Stunned Leah and I were having supper with a couple from church this week and as it was the first time we’d all spent time together, we shared our testimonies and bits and pieces from our pasts. The man shared that he had enjoyed an incredibly loving relationship with his dad all the way from childhood until the day he had passed away. I was kinda stunned and didn’t really know how to respond to that. I think I said something like, “That’s rare.” He nodded, and agreed. I felt

I Wish It Hadn’t Stunk, But It Did. Kinda I’ll start off with an apology for sounding doom and gloom, but it’s my oath to be truthful even if it isn’t always pretty. Last week was my son’s 14th birthday. Max has Down syndrome and has been in another state since late March. We haven’t been able to travel to bring him back home. We ordered gifts through Amazon and rallied friends from church over a live zoom birthday party. And within the moments of everyone joining the call,

What’s really eating away at you? Are regrets consuming your thoughts so you’re forced to shut them down? Can you sit in silence without a mental movie flooding your brain and demanding that you fill the quiet? You’re not alone. The pain we carry from our past is tucked away and always available to muck up our lives or turn gold star moments into brown star regrets. Reality of Pain We allow pain, shame and regret to consume us with stress over how to cope with it. Unfortunate

Did you know men without positive role models often grow up at an emotional disadvantage? Of course you did. Not only that, but the ability to connect in meaningful relationships also suffers. Wonder why you’ve been divorced a few times or just unable to hold onto a girlfriend? Thank your dad. It’s Okay To Ask Why I grew up in a household dominated by my father. He used physical presence and silence to control my mom, and us kids. We couldn’t say a peep about how we felt; eve

Profiles In Personal Pain: Which One Are You and How Do You Manage It? What’s really eating away at you? Are regrets consuming your thoughts so you’re forced to shut them down? Can you sit in silence without a mental movie flooding your brain and demanding that you fill the quiet? You’re not alone. The pain we carry from our past is tucked away and always available to muck up our lives or turn gold star moments into brown star regrets. We allow pain, shame and regret to consu