Learning the Gift of Comfort
Empathy. It’s "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” We’ve all known it at one time or another—a friend who comes alongside and offers support, love, comfort, and understanding. But not just anyone can offer this gift of gifts. Most often it...
Menopause: A New Beginning a guest post by Robin Dance
A note from Diane Bailey You are in for a rare treat today. I asked my good friend, Robin Dance, to share a post with the ladies here at The Consilium. Robin is an excellent writer who shares from her heart and soul. She is funny and isn't afraid to write about the...
Run Well and Win Your Race
The cinder track was bold red with freshly painted lines of white and numbers to mark out each lane. The spring-like day with blue sky was a welcome relief from cold and rainy days that had preceded my first track meet. Jogging in place my new running shoes made a...
I’m Retired and Still Believe the Best is Yet to Come
When I graduated from college, I saw endless possibilities stretched out before me. I believed the best was yet to come. I began my career as a teacher and couldn't imagine the day when I would be retired. Flash forward thirty or so years and now I imagine my life...
An Open Letter from One Estranged Mother to Her Daughter (Or Any Daughter Who Wonders if She’s Loved)
Dear Daughter, maybe we’re still unwrapping who we are, even if the whole package deal has become different than we once dreamed. So where do we go from here?
Living Sidetracked or On-Purpose
“Now, class, I’m going to give you an assignment,” the teacher said. “I want you to write a theme called ‘What I Want for Christmas.’” This pronouncement was followed by the agonized, collective groan of the entire classroom of children, except for one … Ralphie. He...
7 Steps for a Lasting Marriage
Forty years ago, we said, “I do.” Some people took bets we wouldn’t make it a year, but we never doubted. Not because of us. Because of God. In July, a #love your spouse challenge on Facebook and Instagram invited people to post a picture of their spouse every day for...
Learning to Trust – When You Need Water In Your Desert
A knot tightened in my stomach as I sorted through the stack of notices demanding payment with money that did not come in that month. As a single mom, with little or no child support, money was always an issue. This month, in particular, was difficult. My income...
10 Thoughts for a Better New Year
Have you made any resolutions this year? Have you already given up on carrying them out? I never make them because I know I won’t keep them. We all need encouragement at one time or another but especially at the onset of a new year. Here are ten thoughts to inspire...
Christmas Presence
I love the Christmas season. I love decorating the tree with the quirky ornaments our kids made years ago, and I love the fond or funny memories they evoke. I love gathering with friends and family, and I love the food. All the food. I love selecting meaningful gifts,...
Favorite things
