My newly-turned-sixteen-year-old daughter sat beside me in the passenger seat while I drove her to school in the darkness of early morning. She exudes joy regardless of the time of day, while I am decidedly not a morning person. My girl loves nothing more than riding in a car, windows all the way down withContinue reading “ATTENTIVELY HIS”
Author Archives: Nicki Dechert Carlson
FOR THE LOVE OF DAVID
The doorbell rang and I got up from the couch where I was watching a Disney movie with my child who was home from school sick that day. Opening the door, I saw an elementary-aged David Palestrant and his mom, Doe Palestrant, who lived on the street behind us. “Hi!” I exclaimed. “WhatContinue reading “FOR THE LOVE OF DAVID”
Genealogically His
This morning started in a not-unusual way for me: praying in the shower. Knowing I had carved time out of my schedule today to write this laity devotional, I specifically prayed, “God, clear out my own ideas of what I should write about, and instead, tell me what You want to say.” I finishedContinue reading “Genealogically His”
ANXIOUSLY His
This morning I very intentionally went outside to the back deck, coffee in hand, for some quiet time with God. I earnestly tried to let go of the worries and fears that seem to obsessively and endlessly circle my mind lately. Just moments before, inside the house, I shared with my husband my recent strugglesContinue reading “ANXIOUSLY His”
PERFECTLY His
When I was in high school, a coach by the name of Grant Palmer asked me to lead a devotional for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes gathering. Despite my nerves about speaking so vulnerably in front of my peers, I selected a Bible verse, prayed over it, and wrote out a message. I choseContinue reading “PERFECTLY His”
TIMELY His
I dropped my son off at kindergarten one morning and went for a walk. I almost gave up on the endeavor, after a lengthy, last-minute phone call had delayed me; nevertheless, I headed up the residential street on foot as the morning sun attempted to suck the previous night’s rain from the earth. I passedContinue reading “TIMELY His”
NEWLY His
Late one Saturday afternoon when my son was four years old, I left the house to celebrate the impending arrival of a friend’s baby. Upon returning home and tucking my child into bed, he asked, “Did the baby get all clean, Mommy?” I replied, “Sweetie, the baby hasn’t been born yet. But, why did youContinue reading “NEWLY His”
REASSURINGLY His
I returned to in-person worship inside my church building two weeks ago, for the first time in a year. When the world as we knew it came to an abrupt stop, I imagined a return to worship filled with jubilant singing, clapping, and shouts of praise, punctuated by a buoyant, contagious energy. The room wouldContinue reading “REASSURINGLY His”
EMOTIONALLY His
This morning I sipped a cup of coffee and just cried. I cried with gratitude. I cried with exhaustion. I cried with relief, thanks, frustration, weariness, and empathy. Let’s be real: We just survived a natural disaster in the midst of a global pandemic. It’s ok to not be ok. “Unprecedented times” fatigue continues toContinue reading “EMOTIONALLY His”
CERTAINLY His
I remember the moment with a mixture of pride-filled validation as well as shame. I had just arrived back at school after a morning pre-Kindergarten field trip with my five-year-old son. As the children were set loose on the playground to let out their wiggles, one of my son’s sweet classmates cuddled up against myContinue reading “CERTAINLY His”
Expressively HIS ... 