“Heather, you work hard at trying not to work.” This was Mom’s famous saying. She was mystified by some of the decisions I made which were clearly rooted in laziness. One night in middle school, I slept on the floor so I would not have to make my bed in the morning. If memory serves, I only tried that once. ~smile~ I would ignore the proper way of completing math problems and figure out another path to the correct answer. Learning the formula would have taken less time, but in true Heather fashion, I worked hard at trying not to work. Laziness has most definitely been my drug of choice … [Read more...]

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1, ESV) My mom used to quote this verse to me often. Apparently, I had a problem with soft answers. ~smile~ Even now, I find myself jumping on the defensive when I need to step back, breathe deeply, release my pride, and answer calmly. When is the last time you and your special someone came to verbal blows with each other? Was your first thought, “A soft answer turns away wrath”? Probably not. Although, if you quote this to yourself enough, maybe it will be at the forefront of your mind the next time you feel … [Read more...]

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, ESV) Eric has faithfully sharpened me. At times, I wanted him to stop and leave me alone; but, he kept right on sharpening! This verse does not speak specifically about marriage, but about relationships in general. Good friends can sharpen us. Family can sharpen us. Anyone with whom we share a God-centered relationship – anyone who speaks the truth into our lives without reservation – sharpens us. In college, some dorm mates of mine posted this verse on their door and it struck me. I have appreciated this short and … [Read more...]