Did you know pregnancy actually alters a woman’s brain, changing the size and structure of areas involved in emotional attachment to their young? A recent Nature Neuroscience study found that motherly nurturing skills – like perceiving the feelings and perspectives of others – are enhanced in pregnancy and continue for at least two…
Sacrifice. Surrender. The spiritual disciplines urge us to give up things we might prefer to retain. The term "discipline" itself carries a grim reputation. Those who observe the season of Lent often wrap these pre-Easter weeks in terms of self-deprivation. We must resist all things delicious, luxurious, or fun so we…
Spirituality often falls to the bottom of the priority list when it comes to goal setting. With all the urgent issues bleeding at the surface, it's tempting to lump soul care in with personal luxuries. Lapses in diet pop buttons at the mirror. Relationships might literally scream for attention. Professional…
We're poised to rip the first month's page from the 2018 calendar. Resolutions have lost their luster, and the multitudes are losing interest in them. Many of us haven't set all our goals for the year yet. If you're someone who has taken a bit longer to craft goals, allow…
The first Christmas arrived during a bleak season for God's people. Israel shivered in the shadows of oppression and poverty. Iron-fisted pagans enforced their rule through barbaric crucifixions. Even their fellow countrymen succombed to corruption and betrayal. Prophecies had ceased four hundred years prior, so the growing cries of Israel seemed…
Food, family, and festivities rush us through Thanks-mas into next year's calendar. We fuss and bustle, scurrying from one restless day to another in an attempt to "do" the holidays properly. Or survive them, at least. Expectations and expenses squeeze us until our temples throb from the pressure. The harder we…
This week's video continues our discussion of compassion fatigue. Instead of addressing burnout only when it reaches critical mass, here are a few tips to help ward off emotional exhaustion before it begins: Schedule renewal before you burn out. Examine your daily and weekly outpour v.s. intake. Make self-care appointments. Get…
As crises and horrors abound in today's news reports, tensions have escalated to record highs. The world trends are barreling past stress toward hysteria, and we must choose whether to join the craziness or become part of the solution. We can stand against the tide by adopting grace as our modus…
Summer whirls us into a flurry of activity. We race to engage kids and family in outings. Vacations demand planning, press us through an agenda, and cause weeks of post-travel catch-up. The season most tauted for recreation often turns into an exhausting set of tasks. While we could manage to squeeze…
Those who nurtured our hearts, minds, and souls carve their memories into our lives forever. Parents or others may fulfill guiding roles to raise and support us. How can we honor those who blessed us the most? Not every meaningful gift carries an expensive cost. In fact, some mothers prefer a…