Our Soul

The soul has been deemed integral or essential to consciousness and personality, and may be synonymous with spirit, mind or self.

"Undo Send" What a Great Idea!

You’ve probably seen the TV commercial about the group sitting around a table, completing a conversation with the boss via phone conference, and hitting the mute button to trash talk him. Just at that moment, a technician walks in to explain that he is there to fix the broken mute key. Uh&ndas...
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A Dad Who Gets It

There have been some awful stories in the news of late. Serena Williams’ foul tirade, Joe Wilson’s catcall during a presidential address, a husband–wife team of kidnappers and sexual sadists – the litany of human behaviors ranging from insufferably rude to downright evil just...
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A Prayer for Christmas

As we keep this Christmas Season in memory of the Baby of Bethlehem: give us the acquiescent faith of the young Mary, grant us the courageous devotion of a mature Joseph, and teach us to receive and love our children as they did the Christ Child....
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Be Grateful for Your Way of Life

When you grow up in a country that has so much, you tend to take your life for granted. As Americans it is easy to forget how fortunate we are....
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Daring to Take Risks

The first time anything new and creative is proposed, it gets labeled. And the label put on these novel things is likely to be “risky.” Can’t you just hear it?...
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ES: Gracias a Dios por la maternidad

La maternidad no es una profesión que se puede aprender leyendo un libro. Tampoco se hereda de su madre, como un cabello bonito o uñas fuertes. Para algunas mujeres, la maternidad es una responsabilidad abrumadora. Para otras, es un paso natural que dan para llegar a otra etapa de sus ...
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Everybody Is Doing It

All of us know the term “peer pressure.” It’s what our mothers used to counter when their daughters wanted to dress like street–walkers or their sons reeked of the smell of cigarette – or, a generation later, pot – smoke. The kid would say, “But, Mom, everyb...
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Faith that Moves Mountains

Faith is defined as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Some months ago, I met Mike. One day he just showed up and decided to spend his days and nights in front of the building where I live. When I met Mike, he was homeless and an alcoholic. We became frie...
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Figuring Out the Future

We human beings are not very adept at predicting the future. Littered along the highway of human history are countless bad guesses and failed insights. The more often we speak with certainty, the more embarrassed we are likely to be....
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I Am My Kid's Dad!'

The magazine Men's Health did a survey among focus groups of college–educated men and 1,500 telephone contacts about life priorities. It seems that most men want something more than piles of money and a James Bond style of love–'em–and–leave–'em women in their wakes....
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I Love That Kid!

I don’t know Josh Ripley, but I love that kid! Let me tell you why....
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Pay attention to little things

It’s true that we sometimes make too much of little things, fret over things we can’t change, and nurse grudges, forfeiting peace of mind in the process. But there’s another side to this issue. Some of us need to “sweat the small stuff” lest we lose some very important ...
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Priorities

BEFORE READING THE NEXT PARAGRAPH, PLEASE ANSWER THIS THREE–PART QUESTION: WHAT IS THE SINGLE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING YOU COULD BEGIN DOING REGULARLY THAT WOULD: (1) MAKE YOU MORE EFFECTIVE AT YOUR WORK? (2) CREATE A BETTER ATMOSPHERE FOR YOUR FAMILY? AND (3) ENRICH YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE?...
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Sharing Her Grandpa

Avery’s elementary school hosted a Grandparents Day recently, and her Grandpa was able to arrange his day to be there. Avery was pleased. And her proud grandfather was looking forward to sharing a special event. ...
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Spend Your Life Well

I am convinced that most of us want to do some great thing with our lives. But we labor under the illusion that the doing of authentically great things is reserved for a chosen few. Heroes. Martyrs. Saints. But not for you and me....
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Thank Goodness for Motherhood

Motherhood is not a profession you can learn about in a book. It’s not something you inherit from your mother like beautiful hair or strong nails. For some women, motherhood is an overwhelming responsibility. For others, it is a natural stepping stone to another phase in life. Regardless of ho...
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The Gifts We Learn to Cherish

When we’re children, we tend to think about Christmas as the holiday when we ask for toys. As we get older, we begin to understand the significance of the holiday, and we realize how small a role material gifts play in our lives....
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The Golden Rule

I think we know that everyone who wants to grow has to learn to change. But what are those things that motivate people to change? Is it status, or money? Is it power?...
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The Healing Touch

When Dr. Rachael Naomi Remen, author of Kitchen Table Wisdom, Stories That Heal, was a pediatrician intern, she was also a secret baby kisser. Late at night, she would make solo rounds on the ward. She would kiss the children goodnight and tuck them in with their favorite toy or blanket, and if ther...
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The Invisible Woman

One day I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him, “Who is that with you, young fella?”...
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The Unheralded Virtue

Name a virtue that you admire in others and want to cultivate in yourself. So, what word came to mind? ...
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Valentine's Day

On Valentine's Day, florists, card companies, and chocolatiers are thrilled. I've been to all of them for the sake of my Valentine. And if there's somebody really special to your heart and you haven't gone yet, I'd recommend you make a last–minute dash....
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Ver crecer a sus hijos

Cuando usted tiene hijos, hay tanto ruido en su casa y sus días están tan llenos de actividades que con frecuencia imagina cómo será su vida cuando sus ellos crezcan....
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Watching Your Children Grow

When you have children, there is so much noise and your days are filled with so many activities that you often daydream of how your life will be once your children grow up....
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Why Leaders Don’t Make Excuses

Excuses come in all forms. Here are a couple that were (allegedly) offered to teachers by parents on behalf of their children:...
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