I was blessed with parents who loved me enough to discipline me when I needed it, and who were good role models for how to live and relate to others. They were loved, appreciated, and honored by the world because they were a blessing to others that knew them. My 98-year-old Mother died this week,…

I’ve had a challenging week of pain and debilitating fatigue, but I managed to get a blog started to post today. They’re worthy thoughts for building relationships, but it’s not where I am right now. As pain kept me from going back to sleep this morning, I realized what I’ve written isn’t right. I’m more…

Once a Christian leader told me he liked being angry. When I questioned if he really meant it, he repeated, “Yes, I like being angry.” He then added, “It makes things happen.” Like anger? Because it makes things happen? Oh, it makes things happen all right, but none of it is good. The results of…

Among Christians, there are three 3 common myths about anger that need to be clarified.  1. All anger is bad. Most of us have been trained that anger is bad. However, all anger is not bad. In the Bible, roughly half the times anger is mentioned, it is in reference to God being angry. If…

When tensions rise in a relationship, the tendency for most of us is to try to make the other side understand. We think if they know what we meant by what we said or why we did what we did, and they understand where we’re coming from, the tension will dissolve. Everything will then be…

In 2001, we moved in with my in-laws for a short time. I was no longer mistress of the kitchen. Instead, I served another, trying to lighten her load as she prepared meals for me. It sounds like a dream vacation, but I found myself increasingly frustrated with the choices of foods and with how…

Life is brighter and more fun when harmony reigns in relationships. However, sometimes misunderstandings or disagreements escalate to conflict and discord. Before you know it, a close friendship can be shattered. The Bible tells us to be peacemakers, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to restore peace. However, there are positive steps you can…

4 Steps to Inner Peace after an Angry Outburst – Part 1 You’ve done it again. Something hit you the wrong way and you blew your top. You said things you wish you could take back. Your emotions flip between hurt, anger, guilt, and regret until they all tangle together. Storm clouds linger. Is there…

If the books and articles written on how to have a long, happy marriage were gathered in one place, they could fill a library. However, if the wisdom in all those words were brought down to the simplest component, it could be summed up in a word. But there are two problems with that word.…

This morning I received a forwarded email with the following anecdote: A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away,…