In this world you will have tribulation…                                                         John 16:33


Good Morning dear one,
                        When we hear the above scripture about tribulation, what usually comes to mind are catastrophic events such as the death of a loved one, a diagnosis of terminal cancer, a broken marriage, or a wayward child.  But with Thanksgiving approaching let me be clear, this holiday can be a form of tribulation. Not all families represented at the holiday table look like the Rockwell portrayal on the cover of Saturday Evening Post, and too often, we assume they act as perfectly as they look.   I want to give you some blessed good news.  Your dysfunctional family is normal.    To be clear, we all want to believe this year will be different.  That the family will all get along.  That Aunt Suzie will not have one too many glasses of wine.  That past grievances will not be aired at the dinner table.  That sibling rivalry will not rear its ugly head.  And that Uncle Bob will refrain from telling dirty jokes and using profane language. 
          Let me give you some unsolicited advice.  Lower your expectations to a realistic level.  We are all fallible humans coming together around a dinner table in a pressure cooker environment with someone needing to blow off steam in whatever way appropriate or otherwise.  Cut your family some slack.  Be the grown-up in the room.  Float above the turmoil.  You don’t have to attend every fight you are invited to.  Get a new attitude; one of gratitude.  Be grateful for each person attending. We are often so ready to fault-find.  Instead, find a quality that you can admire and tell them.  Be the loving Christian who accepts and forgives others.  Love as Christ has loved you.  And enjoy the turkey.    Happy Thanksgiving,
                                                                                      Linda

I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself.  Jeremiah 31:3

Hello Dear One,
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        You and I are at the beginning of a brand, new week.  I love that.  Clean slate.  Fresh start.  Maybe over the weekend you were grouchy. Maybe you didn’t stick to your diet.   Maybe you fell off the wagon.  Maybe you were hurtful to a family member or friend.  I get it.  I didn’t feel terrific this weekend and was not my usual cheerful self.  And, I’m sure I hurt some feeling.  But here’s the good news.  Making mistakes does not make us unlovable; it makes us human.
        Let’s, you and I, cut ourselves some slack.  God never expected that you and I would be perfect.  No need of a Savior if you and I never sinned.  In fact, God sent his Son because he loved us “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8).  So today, let us not beat ourselves up for not being perfect.  We are a work in progress.  Make amends when necessary and move on.  Part of authentic joy is believing that we are enough, just as we are.  Try saying it aloud, “I am enough.”  Breathe in deeply and believe it.  Right at this very moment with all my ridiculous quirks and foibles, I am loveable.  And so are you.  Be kind to yourself this week.  God loves you right now in this very moment.  Being human is ok.  We can learn from our mistakes and move on.  Receive God’s gift of unconditional love.                                     
          You are special and wonderful, believe it!                                                                                      Linda

​Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.                                                                                                Galatians 6:4
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Hello friend,
Happy Monday! 
This week I want to take a load of stress off your shoulders.  Don’t you want to be light and free.  Free to be you.  Then, let me share a little secret with you.  You have to, absolutely must, let others be free—to make their own decisions.  To live their own life.  Your interfering is making you and them miserable, and if you are honest, not changing their mind and heart to your way of thinking.  Oh, I understand you think you know what’s best for them.  And, you may be right.  It would be better if they listened to your sage advice.  If they would quit drinking.  If they would change jobs.  If they would just leave their abusive relationship and start some counseling and self-care.  But no matter how much you manipulate, cajole, brow-beat, each must live their own life.
So, what do you and I do in the meantime while we wait for our loved one to get help?  We can pray!   We can ask God to help us focus our attention on things that are actually under our own control. We can work on our own issues.    We can serve others. We can work for causes that need our attention.  And when the time is right, we can walk beside our loved one on their road to recovery.
                                                          Enjoy your journey, Linda