A Happy Anniversary and Thanksgiving, and “One Man’s Work”
As we sat down to Thanksgiving dinner at Springfield Farm on Thursday, I was filled with gratitude for my family. Ours is non-traditional -- I have a stepmom and two half-siblings; two of my sons have a stepdad and half-brothers. But nothing is done "halfway" in our family. Life has taught us to love what we've been given and we've ceased...
“Remembering One Man’s Work” Part 3
Next month my family will celebrate the 85th birthday of my Dad, Robert Harris Wilson of Albion, Indiana. A couple of years ago, I collected Dad's stories of growing up in a small town and published them as "One Man's Work". In honor of Dad’s birthday, I am sharing chapters and photos from his book every Thursday for the next several weeks....
Five Minute Friday Reflections on “Tree”
Posting today at Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday. Join us by clicking the icon above. Writing for five minutes, non-stop, on the word TREE She stands guard over our ancient brick home. That Copper Beech has furled her skirt to shade a bigger swath of the yard every year, and in this season of shedding, her palm-sized leaves are spreading a...
Remembering “One Man’s Work” Part 2
In mid-December, my Dad. Robert Harris Wilson, will celebrate his 85th birthday. A couple of years ago, I began writing down dad's stories about growing up in a small town during The Great Depression, serving in the military and working in and around Albion, Indiana. He is proud of his home town, and of his service to his country with the...
When Pain Is Your Truth
Posting this afternoon at Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday. Today's word is "truth". Join the conversation by clicking on the button above. TRUTH In my five minutes of pondering truth, I know this: People in pain sometimes turn that pain against someone they love. The truth for a young acquaintance of mine is that on this Friday, she is...
In Celebration of Honorable Men
Today, the world celebrates the 95th birthday of the Reverend Billy Graham. He will be honored at a party attended by an estimated 800 guests in his home town of Asheville, N.C., and the nation will watch a telecast of his evangelistic program "My Hope America". I remember vividly listening to "The Hour of Decision" on the radio in the 1950s...
What To Do With An Empty Nest?
The lyrics from a popular song a few decades back keep running through my head: "Where have you gone my little boy, little boy? Where have you gone my sonny, my own? Turn around you're two, turn around then you're four; Turn around you're a young man going out the door" Today, as I reflect on this "empty nest" season in a guest post at Not...
To Gather Together
Posting today at Five Minute Friday with Lisa-Jo Baker. Have you "got it together?" I know that on some days I don't -- and it looks like this will be one of them. It's 1:30 a.m. and I can't sleep. Too much stuff rolling around in my head despite the melatonin. In my sleeplessness, I work to gather the thoughts, organize the tasks mentally,...
What Children Shouldn’t Know
When There's Violence in Their Home On that afternoon when I sprawled on the floor of my office, painting pictures with two little girls, I thought about what is REAL in their young lives. ....the angry words and slamming doors that wake them in the night ....the bruises on their Mama's face and the sadness in her eyes ....the love they so...
What Is God Calling You To? And Will You Say Yes?
Theologian and philosopher Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously said “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Bonhoeffer was referring to Christ's call to a surrendered life.....to a life given over to following Him. But can't we also know that the call will come while we are on the path....while we follow, head down, feet to the ground,...