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Promises You Should Definitely Break
I believe that it is a common phenomenon among parents that if they seem to agree to something, a child will take that as a definite promise. That child will then move heaven and earth in order to hold his or her parent’s feet to the fire regarding the so-called promises. But promises are a serious matter, of more weight than a child’s willfulness. Promises are sacred, after all, which is why we make them publicly very infrequently. Making promises to oneself seems like a good thing. After all, each of us fights the battle of daily discipline. And on the occasion that we fail to live up to our…
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Release from Regret: Recapture your Hope
There is no regret in the kingdom of God, but that doesn’t mean we don’t struggle mightily with it. I imagine David after the prophet, Nathan, informs him that his son from Bathsheba will die because of his sins of murder and adultery. His chief regret, I assume, is that the consequences of his actions have affected more than just himself. I cannot imagine David’s horror as he watches his son die, knowing that his sin caused it. But after the child passes, David leaves his grief and goes to resume his duties on behalf of Israel. To the heart of some, this may seem callous, but David’s own words…
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Three Questions That Lead to Self Forgiveness
After a decade of no contact, my sixteen year old daughter lived with her father for about six months. While I didn’t sleep a full night during that time, she seemed happy for the first three. After that, things began to go south rather quickly, and soon, she came home, to both of our relief. One day soon after, while we were at the grocery store, she mentioned that her whole life she had assumed that our divorce was her fault. She had never mentioned this to me, the idea that somehow my divorce from an abuser could be laid at her feet. But before I could begin my strenuous objections…
Healing Through Art & Words
