POISON Webster’s dictionary defines poison as: “a substance that through its chemical action usually kills, injures, or impairs an organism; something destructive or harmful; an object of aversion or abhorrence.” Rather than inscribing that description on products or substances that can cause these ill effects, most companies will use the skull and crossbones as an…
“Pass the salt, please.” Though most often this phrase is spoken at the dinner table, when the Bible references salt, it is not always describing its edible qualities. Several times in the New Testament, Jesus points out the important role salt plays in our effectiveness as Christians in the world. For example, He calls on…
APPRECIATION They’re two of the most hard-working individuals I’ve ever known, and they are committed to doing each and every job with excellence. Their work leaves them exhausted, but their clients love what they do, so they’re frequently referred to others. They commonly go above and beyond for their clients, often doing more than they’ve been…
REST Nancy Wilson was one of my parents’ favorite vocalists, and as I recount yesterday’s repeated pitfalls, I am reminded of some words from one of her songs, The Saga of Bill Bailey. The beginning went something like this: I floated cornflakes in my coffee;The coffee grounds are wrapped in silk.My piggy bank is full…
Quid Pro Quo (Definition: The giving of one valuable thing for another. Equal substitution. Equal exchange. Tradeoff.) There was a time in my life when someone who did something for another walked away feeling appreciated. Phrases like “I owe you one!”, “How can I ever thank you?”, “I hope someday I can return the favor”…
PATIENCE Warning! What you’re about to read may be hazardous to getting what you want when you want it. Quite honestly, if I were to put my list of wants beside my list of haves, the former would far outweigh the latter. For the longest time, I couldn’t understand why. When I saw others being…
LTM* *Little Things Matter. Last week I was given a project that included mailing 80 one-pound books to individual addresses so they would arrive within a 2-day timeframe. Among several pieces that were integral to the success of this task, was the transporting of several boxes of books. I prepared myself to do a lot…
REFLECTION I remember meeting this guy a couple of years ago when I’d been invited to a casual, spontaneous dinner. He was crude, foul-mouthed, opinionated, and crass. I immediately disliked him. And, I liked him even less when I saw him at another function months later, and he made some off-color joke about me, and…
WORDS “I’m dying for a piece of that chocolate cake!” “I’d give anything for hair like that!” “That drives me crazy!” “I can’t stand…!” “Shut up!” “I’m too fat/too skinny/too short/too tall…” ”You are such an idiot!” “I don’t care.” “I’ll never get out of debt.” “Sorry, but…” “I’m stupid/dumb/ugly…” “You don’t know what you’re…
Perception My siblings and I were so excited because one of us who drew the “lucky” number out of a hat would accompany our father on a hot air balloon ride the next morning in honor of Father’s Day. One of my sisters drew the number and we made plans to meet at the launching…
GUMPTION If we’re honest, we all have that one friend or relative who amazes us for one reason or another. Whether it’s due to their talent, skill, success, etc., we admire and respect them without question. My path has crossed with the few people like that during my journey, but none more than Kai. Kai…
Indecision Should I or shouldn’t I? That proverbial crossroad that meets us from time to time where you can make the right decision, wrong decision, or no decision (and, when you make no decision, you’ve actually made a decision). From the simple to the complex, I’ve encountered that crossroad multiple times and grappled with myself,…
Authenticity Her resolve is mindboggling. When faced with circumstances that would have most of us shrinking, she confronts them with an attitude that speaks – rather, it shouts – “I am an overcomer!” Most would describe her as down-to-earth, solid, resolute. A level-headed, strong-willed woman with a dogged determination that mountains were meant to be…
Jealousy For more than 15 years I have been praying for a new home in the mountains, and to this minute it has yet to come to pass. My desires for a new home have been deterred by a shifting economy, an amazing influx of people with deep pockets moving to my state, ever-climbing home…
Offense Birthdays offer a reason to celebrate. And some birthdays are more significant than others—those we call milestones or the “Big” 4-O, 5-O, etc. Having had both the “Big” 4-O and 5-O, I must admit neither passed with much brouhaha. I don’t recall either being spent on my birth date; in fact, since my three…
Wisdom After investing hundreds of hours in a work-related project outside the office, which had been assigned to me through assimilation, I received a gift certificate from my boss for $50. Though not one to be confrontational or given to angry outbursts, I suffered silently, but nonetheless indignant and insulted, I decided to let my…
It was a fledgling program, one that I was thrust into as the Team Lead at the behest of a family friend after she had contracted me to complete a project.
At one point in my small Bible Study group, cancer was rearing its ugly head in the lives of three of our members. Considering our group consists of seven women, the sheer number attacked by this unforgiving plague was overwhelming and astonishing.
Arriving home after a long day at work, I unlocked the front door and stepped into a pool of standing water. I turned on the light to find my entire entryway, kitchen, and foyer flooded.
He was someone I trusted and looked up to as a friend. We worked together for a little under five years, first as supervisor (him) and employee (me), and later as colleagues on several projects he designed in conjunction with a small business he developed.
ABANDONED I am fortunate to have a sister-in-law who has become one of my closest friends. She is possibly the most upbeat and self-assured person I’ve ever met. Her intelligence, wit, and advice have helped me through many valleys in my life, and I’ve found myself relying on her many times for common-sense approaches to…