This is the hardest week of the year to write my column. An entire Holy Week culminates with the celebration of Easter.
It should be a piece of cake: Say something about the gift of salvation or tell a sweet story about how someone delivered chocolate bunnies to sick kids, right?
I either go Christian or non-Christian. Make a choice and start ... Read More
Editor’s note: Nicole Phillips will continue to write her column after she moves in May to Ohio with her family.
My family is about to go through a period of major upheaval.
My husband, as many of you know, is a basketball coach and most recently got to run all over the court in pure unbridled joy after the North Dakota State ... Read More
I wish I could stop eavesdropping. Honestly, I don’t intend to listen in on the conversations around me, but sometimes I feel like it’s unavoidable.
Since eavesdropping falls somewhere along the same lines as gossiping in my book, I find myself either moving away from the people talking or joining in their conversation.
I justify my verbal leap into something that is ... Read More
A few years ago, my friend John was driving his brand new minivan when someone barreled into him.
John’s first reaction was anger, but before he even let go of the steering wheel, something else took over: compassion.
Somehow, John knew the man in the truck who had just hit him was hurting. Emotionally hurting.
Instead of getting out of that shiny, now-dented, ... Read More
Do you ever think to yourself, “I’m always nice to people, but I really don’t have the time, energy, money or (fill-in-the-blank) to go around doing random acts of kindness?”
I used to think that way. I used to think the inconvenience of doing an act of kindness just wouldn’t be worth the reward.
Well, I was wrong. The opportunity to be ... Read More
They say you shouldn’t borrow trouble from tomorrow, because today has enough worries of its own. I say you shouldn’t borrow trouble from tomorrow, because if trouble comes, so will an angel, who is just waiting for an opportunity to lend a helping hand.
I received two letters recently from people who got to witness the beauty of angels in action.
“I ... Read More
Sometimes I feel small. When I hear about huge problems like human trafficking, child abuse and global hunger, I just feel small. Those problems are like giants, they are huge. What could I possibly do that would even make a drop in the bucket?
Maybe you feel the same way. But what if we all put our one single tiny little ... Read More
My email inbox is usually filled with letters of happiness, but I got one not too long ago that broke my heart.
This poor woman, Hilary, had dealt with loss after loss, and yet she was writing to tell me about all of the kindness she was able to experience through her difficulties.
I read the email to my husband who had ... Read More
Did you know there is a Carrot Cake Day? Yep. It was Feb. 3. There is also Hedgehog Day (not to be confused with Groundhog Day), Homemade Soup Day, and my personal favorite, Gumdrop Day, which happens to be today.
Once you have those on your calendar, I hope you’ll add just one more: Monday is Random Acts of Kindness Day. ... Read More
In a few days, I will wake to the sound of three little voices whispering outside my bedroom door, discussing whether it’s too early to wake the parents.
Then I’ll hear three pairs of little feet scurrying down the hall and tiptoeing down the steps. They will stop suddenly and retreat, as they realize Santa may still be in the vicinity.
Then ... Read More
