The Burly Bully at Target

by | Faith | 8 comments

“Get out of my way!” the burly bully shouted, while shoving his young son into the end-cap at Target. I paused to pay the clerk until I was certain he’d caught a glimpse of the righteous anger welling up within me. He had been seen and I wanted him to know it.

The little boy regained his balance and cowered behind his mother, who looked to be as terrified as he was, if not more. If this man abuses his family in public what must he do behind closed doors?

Pushing my buggy back into place, a woman approached me. “I know exactly how you feel.” Her head lowered as she sauntered slowly back to her mini-van.

Should I call the police? Did I even have the right to do so? I didn’t know, but this brief encounter with domestic abuse jolted the rosy-colored glasses clean off my head.

The incident was very unfortunate, but no coincidence. The terrified woman now has at least one person standing in the gap for her.

Will you join me in praying for this family? I sense it may be an expansive gap in need of prayer warriors—especially on behalf of the burly bully.

Jesus looked at them and said,
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26

Perfectionism Stifled by a Cheap Spiral Notebook

by | Faith | 7 comments



Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones is a new favorite. I slurped it down quicker than the cream-laden coffee nearby.

Simple advice, yes. But who knew a cheap spiral notebook would set me free?

“Think, too, about your notebook. It is important. This is your equipment, like hammer and nails to a carpenter. Sometimes people buy expensive hardcover journals. They are bulky and heavy, and because they are fancy, you are compelled to write something good. Instead you should feel that you have permission to write the worst junk in the world and it would be okay. Give yourself a lot of space in which to explore writing. A cheap spiral notebook lets you feel that you can fill it quickly and afford another.”

Bound pages, devoid of ink, line my bookshelves anticipating “just the right words” to one day be written upon them. How had I missed such an obvious sign of perfectionistic emptiness? So freeing was this revelation that I immediately hopped in my car and headed to Target for…you guessed it, cheap spiral notebooks.

A different color notebook for each genre now awaits my writing time each day. It’s amazing how one simple change can be so freeing.

Perfectionism, whether it be in the sphere of writing, organization, appearance, or a particular skill can stifle God’s best for us. A cheap spiral notebook may not be everyone’s answer to stifling perfectionism, but pinpointing our area of vulnerability is the first step in making that one change that may just set us free.

My Friday Fave

by | Faith | 1 comment

My giddy love of gadgets gets the best of me today:

The Pocket Pie Press ($4.99, Target) My favorite part of the pocket press? Once they’re filled with refrigerated dough and your favorite fresh fruit, they pop in the oven—not in the deep fryer.

Kiddie Kitchen Gadgets ($3.99, Target) Okay, so Piper (granddaughter due in November) isn’t quite ready for baking, but I’m prepared! I think she’ll love rolling dough with Mr. Alligator and whisking eggs with Mrs. Giraffe on our time-worn enamel table. My fire-engine red Kitchen-Aid mixer is already humming in preparation for Piper time in the kitchen.

Is there a kitchen gadget that makes you giddy on this Friday Fave morning?

My Friday Faves

by | Faith | 3 comments

It’s plural today—and for good reason.

Both Brian and my favorite organizational guru friend will be proud of me as I get back on track with organizing my house.

Okay, some would argue that I’ve never seen, heard, or even know what that track looks like, but the point is: I’m not giving up!

Sage Cohen’s The Productive Writer (a must have for every writer!) + Target’s new filing system + my renewed desire to organize my house, time, and energy = Friday’s faves for sure.

Pin It on Pinterest