and two children – it doesn’t matter the size of your home or how many trips you make to Goodwill, there never seems to be enough space.

The same seems to be true with our personal, spiritual space, doesn’t it? It doesn’t matter how old our kids are or how many we have – there never seems to be enough space.

Understand why the fourth Advent candle, symbolizes peace, is essential. We reflect on Gabriel comforting Mary, showing how we can find peace in challenging times, just as she did. Learn how to embrace the calming power of peace during the anticipation of Christmas.

What is Advent?

Advent is simply this: An arrival that has been awaited, especially of something momentous. It is from the Latin, "adventus" which means, coming.

Advent is celebrated in the church during the 4 Sundays preceding Christmas and for those in liturgical churches - it is the beginning of the "liturgical year". (a rhythm of scripture reading and practices)

Traditionally, it is marked by a wreath that holds 5 candles. One candle is lit each of the four Sundays, the 5th on Christmas day. Each candle represents an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.