Her name was “Pistol”, and it was fitting. She lived on a farm with acres to explore, and countless animals to annoy-she earned her name. We fell in love at first sight and she became ours! Riding home, we all threw out names we thought might fit. Because she was an older do, we knew she needed a…… Continue reading A Lesson From Loss
“Read the Bible in 90 days”, they said. “It’s going to be great,” they said. “Just read, don’t try to cross-reference,” they said. And I said, “are they crazy?” No, I said YES! Y’all-in order to read the Bible in 90 days-you have to read 12 pages a day. That seemed easy enough. Ha! Reading…… Continue reading A Beautifully-Rewarding Challenge
When traveling on an airplane with small children, the flight attendant reminds parents to place their own oxygen mask on before helping the children with theirs. They agree, but in reality do they really anticipate a need to follow her instructions? Maybe not. I would listen and agree-when I traveled with my children—but I never…… Continue reading Moving Beyond Martyr
My life is filled with unfinished “projects.” I’ve struggled with a long-standing streak of slothfulness. I blame this awful trait for all the things I’ve desired to finish—things I’ve started with great gusto—but failed to complete. At this very moment-I have potato salad waiting to be finished, a bag of popcorn that has not been finished,…… Continue reading One Completed Task
The question was light-yet poignant. Our speaker, a dear mentor and friend, asked this question as she held up an adorable pair of cow house shoes. She went on to explain that the night before she put them on for the first time. One slipper felt great…but the other, huh. She couldn’t comfortably get her…… Continue reading What’s Stuck In Your Shoe?
rubble: waste or rough fragments of stone, brick, concrete, etc., esp. as the debris from the demolition of buildings. Broken bits and pieces of anything, as that which is demolished. Whether from a natural disaster or an accident, it makes no difference. Owners return to the site of the disaster and search for anything of…… Continue reading Sifting Through the Rubble
My first vivid memory of selfish behavior was in first grade. The classroom was dark-we were supposed to be outside playing. I crept into the room and went straight for my teacher’s desk. There I found the small box containing paper boy and girl cut outs. I quickly shuffled the cut outs around until…… Continue reading Umerited Favor
With great expectation he asked and believed that his mother was listening. When we arrived at his birthday party, he enthusiastically pointed out one package and told me he knew what it was. “How?” I asked him. His response was simple…“Because I showed my mom what I wanted and it was this shape!” His words…… Continue reading Close Enough to Ask
He was a sitting duck. Alone. Separated from the pack, and always at risk of attack. His name was David. I was 8 years old when we first met. We were grade school classmates. I can’t remember all the details of his story, and now in hindsight, I’m not sure I can remember much more than…… Continue reading Motivated by Hurt
The alarm had been set, but what woke me were his panicked words… “Alyssa, it’s 6:00am. You’re late.” I loathe mornings. Really. My body requires extra time to “warm up”, and my enthusiasm hibernates until sometime after 10am. I was scheduled to meet a friend at 6:15 that morning. There was no way I could look presentable, grab…… Continue reading Wake Up Call to Love
Alyssa DeLosSantos 