1. Go lavish on love. Mail a love letter to your grown-up daughter’s office. Cram a note into your child’s shoe or backpack. Attach one to a teenager’s mirror or hide it in a favorite book. No matter how young or old, every family member needs to know he or she is loved.

2. Be specific in your appreciation. One day, after ironing my husband’s favorite shirt, I stuffed this message in the pocket: “While ironing this shirt, I thought about our home, our love, and all you mean to this family. Thanks for being a terrific husband!”

3. Compose a silly jingle. Turn a birthday or any day from ho-hum into special with homemade verses guaranteed to bring a grin of appreciation (even if your rhymes don’t earn you poet laureate of the year!).

4. Boost your family with praise. Write your son a thank-you note for his extra effort on lawn-mowing. When a teen is discouraged, pick one character trait or accomplishment to mention each day of the week.

to the stable of

my heart.

Transform the

wood, hay, and stubble

into a throne

where You can

work and reign.

“What are you doing, Sara–praying about the basketball game?” my friend Lydia teased.

“No, but that’s a good idea.” I answered. “I’m trying to reach the jacket I just dropped.”

Lydia laughed as I retrieved the jacket from the floor. “You might try that some time in private.” I leaned over to listen more closely.

“Every time you drop something or stoop to do a job, take a minute to pray. I’ve been doing it for some time now. It’s really changed my attitude.”

“I will,” I said pensively.

I didn’t think about my commitment until the next day when I dropped some crumbs on the kitchen floor. Lydia’s words came back to me.

Dear God, I began thank You for this bright new floor, and thank you for cake! I pray for those who won’t have enough bread for today.

Lydia was right. Praying was better than grumbling about my clumsiness. My thoughts were directed toward the needs of others rather than on myself. I tried it again later when I dropped a sock from the clothes dryer.

Lord, I’m tired of washing clothes every day.  Give me a new desire to serve my family. Thank you for Your work, and thank You for these appliances that make my housework easier.

Later in the afternoon, I had to stoop to water and pull wilted leaves from houseplants. I remembered to pray again.

Lord, check my heart today. Pull out the pride and selfishness You must see there.  As I water these plants, nourish me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to grow and to bloom for You.

My prayers were coming more easily now, and I wasn’t in such a hurry to stand up. I found that praying actually helped me accomplish my work.

The apostle Paul tell us to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Lydia had shown me a practical way to do it.

I added this postscript to my prayer: Thank You, God, for Lydia and for the jacket I dropped at the game.

Not my stress, but his strength

Not my worries, but his wisdom

Not my failures, but his faithfulness

Not my loss, but his love

Not my pressure, but his peace

Not me, but him, in everything

“For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him by the glory forever! Amen.”

(Romans 11:36, NIV).

How I Know You Love Me

How do I know you love me?

I know because one day when you were tired

You got dressed to take me out to dinner

Because you could tell I

Was tired.

How do I know you love me?

I know because you look into my eyes

When I talk to you.

You don’t interrupt, but you listen.

And when I have a problem,

Your voice, your words,

And your expression all say,

“I care.”

How do I know you love me?

I know because when you introduce me

As your wife

You step toward me, not away from me,

And best of all,

You smile.

How do I know you love me?

I know because you defend me.

You compliment me, and often

In front of the children,

You hold me close and say aloud,

“You mean more to me

Every day.”

How do I know you love me?

I know because when we had a party

You brought  plants for the porch

And vacuumed the floor.

And when we had put everything away,

You said, “Thanks you, darling.

I appreciate all

You do.”

How do I know you love me?

I know because you have said it

A thousand times,

And you have shown it in

A thousand ways.

I know because your actions

Reveal a Christlike love.

You have given yourself up

For me.

My response: When I first wake up I thank God for His protection during the night and then I commit the new day to Him. My best intention is to then have a quiet time but, I confess, the “to do” list often jumps in and, before I know it, stress take its toll. When this happens it’s like my car. If I don’t give my Honda proper maitenance it needs repair. The same is true for this ole believer’s soul.

Yesterday I heard another interview on a Christian call-in show. The caller said, “When I wake up I say, ‘God, here is my head, my heart and my hand. Use me today for your glory.’”

I like this woman’s prayer and hope to remember it when I wake up tomorrow.

Over the years my articles, stories and novels have shown how hope can prevail even through life’s storms.  I hope you will find some of them helpful. Let’s launch out together.