Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” – James 4:14 I do not often like to stop for red lights. Do you? Late at night when no cars are anywhere in sight I am so… Continue reading Red Lights
Author: Patricia Dokter Ritsema
Patricia Ritsema is interested in supporting and encouraging parents, especially parents of children with special learning and attention challenges. Retired educator who loves learning, connecting, and sharing about truth, beauty and goodness.
Look Up
Cedar trees can teach a lesson about life. The tips of this evergreen always point straight up toward the heavens. These tips remind us that “up” is the right direction for our weary or searching eyes. As life events close in, when disappointments darken our lives, when fear consumes us, when pain slips into our… Continue reading Look Up
Reach Upward for the Light
Have you ever walked through the woods or forest and really looked at trees? Gazing at the unusual and distinct tree trunks in my woodsy backyard, I realized how their shape or their bent reflected their life story. One tree I noticed in particular, was bent over from a storm that blew through. Amazingly, the… Continue reading Reach Upward for the Light
Words Matter
THE WORDS WE USE: 3 STYLES Most of us parents fit into one of three types: aggressive, passive, or assertive. In the aggressive model, parents often yell, use attacking words, or make unreasonable demands. Their children respond by acting-up more, yelling back, and tuning out their parents’ words. Passive parents’ words are not consistent or clear,… Continue reading Words Matter
Weathering the storms of Life
Most people think they are crazy! They are storm chasers. The movie twister glamorized it. They like the bigger the better the storm. They are drawn to it. But one thing they know-they cannot control the storm. They keep a respectful distance knowing storms are bigger and badder than they are. That is all except… Continue reading Weathering the storms of Life
Hope Springs Eternal
Are you, like me, hoping that some system, person, thing, idea, or event will come along to give us that final feeling of inner well-being we desire? Do you often hope: "May this book, idea, course, trip, job, country, relationship, supplement, or Dr. make me whole and healthy and fulfill my deepest desire"? But as… Continue reading Hope Springs Eternal
Getting my life together
Choose the High Road
What am I?
I am your constant companion. I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden. I will push you up to success or down to disappointment. I am at your command. Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me. For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably. I am easily… Continue reading What am I?
The Balanced Life
A balanced life is a state of being in which you plan for both responsibilities and pleasures. Like pieces of a puzzle, the many different aspects of you come together to form the person that you are. You work and play, rest and work, reflect and problem solve, feel joy, and feel sorrow. Balance is… Continue reading The Balanced Life
Shipwreck
Grief is like a shipwreck with gigantic waves that crash over you while you hang on to pieces of the wreckage, knowing you are anchored to Christ and you will live, even though you think you will not. Overtime waves are not quite as high or quite as frequent but they come and come when… Continue reading Shipwreck
Pat's Ponderings 