My grandfather was the only father figure in our home and the main provider. He owned a butcher shop, and I remember that we always had the best choice of meats...

I found myself longing for “the good old days.” My radio was regularly tuned to an oldies station, I watched old rerun episodes on TV, and I frequently griped about the...

Living on a farm can be a dangerous place for a three-year-old boy. When my mother was working outdoors, she would clip the strap of my overalls to the clothesline so...

Alone in the hospital room, I awaited word from the nurse about how my mother’s surgery was going. Her life, as well as ours, was undergoing major change. Before she came...

Tonight I watched the sunset from the middle of the lake in a red canoe. Behind me the sky was a hazy purple; in front of me bright orange and peach....

When I took my two-year-old grandson Samuel to a preschool playgroup for the first time, he loved it! Samuel was enjoying himself until he suddenly realized he could not see me....

I am from a culture in which people do not readily share their deeper concerns or joys. Out of fear of having their “business on the streets,” persons endure silently. And...

On a recent bicycle ride I spotted a flock of sheep. They were quite calm and appeared to be resting. None seemed nervous. This image, I thought, can be an example...

My daily commute to work consists of a 25-minute drive, one way, on a rural two-lane road. Even though most days are trouble-free, problems such as wildlife crossing the road, downed...

When I was diagnosed with cancer at age 17, it came as a total shock. My friends were taking placement tests and applying for college scholarships while I was fighting for...