During the waning years of the depression in a small southeastern Idaho community, I used to stop by Brother Miller’s roadside stand for farm-fresh produce as the season made it available.

Food and money were still extremely scarce and bartering was used, extensively. One particular day Brother Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me.

I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas.

I am a pushover for creamed peas… Read more

Did you know that the end is really the beginning? Well it really is. I suppose you are saying, Okay what is she talking about? We know that in the world the end is the end, but God is not like the world. When we say I have come to the end of my rope, if we look to God, the end becomes the beginning. It becomes the beginning of the rest of your life.

In each of our lives, if we just keep on living, there comes a time where the struggles and confusion of everything begins to weigh… Read more

I thank You, O Lord, for using an insignificant person as me.
I thank You for sharing with me some nuggets of gold from your storehouse of wisdom.
I thank You for lifting me when I would feel down.
I thank You for preparing a table for me in the presence of my enemies.
I thank You that when I make mistakes You give love and understanding to those concerned.
I thank You Lord that when I would be counted out on one side, You raise me up on the other.
I thank You… Read more

A farmer sows his seeds
and reaps a harvest in the fall,
When you sow your seeds of living,
what harvest will you recall?
If you sow the seeds of bitterness,
how can you expect to reap of love?
Planting the bad seed of jealousy
will not reap a gentle dove.
Seeds of hatred for your fellow man
will give a sheaf of hate in return,
Be careful of the seeds you sow;
for a good harvest you will yearn.
So plant the seeds of goodness,
and… Read more

I try not to be biased, but I had my doubts about hiring Stevie. His placement counselor assured me that he would be a good, reliable busboy.

But, I had never had a mentally handicapped employee and wasn’t sure I wanted one. I wasn’t sure how my customers would react to Stevie. He was short, a little dumpy, with the smooth facial features and thick-tongued speech of Downs Syndrome. I wasn’t worried about most of my trucker customers, because truckers don’t generally care who buses tables as long as the meat loaf platter is good and the pies are homemade.… Read more

You too can return to sanity!

Steps to…Superwoman Freedom!

1. Immediately, if not sooner, give away or burn ‘all’ Superwoman clothing hiding in the back of your closet — including those blue jeans that used to fit . . . in High School!

2. Learn to form the following words, “No!” – “I don’t have time!” – “I have other plans!” – and – “No, there is no age requirement for using the washing machine!”

3. Home-grown refrigerator mold, has no medical value . . . (but keep this to yourself.)

4. Yes, depression is caused by looking at models… Read more

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank you Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, my children are… Read more

Thanksgiving is more than turkey and trim
More than a glass filled up to the rim
Thanksgiving is an act of worship to Him

Thanksgiving is more than a candied yam
More than a capon or big juicy ham
Thanksgiving is honor to the sacrificial lamb

Thanksgiving is more than cranberry sauce
More than the freshest salad you toss
Thanksgiving is celebrating the work of the cross

Thanksgiving is more than butter and roll
More than dessert served up in a bowl
Thanksgiving is praise that blesses the soul

Thanksgiving is more… Read more

If we are honest with ourselves, most of us do not like change. We become comfortable with the way things are. It may not be fulfilling or satisfying, but it is familiar. Change means dealing with the unknown, and as people who need to know, we do not deal well with the unknown. So, we often miss what God has for us when we come into His family. Being in the family of God affords us a lot of things but we do not want to change to receive them. So often we miss the mark of receiving our blessings.… Read more

This is the eighth issue of “The Well” publication. I am pleased to tell you of how much it has grown in just a few short months. What started in April 1999 with only 300 copies has now grown in only eight months to 3500 copies monthly! All of those copies have been given free or for a donation.

October’s issue was a huge success! All 3500 copies were distributed in only two days! Every week I receive at least one request for some group or church to be added to the distribution list. At this point we may not… Read more

With November comes the Thanksgiving holiday. It seems that this is the time of the year we become more aware to thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon our families. But we should not wait until this particular day to tell Him that. Thanksgiving is an attitude that we should have all year long. The definition from Webster’s is: a prayer expressing gratitude; a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness. In the Bible many times thanksgiving is associated with sacrifice. Thanking God is easy when things are going good. But it’s when things in life are… Read more