Safety

Ocean rescue – with a psalm at the helm

Late one night I received a call from my dad. He said that my brother had phoned him and was in trouble. He was out in the ocean in a

The second wife

The large church in Paris didn’t seem like the venue for a personal connection. There were hundreds of us there but I felt the heat of an imaginary spotlight pointed

The most valuable thing I could give

It was one of those days. I couldn’t get traction on my best laid plans. I’d spent the morning thinking about “charity.” I wanted to feel the deep drawn breath

My best Christmas gift–ever!

Years ago my husband left me at the beginning of November. Being left was sad enough, but when I realized I was going to have to go through all the

Surviving family get-togethers

Christmas was coming, the family was getting together, and I’d promised myself that this year would be different. I was determined to be cheerful and loving with my mother-in-law, who

For love of family

One of my favorite family memories is of my dad gathering all his children on his lap. Our family was a large one, and sometimes a child would slip off,

Saying grace

That Thanksgiving, my cousin confronted my grandmother in the kitchen and told her she was going to hell. Happy Thanksgiving, I thought—while he stood there, smug and holy. I definitely

All on your own

Dear Jean, You’re lying here in your dorm room, wondering what the future holds. You’re aware that your roommates’ parents, like the parents of other freshmen, are supportive of their