Life's stories connect lives
“The themes of the short story “Marigolds” by Eugenia Collier include poverty, maturity and the relationship between innocence and compassion. These themes are realized through the main character, Lizabeth, and her relationship with an old woman, Ms. Lottie. The story is set in rural Maryland during the Great Depression” (“Marigolds”).
Mostly though, the story is about hope and the nerve of Ms. Lottie to hope in the midst of so much hopelessness. [Read more…]
“So I’ll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down…”
Margaret, a sweet, tiny lady in her mid-nineties, bears no hint today of the athlete she once was. [Read more…]
Little white clapboard churches with belfries and steeples conjure images of white gloves, hats, and sixties Sunday-go-to-meeting dresses. Movies like to play the old hymn “Bringing in the Sheaves” sung by shrill sopranos slightly off key to depict backward congregations out of touch with modern life.
I think they’re on to something. [Read more…]
“Help! I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up.” The staged commercials always make me chuckle, but one day, I might actually fall, and I might not be able to get up. Something tells me I won’t be laughing then. [Read more…]
Some of us have a knack for learning from other’s mistakes, while others have to learn through our own. Maturity says we learn from the examples of others and save ourselves the headache.
Our little guy shocked us when he was in second grade with an example none of us could soon forget. The blunder took his father with us to a home school class out of town–a full day off work–to confess a lie he told when caught up in the moment. A visiting meteorologist in science class sparked a one-upping moment from the eager little learners, and my boy could not be outdone, so he shared with tears in his eyes a completely imaginary account of losing his baby sister in a tornado. Facing that lie took help, and a father who loved him made the perfect partner. [Read more…]