Two of my dogs are having a difficult time adjusting to our new home on the prairie, because they are terrified of thunder and lightning, something that we very seldom experienced in the mountains. During recent storms, they paced, … Read more

Denver, my ninety-five-pound dog, has a habit. He routinely stands beside the dog food bin licking its outside. Day in and day out, the same old, same old: lick, lick, lick. By his behaviour, you would think that I starved him, even though … Read more

Many families have a heraldic device and motto. The heraldry shield of Moulton is a red and gold crest, with three stars and the Latin motto Regi fidelis (faithful to king and country). One of my relatives has the family name Kelly, the … Read more

I recall the beginning of the first day in that new home as though it were yesterday. On that gorgeous fall day, I had no idea that a new chapter of my life was opening and would become one of my favourites. Knowing how isolating … Read more

The sun beat down on the worn trail and glinted off rocks that contained specks of fake gold. Birds chirped. A bee buzzed in the distance. Leaves ruffled in a slight breeze with a hint of pine in the air. God's beauty surrounded me, and I … Read more

Whenever I pray, for the times when I remember, I always say, "Lord, help me to bridle my tongue today," because words are powerful and are incapable of being retracted after they are said. I also discovered that presidents and other … Read more

Last winter, I stumbled on a heart-rending story as I surfed the Internet. In a clinic in China, an embattled lady in her frustration littered the floor of the patients' room with her bag full of hard-earned money. She had been diagnosed … Read more

In 1948, J. Calvin Reid published a collection of stories under the title Birdlife in Wington. Wington is an imaginary town, and all the characters are birds with very human qualities. One of my favourite Wington stories is about a … Read more

Have you considered adding your friends to your list of assets? That's what they are — in some way or other. I'm learning to value friendships through watching older folk express their commitment to each other. They check on each other, … Read more

Have you ever wondered why the shepherds were the first to hear the good news of Christ's birth? Perhaps it was because they were humble, unlike the religious and political leaders of Jesus' day. However, this year, I learned of another … Read more

Many of us are familiar with today's verses, or if not, then the sentiment that they convey, namely, that God looks after His own, who are in His kingdom. In times of trouble, we can spiritually and mentally run into His presence and … Read more

Why is it that here in North America, a gift of flowers is reserved for Mothers Day, romantic occasions, or perhaps a sick female friend? We rarely give flowers to a man, except at his funeral — unless he's a horticulturist by trade. In … Read more

I never know what will come out of my oldest grandson's mouth. Near the beginning of last summer, he developed a case of strep throat. My wife and I noticed a rash on his face. Then later, he opened his mouth wide for some unknown … Read more

The above texts remind me of The Three Little Pigs story, specifically the foolish piggy who built his house with straw. The big, bad wolf easily toppled his house — all because of faulty building material. That's essentially the … Read more

Anakin Nibbles is rather a spoilt old gentleman guinea pig that enjoys being out in the run in the garden sunshine, as the weather allows, and grazing the grass. In winter, when it is cold enough, he comes into the conservatory, and in … Read more

The Samaritans are a national organization in the United Kingdom, whose 20,000 volunteers listen. Every six seconds, day or night, someone contacts them. They help callers talk through their concerns, worries, and troubles. Many years … Read more

God gives us different abilities, and mine is gardening. Our property lies beside the road and can be seen by strangers passing by. From spring to fall I'm outside, trowel in hand. The perennials obediently come into bloom every year … Read more

Despite delays in waiting for medical procedures, my legs have recovered sufficiently that I feel strong enough to walk down The Trail again. As I write, it is the first day of fall, and absolutely gorgeous! The sights! The sounds! The … Read more

My brother is five years my elder. Later in life, five years doesn't seem like much of an age difference, but when one is young, it's quite a difference. When I was young and going through the changes and growing that take place in a young … Read more

The robins proclaim both their own and spring's arrival through song, ending the winter's silence with their robust and distinctive singing: a cheery, rolling trill. It was a robin's loud, persistent, and forceful chirp that caught my ear … Read more

The Internet is an amazing tool of communication. The World Wide Web was an unimaginable concept last century, yet today, the Internet's capabilities are almost taken for granted. At the push of a button and with the stroke of a key, we … Read more

Years ago, this Scripture was quoted to me by a dear friend and family doctor as being the epitaph on a simple stone marking the grave of the famous American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist, Charles Lindbergh, on … Read more

I love to read those little italicized additions to verses of my Bible. The Bible version that I most enjoy is Zondervan's Amplified Bible. As we are instructed to read and study the Word throughout our lives, many stories, commandments, … Read more

When we moved to our acreage, there were a number of outbuildings that we weren't sure we really wanted to keep. One of them was a tall, three-sided structure which had been used for boat storage. We decided that this … Read more

Although there is truly nothing better than a holiday, round about the end of the holiday, I really start to miss my friends. Why do we need friends? God made as social creatures. We need to feel unity with each … Read more

At fifty years of age, I am on my first true diet. Weight was never a problem, but as age accumulated, so did the pounds. A diet is not necessarily about what we cannot eat, but rather about being selective … Read more

A recovering alcoholic once told me that he ate a bunch of chocolate bars because he couldn't get his hands on a bottle of whiskey. Then, he said that he had to stop overeating because it gave him the same … Read more

A televised interview with a United States congresswoman caught my attention when she mentioned her concern about an international movement considering the possibility of a global currency. The book of Genesis records an instance in which inhabitants throughout the known … Read more

John Stuart's Surprise Package devotional of June 22, 2008, was about his receiving a package from Canada, following his Christian Candy devotional of May 6, 2008, wherein he divulged his love of chocolate. The "surprise package" … Read more

In one office that I was once in, there was an interesting sight by the doorway. It really wasn't very unusual, but it was interesting. In the corner of the waiting room was a tall plant. It looked very healthy … Read more

The first time I read this verse, I got an attack of the guilts. "I" set out to heal myself. "I" made myself a list full of "my" own personal rules about what kinds of exercise "I" would do, how … Read more

It's been proven that recycling can go a long way towards saving the environment. What may not be as well known is that recycling can also provide a person with a treasure, of sorts. For fourteen of the last twenty-seven … Read more

City laws in my hometown protect squirrels. Consequently, they multiply rapidly, and the trees, sidewalks, and, regretfully, the streets are full of them. Even though protected, many of them are killed on the streets. When confronted by a car, they … Read more