By Carol McClain @carol_mcclain According to Psychology Today, (http://bit.ly/2sRBIR0), gratitude improves relationships. Can you imagine why? While sitting in the teacher’s room, a colleague and I had an agreeable conversation between grading papers. In came “Bud.” He never had a positive thing to say. “Bellyache, bellyache…” My friend had the good fortune to need hearing aids. …[ read more ]

By Carol McClain @carol_mcclain You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Ps. 23:5 We live our lives denying the fact they will end. Or else, we expect, as Christians, that our lives will be pain-free if we have the right combination …[ read more ]

By Carol McClain @carol_mcclain In Everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes. 5:18 Prior to Thanksgiving, our pastor preached about Adam and Eve. He posited that ingratitude caused their downfall. This slant on the well-worn episode made me think. God gave this duo everything but… They …[ read more ]

By Carol McClain @carol_mcclain In Everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes. 5:18 I know. Thanksgiving passed. Now the final, crazy, stressful days leading to Christmas arrived. Who has room for thankfulness when the seasonal insanity is full throttle? For that matter, those of us who …[ read more ]

By Carol McClain @carol_mcclain “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11) Neil and I helped a woman, “Sybil,” for nearly a year. She stopped by our yard sale, needed help getting shelves …[ read more ]