parents, we're bumpers
Parenting has got to be the hardest job in the world. Relationships, in and of themselves, are difficult to navigate and pose challenges for all of us, but I can't think of a more challenging relationship than the one between parent and child. I remember the exhaustion and near-delirium that comes with being a first-time parent, and the focus required to parent an into-everything toddler. Then there's the responsibility, fear, and sadness of handing your child over to teacher
run to the mess
Run to the mess. What images does that bring up for you? What emotions does it evoke? Run to the mess. I heard that said in a leadership meeting tonight at my church, in reference to how we want to be present for people. All people. When I first heard it, I thought of my work as a therapist, and how I deal with mess throughout my day. I thought of some of my clients and how incredibly messy their relationships and their lives have become. And then the images from the bombing
risk grace
Today I was privileged to sit with a couple as they worked through the pain they had caused each other, and I got to see the very best of human behavior: humility, forgiveness, and grace. How many times a day do we hurt someone we love? Are we even mindful enough to be aware of the pain we cause? And how often do we take responsibility for our mistakes, bad choices, and weaknesses and become vulnerable enough to say to the ones we’ve harmed, “I did this, it hurt you, and I’m
depression is an illness
I have two medical conditions that contribute to occasional low energy, mood, and motivation: hypothyroidism and depression. I was diagnosed with the first at the age of 32, shortly after the birth of my second child; and with the second at the age of 16, although it went untreated for another twelve years. I know what it is to suffer constant fatigue and unexplainable sadness. And I know the difference between feeling life completely and being completely numb. Both medical c