Category: Love My Neighbor
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How Chronic Pain Has Changed Me
Being in pain has taken a lot out of me, but here are some changes and benefits I’ve noticed so far. Mornings are usually the hardest time of day. That’s when I struggle with the disappointment that my nighttime dreams are over and I face the reality of continually hurting. I’m thankful though, that I…
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When I was the Stranger to Avoid
Why should she be suspicious of me? Can’t she tell by looking that I’m a good person and only want to help? And who pinned a BEWARE OF THE STRANGER sign on my shirt? How quickly I forgot that earning trust is work. As I searched for mushrooms in a crowded produce department last year, I maneuvered…
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Welcome the Stranger – Leviticus 19:34
We didn’t know anyone in our new community when we moved into our country home. Both my husband and I had lived in Eugene since elementary school, not realizing how deep our roots had grown—or how important they were. We’d stayed in the same school district for decades, taking part in athletic competitions, after school clubs, community events, and church…
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What I Learned from a Doll – Proverbs 18:21
I held the covers over my head and turned the bright cell phone away from my sleeping husband. In a breathy voice I recorded my thoughts, watching to see if Jerry might stir. He’s a man who can sleep through branches scraping against the roof and our dog’s barking, but apparently not a whispering woman…
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I Don’t Love Her – Matthew 22:34-40
One of life’s sweetest blessings is when my grandchildren holler “GRAN – MAAAAA!” and come running to greet me. They haven’t knocked me down yet, but their exuberance is certainly felt. One Sunday after church, however, I wasn’t too happy about my grandson’s behavior. He’d been playing near the bleachers at the back of the gym, and I…
