-
You Are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
One of my favorite Christian authors is Sharon Jaynes. Many years ago I read her book “The Power of a Woman’s Words,” and then through the years most of her other books and devotionals. Something that comes through in her writing is the background of her personal story. She writes about struggling with feelings of inferiority, shame, and insecurity. But the key for her in overcoming this was understanding who she was in Christ and that her value and worth actually comes from God Himself. What an amazing truth that is a joy to share with people, especially when we’ve experienced this truth ourselves! It reminds me of a time…
-
Suffering and Injustice: Interview with Sasha
Lauri: We’ve had many discussions over the years about suffering and injustice. You have had to deal with much of both. I actually don’t know many who are able to speak better on the subject than you. So, thank you for being willing to do so. Sasha: I am always happy if anything in my story can help someone else. It means God is taking what was meant for evil, in many cases, and is using it for good. Lauri: It’s that perspective that is to helpful to people. So what are your general thoughts regarding suffering and injustice? Sasha: Basically, the world is sinful. People are going to do…
-
Consistency and Habits
Two books have come to my attention recently that have similar themes. One is called Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results. The other is The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success. A summary of The Compound Effect is “the strategy of being consistent with smart, tiny choices over time that will produce significant results.” We are all aware that there is truth in these concepts for life. If we consistently exercise it produces a positive result over time. If we eat healthy it’s the same thing. If we save money it will grow. I asked my husband recently what he would say is an “atomic” habit that…
-
Home As A Haven: Part Two
Last week I shared some thoughts on family and my own heritage and legacy that’s been given to me. This week I want to broaden my focus. I feel saddened by the wreckage that seems to be increasing in families. I’m sure our enemy (Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood…”) knows if families are destabilized the whole fabric of life can be torn. As a woman, I grieve when I hear vicious attacks on what it means to be a woman, wife and mother. I’m sure I ask what so many others do, “What can I do to help stop all of this?” This blog…
-
Home As a Haven
I moved 1200 miles away from my childhood home in Huron, South Dakota about 37 years ago. When Larry and I married we lived in Omaha, Nebraska for about six months and then decided to relocate to Alabama. It was a good move and one we’ve never regretted. We raised our four children in Alabama and love so much about the south. Over the years when I’ve traveled back to my parents’ home I’ve always had the same feeling. It’s obvious time was taken to prepare for my arrival. A warm, welcoming environment is awaiting me. My favorite foods have been planned and the very large freezer that’s always been…
-
Interview with Sasha: Adoption and Motherhood
Lauri: Your baby is due any day now. How do you feel about becoming a mother? Sasha: Nervous. Excited. Scared. As any woman would, I guess. Lauri: Do you feel prepared for everything that is about to happen and change? Sasha: I think so. Her nursery is ready. I think we have everything we need for her. We’re excited to have her actually using everything and seeing her. I’m excited to meet her. Lauri: Over the years you’ve often mentioned some deeper thoughts about having your own child. Would you feel free to explain some of that? Sasha: I’ll try. Since I’m adopted myself, this will be the first blood-related…
-
Sasha’s Hope Archive: How Do We See Pain?
Recently someone was telling me about a medical mission trip to a poor Central American country. The experience had left her with a positive impression and an openness to participating again in such an endeavor. All this was very good. However, I was stopped short after she said she found it really interesting when a dentist she was assisting said, “These children actually feel very little pain when I work on their teeth.” I asked her to clarify. She said that he had explained they were almost desensitized to the pain. I quickly corrected her that this dentist was wrong about them not feeling the same pain every child, or…
-
What Is Sasha’s Hope?
About ten years ago my husband and I established an organization underneath the non-profit Fixed Point Foundation called Sasha’s Hope. Those who know the story my husband wrote in his book The Grace Effect will understand why we named it that. It is for Sasha, our precious daughter, who was abandoned at birth in a hospital in Ukraine, which resulted in the first ten years of her life being lived in an Ukrainian orphanage. Sasha was adopted into our family in 2009. She has a remarkable story. The beginning is told in The Grace Effect, but as time continues there is much more to tell, especially as Sasha has gained…
-
True meaning of Christmas-from Sasha’s Hope archive
I don’t know how many of y’all are looking forward to the holidays. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas! My favorite holiday is Christmas! I love spending time thinking about what I am going to give to my family and friends. I have so much joy giving gifts to my family and seeing them opening their presents. I love baking Christmas goodies (and eating them too!), being with family, playing games, hanging the Christmas lights and decorations, going to Christmas Eve service, reading the Christmas story and opening gifts and celebrating the birth of Jesus! Now I want to take you back in my childhood. Christmas was really sad for me because I did not have anyone to enjoy the most wonderful day of Jesus’ birth. I remember we were…
-
The Lesson of the Lizard
Recently a small garden lizard got trapped between the window and the screen in our bedroom. We could see it at different times each day moving about in between. We commented about it and would watch it briefly and then move on. After several days it became clear the lizard wasn’t finding its way back out. There was a small bend in the screen and apparently Mr. Lizard couldn’t find his point of entry again. Larry mentioned he would try to remember to let the little guy go, after all, we like lizards around the place. They help decrease the insect population. But we would get busy and forget until…
