I grew up in a family where we were measured by performance. In elementary school, we were given quarters for our A’s. We were given dessert if we finished all of our food on our plate. We were given shelves for all our trophies. I did not have a shelf. Sports was something I did not […]
The Year of My Undoing
by on April 25, 2019 Leave a Comment
There was a woman I held dear. She was not my mother but she loved me as her own. I picked flowers in her yard and swung in her hammock and watched her make art. I watched her in the year of her undoing. I quietly observed the way her mind puzzled, distorted, melted even. […]
Who Will Pluck My Chin Hairs?
by on April 11, 2019 Leave a Comment
My mom and I once made a solemn vow: If either of us is ever in a coma, we promise to pluck one another’s chin hairs. My petite, five-foot-tall mom once grew out a single hair to see how long it would get. The coarse black hair spiraled below her chin until my brother and […]
Kneading Enough, A Picture of Empowerment
by on March 7, 2019 Leave a Comment
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It […]
Thankful For All the Wrong Things
by on February 7, 2019 1 Comment
I birthed my first babe a week ago. My unwashed hair is scraped into a lazy bun, my eyes sunken from lack of sleep. I’ve been wearing the same pajamas for days. Shuffling to and from the bathroom is a major event now, and I’m embarrassed by how difficult those few pathetic steps are. It […]
