Be Gentle

By Michelle (Graceful, Faith in the Everyday)

I stop short in the driveway and stand staring. It all looks so normal, so everyday, I think to myself, observing the potted impatiens she planted in front of the garage, the Windexed windows, the kitchen light glowing inside. Who would know what goes on behind that front door, between those brick walls? Who would guess there is grieving and sickness, tears and joy mingled bittersweet?

I watch the grandkids play tag, climb the river birch tree. They yell and laugh, scream and fall in piles on the grass.

A neighbor drives by, slows, points to my husband’s uncle’s car – a 50s Chevrolet convertible parked in the driveway – gives me a thumb’s up. He approves of the car. But he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know that I don’t care a bit about that car, about its funky tail fins and genuine red leather interior. He doesn’t know that I don’t even see it.

This neighbor can’t see the real story, of course. All he sees are grandkids leaping on the lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs, the classic car, a beautiful house bricked shut.

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Life's Highway

By Pat

When you travel life's highway, what kind of driver are you?

Do you curse when someone cuts in front of you? Remember-we all need leaders, so don't be afraid to take a step back and allow someone else to go ahead of you.

Does it frustrate you to get behind a slow-moving vehicle? Perhaps you should welcome the opportunity to slow down a bit and not fly through life at such a breakneck speed, forgetting to enjoy the scenery God has placed in your path.

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One Word At A Time: Patience

By MAD21

Oooohhh, patience. One of those words that qualifies as a "four letter word" because it implies that it's bad or something no one can attain.

I've always admired people who were able to stay level-headed in stressful situations. As a parent I struggle with being patient with my kids more than I expected I would. I've worked with kids most of my life and never really had a problem with taking my time to help them along. Which is saying a lot since most of the time I end up working or playing with the ones who tend to be more of a challenge.

I get really frustrated at myself sometimes. Honestly, I wonder at times if I used up all of my patience with kids from working so much with them before I had my own. But then I remember the words I often heard when telling a parent how much fun we'd had with their kids. "You just wait until you have your own. Then you will truly appreciate what it means to have someone else take care of your kids for awhile."

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