When I held you in my arms

I didn’t know who you would become or how much I could love my little girl that night, when I held you in my arms. The nurses pulled you out of the tub and handed you to me. They told me to take off my shirt, and hold you to my chest, and who was I to argue? The moments raced by as quick as the questions in my head.  What do I ACTUALLY know about girls?  How do you…

(Isn’t that) Just like Jesus

Trees and tinsel, people and parties, long nights and sparkling lights. Movies and making sure there is a present under the tree for everyone on the list. It seems as though that is what Christmas is all about, and yet, as we have all heard Linus say; that’s not what it’s about at all. More important than the gifts we give each other, more impactful than the famous line in any of our favorite holiday films, is the story of…

Just old enough (ten)

There are just some moments you know you’re going to want to remember forever. The scene is so beautiful, the air full of emotion, and the people in them mean so much to you. Last night, I experienced one of those moments that met all three of those criteria, and more.  He was simply standing there - fishing pole in his hands staring off into the lake where we are staying. It’s become a bit of a family tradition now…

Easter Sunday

I’m going to be honest, I haven’t seen too many sunrises in my life. I’m not a huge what they call, “morning” person. Apparently they’re beautiful. Many people wake up just to see them I am told. You see my theory has always been, the sunset, is the exact same thing as the sunrise, just in reverse - so as long as I see one or the other, I’m good.  The Mary’s didn’t get up that Sunday morning to see…

Saturday – Cancel the coronation

The closest people to me that I have lost have been my grandparents, and my wife’s parents. My grandma died when I was in college, my wife’s mom and dad when I was in my twenties, and my other three grandparents passed away when I was in my thirties. Even though I was in different stages of life, and their deaths all happened in different ways, and we experienced each differently - I had a similar circumstance during each one.…

Good Friday – Not guilty 

Luke 23:1–5 (ESV) - Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt…

Maunday Thursday – Dinner Theater

I’ve been to the dinner theater once in my life. It was a very strange experience to be honest. People acting in front of you, all while you try and eat food you can barely see (because you’re in the dark) and trying to pay attention to them, hear them, and chew all at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the allure. I like the theater, and I like eating. Combining the two seems like a win,…

Wednesday – thirty pieces of silver

No one wakes up one day and says “today is the day I am going to ruin my life.” It happens much more slowly than that. The worst moment, the worst choice, the worst day, all sneaks up on you through small, minute, seemingly inconsequential decisions until all at once they have reached their climax. Affairs don’t begin the minute you’re with another person. Murder doesn’t spring out of nowhere the second you pull the trigger. Thieves don’t walk into…

Tuesday – Maybe this is the end?

The last few years have been fun, haven’t they? Obviously not. I am not making light, and I am picking sides. What I am saying is, everyone has suffered. Everyone has had their life changed, altered, or turned upside down because of the events we’ve gone through collectively. Some more than others, some worse than others for sure, but none of us were, or are, immune.  When we suffer, it makes us think about the end. The end our suffering,…

Monday – “Day after” moments

There’s something about the day after a big event that creates an emotional letdown. Every year our church celebrates three HUGE events; Fall kickoff, Christmas Eve, and Easter Sunday. For each one, I find myself getting amped up to eleven (on a scale of ten) with energy, passion and excitement. We celebrate enjoy the day, celebrate the wins, and then, as always, life moves on. I’ve had similar experiences with sporting events, music releases, and others of life’s “big time”…