“Is Grandpa in the car,” our littlest grandchild asked as I picked her up from school one day. No, honey, he isn’t. “Where IS he?” she asked, which was followed by a conversation of how we could hunt Grandpa down. And then the line that made me smile, followed by a giggle. “You know, Grandpa is the funniest person in my family. Actually, he’s the funniest person I know.” Out of the mouth of a 6-year-old. Giggles abounded all around us as we walked to the car,

I have spent too much of my life chasing the big stuff, only to discover that real life happens in the small stuff. Watching the sun rise or set. Getting ice cream with a couple grandchildren. A beautifully written note from a dear person. Helping a grandchild with their school project. Assistance when you are in over your head. The smile on a person’s face when you’ve been able to help them. The appreciation when you really listen to someone.

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Strength. When we think of this word, we often associate it with someone who is physically strong. Who has immense physical abilities. Who amazes us with their physical prowess. Actually, strength comes in many different ways. Maybe the person who actually is strong is the most unassuming person you might think of. Maybe the strong people in our world are those who have to work harder to accomplish s

I consider myself a very fortunate person. I have a variety of friends. People I can lean upon when a day is difficult. Hard. When I’m feeling beat up and just need a cheerleader. I call them my tribe. People who will listen. Give advice if appropriate. Encourage me. Be there for me. These are my people. My tribe. We all need a tribe, whether we willingly admit it or not.

I found it in a garden. Trimmed away from a bush, ready to be disposed of. Who knew it would become my favorite souvenir from the Holy Lands. A clipped bit of a thorny bush, heaped in a pile with other thorny clippings, ready to be hauled off. It’s a seemingly insignificant little bit of thorns and yet to me, it’s an important part of Holy Week.