I received a peck on the cheek as I hugged a small, frail woman. “Welcome beautiful visitor,” she said. She brought small bowls of rice to feed the children who gathered outside her tiny nipa hut nestled in the rural areas of the island of Mindanao, Philippines. In the midst of the humid, scorching heat, …
Sometimes the biggest obstacle is the fear we pack in our suitcase when we travel through life. We stood at the doorway of the hotel room. “Is there anything I can do for you?” the lady who picked me up from the airport asked. “Well…thanks,” I said, “only one thing…can you go in the bathroom …
“We went to the library to take a class to learn about preventing Alzheimer’s,” my friend said. “Good idea,” I said, “but aren’t our parents the ones who need help in this department?” My friend began naming the things one can do to keep the memory sharp. “There are things like listening to a variety …
Recently, someone asked me the same question many have before: When you lose one sense, like in your case, your eyesight, is it true that other senses develop and sharpen?” “Sure is,” I said, “in my case it’s my sense of humor.” I looked toward the mirror; I never have a bad hair day. And …
I blew kisses and waved good-bye at my two grandkids. They waved back from the back seat. “Remember,” I called out, “no more, no less.” In her high-pitched voice, my eight-year-old granddaughter called back, “No more, no less, Nana.” That’s our secret code. It began one night as I wrapped a fluffy towel around …
When I was 23 and said “I do” to my hubby; I had no clue what I was saying. When I committed to love him no matter what, I didn’t expect my selfish ways to be a problem. And when I vowed to cherish him, sometimes I asked myself what in the world that meant. …
I zipped my suitcase shut. And my 4’10”, white-haired Mom walked in. “I worry about you traveling alone,” she said. “Someone will be staying with you in the hotel, right?” I imagine having her blind daughter travel to another country by herself concerns her. “Sure,” I reassure her to erase worry because after all, traveling …
I took my grandson’s and granddaughter’s hands as we entered the huge cruise ship. “Look, this ship is so big, we even need an elevator to get to the decks way up high.” They oohed and aahed. “And did you know there are three swimming pools and even a wall-climbing area?” A day or so …
What were they thinking? The Israelites had God by their side. They had food shower from heaven. And they counted on God’s protection against those awful Egyptians. But as they shuffled through the desert, were they grateful? Not really. Check out how they react. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the …
“I know the guy is not the right one for her,” my friend said some years back. “But as long as she’s happy.” Her daughter married him and shortly after, it ended in a painful and bitter divorce. Is wishing happiness what we want for our kids? Happiness is often confused with joy. Happiness can …