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Remembering Brendan (3/24/1990-3/12/2011)
He was a preteen when we met; daring and feisty with a true dislike for being told what to do. As challenging as he may have been in those years I was married to his father, there was an endearing soft side that emerged when others were in need or he was helping with his littlest sister. I can still remember his smile, the way he could do almost anything he set his mind to, and how excited he was to get his driver’s license on his sixteenth birthday. He was generally messy, enjoyed junk food far more than any person should and would argue about the silliest things, yet…
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The Truth About Loneliness
One of the loneliest times recorded in all of human history is the day Jesus was put to death on a Roman cross at Calvary. “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” He cried, as darkness enveloped him, just before he gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:46-50). Often we think of loneliness as something we experience only when we are alone, yet not everyone who is alone, feels lonely, and to the contrary, we may be surrounded by family and friends, yet at times still feel very isolated. The gospels record numerous times Jesus separated himself from others and went off alone to pray, yet there is no…
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The Way of Progressive Parenting
I’ve been mulling this piece over in my mind for months, but couldn’t quite get to the root of what was troubling me. It’s not that I’m so closed-minded to new ideas that I can’t accept anything beyond what I’ve always known. To the contrary, it has been through this openness that God has rid me of many selfish behaviors and reformed my mind to his truth. It is also through his provision that I finally gained clarity into what has been disturbing me in the newer philosophies on parenting, which are probably not so much newer, just more pervasive. We live in a culture where many believe the old…
