A Lancaster County Christmas

Poor communication doesn't disconnet souls. It's the disconnected souls who poorly communicate.

But love is so much more than words.

It can be hard to say important things to the person in our life who matters the most.

Better to stop one paddle short than one too far.

I love a man with dishpan hands!

but I believe that pain can be the most important tool in a person’s life. It forces a person to pay attention to something that needs to be changed.

I know I’m old school, but I believe that pain can be the most important tool in a person’s life. It forces a person to pay attention to something that needs to be changed. I worry that drugs like sleeping pills mask pain just enough that the real root of the problem gets buried, deeper and deeper. A problem—even something like grief—just doesn’t go away until it’s dealt with.

The days available to say a kind word to someone this year are rapidly drawing to a close. Lord God, teach us to be kind.

love—it isn’t going to come true. Not today, maybe not ever. Sometimes, we want more from people than they can give us. They simply don’t have it to give.

God never promised us a life without pain or suffering, Jaime. He’s promised to never leave us in the midst of that pain. He promised to bring purpose out of that pain. Emmanuel, God is with us. That was the name given to Jesus. Emmanuel.