A Shot of Espresso

As so often happens, it was my sons who taught me this important truth.

In times of transition, this is how I pray. "Give us two open doors..."

To be a water walker, you'll have to step out of comfort and into courage.

There's so much good that happens in the waiting rooms of life. Thankfully, we are not there forever.

When you've got one nerve left and the kids are standing on it with cleats, here's a rope to hold.

Our disabilities alone can never make us losers. Other abilities can make us winners.

The voice of shame is loud and insistent, but we don't have to live with it forever.

Just like a big brother did for The Cub, we're here to run each other in.

Funny, what that hard green tomato taught me. Gardens, like hearts, can't be rushed.

You won't have to go out of your way to find them. Often, they appear right in front of you, just like they did for my son in a high-school cafeteria.

Winter never lasts forever. Every season holds beauty if we have the eyes to see it.

Countless times, it came from her lips. “It doesn’t cost anything to be kind, but it can cost a lot if you’re not.”

Have a square-peg kid in a round-hole world? Embrace the gift!

In times of crisis, miracles can happen.

They never warned us about all of those “permits.” No matter what happens, we’re never alone.

Whether it’s Miracle-Gro or Roundup, our words have a powerful effect.

When I lost my focus, a simple question brought it back.

Lawlessness brings (dis)order. For lasting peace and order, we must build on a moral foundation.

A word in season is a rope to grasp, a hand to hold, a lamp that illumines the way.

Here’s how I counsel my sons. What’s true for them is true for us all.

"Doing a jerky thing doesn't make YOU a jerk." That's what I told my tiny son, and it brought him peace.

Courage and character are often better than raw talent, especially when they're fueled by love.

When you're nose-to-the-mountain, you cannot see how far you've come. Don't give up now.

When the things we're doing don't work anymore, it may be time for something new.

Even small things can make a big difference.

Even if you're not where you want to be just yet, you still have something to give.

Sometimes, when you need a new perspective, all you have to do is look up.