In the field of sports, during the off-season, a team will often play an exhibition game. The purpose is to demonstrate to spectators the various talents and skills of the team and hopefully be impressive enough to draw in new spectators. In the field of grandparenting, a similar thing happens. Grand-kids put on what seems to the average bystander as an insignificant and often silly exhibition. But, to the grandparent, it's a "grand" display of everything unique and wonderful!  

Full of unexpected twists and turns, and often, just when you get comfortable, something in life changes. Maybe it's a new job, a move, a relationship ending, or a sudden health issue. No matter the circumstance, one thing is certain: shift happens.

In the journey of spiritual growth and character development, the concept of imitating God stands as a central tenet for many Christians. I know it sounds a bit audacious, but believers are urged to imitate God.

The words my high-school guidance counselor spoke to me that day stung! They insulted me and, at the same time, inspired me. Tears burned my eyes while a passion to push back filled my heart. Mr. Hill looked over the top of his glasses and then over the top of the folder containing my subpar grades. The reflective tale was one of four years that my long-time friend ADHD and I had wasted.

The world we live in uses four-letter words, like a fish uses water. Slang expressions are carelessly fluent and overly abundant. To the sensitive, these crass enunciators are offensive. If you are like me, you're always asking, "What is the necessity of this redundant profanity in this context?” We undoubtedly conclude the same answer- "I don't know"!

Her feathered landing was as soft and gentle as a lunar astronaut. Her decision-making was much more conclusive and abrupt! Only ten feet from where I stood, a hungry barn swallow planted her feet, hovered over her options for lunch, turned her head this way and then that, with one sweep of her beak…