When traveling in northern Mexico, I have noticed that during late summer and early fall it is common to see large strings of chili peppers, known as “ristras,” hanging from buildings...

My first sentence as a child was, “I do it myself.” From the earliest years of my life, being fiercely independent has been part of my identity. It is a trait...

When my mother passed away in 1982, I became an orphan and was raised in an environment without honesty or trust. With no firm foundation to rely on as a child,...

I love to watch the birds from my kitchen window. After refilling the feeder one day, I watched as a single bird arrived, grabbed a seed and flew off through the...

When I attended the 50-year reunion for my high school class, it was fun to reconnect with classmates I had not seen in decades. I chatted with two friends whom I...

One morning, I bent over and experienced an excruciating snap in my spine. My back locked up, leaving me in an awkward position, and I screamed in pain. Two weeks of...

As a Christian, I’ve always been intimidated by the concept of sharing out loud the word of God. My introverted personality made me uncomfortable at the thought. However, while browsing for...

When I retired, I moved to the mountains and lived only a few miles from the Appalachian Trail. Each year, thousands set out to hike the entire trail — a months-long...

I made a chocolate cake and served it for teatime, but nobody looked happy. Then I tasted it, and it was bland. My husband took one bite and declared, “You forgot...

As I get older, it seems I am needing to have more medical procedures. Frequency, however, does not diminish my anxiety about the procedures. What does help is remembering to pray...