“’Thank You,’ Betsie went on serenely, ‘for the fleas and for—'” (210). Last week, when I read this line in The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, I honestly didn’t believe my eyes. She and her sister, Betsie, were serving time in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany, and on one particularly tough day, they … Continue reading Receiving in Thanksgiving →

(6-minute read) We’ve all been there at least once in our lives—and maybe it even happened to you the week before last: the center of attention, all eyes watching as you rip paper off a box containing a carefully selected gift. Children are crowded at your feet; adults are on pins and needles to see … Continue reading Receiving with Open Hands and a Grateful Heart →

So, I have a confession to make: I really love cheese. Cheddar, bleu, feta, homemade ricotta, pimiento – name a cheese, and my eyes will light up. When I was six or seven, I was no different. One afternoon before Christmas when I was about that age, a savory smell filled our home, and I … Continue reading Receiving “Good Things” in God’s Timing →

(5 minute read) Last year when I got my puppy, my world was crumbling around me, but time with her was a blissful reprieve. She threw up in the car? No big deal. Whining at 2:00am? Doesn’t matter. The inconveniences that came with training her were inconsequential in the “honeymoon days,” and the novelty of … Continue reading Receiving in Faith →