My two young grandchildren arrived three days before Christmas to celebrate the holiday at my house. In the dining room, I had set out a decades-old nativity scene, except I left...

As evening approached, my spirit and eyelids drooped as the hurry and blur of holiday preparations took their toll. I had been joyfully anticipating the Christmas Eve candlelight service at my...

After nearly 100 years, the beautiful stained-glass windows in our church needed repair. Plywood panels temporarily fill the empty spaces, and our sanctuary is much dimmer now. We’re not sure how...

Sometimes I ask myself, What will be the last words people hear from me? The last words I heard from my cousin Javier were, “Take care of yourself, dear.” He died...

It was the week before Christmas, and I was pouting. “Bah, humbug, God; I’m estranged from my family so I’ll sit here alone again and make my own dinner. At least...

When I was a child, I would stare up into the sky on Christmas night and wonder if the brightest star I could find was the same one that led the...

Having grown up in an area known for its abundance of stone, I am fascinated by stonework. Traveling throughout the region, one can see houses, churches, walls, and fences made of...

The Bible study I was leading didn’t go well. People were distracted, and their comments were scattered. I couldn’t seem to bring their attention back to the study. As I drove...

At Christmas, a time full of great expectations of joy, death is an unwelcome visitor. Unfortunately, we have no guarantee that death will bypass the holiday season and choose some other,...

Most mornings I walk our dog, Emma, along a country road near our home. Usually, we see some wildlife on our walks — deer, squirrels, and rabbits. These sightings have become...