by Janel Breitenstein | Nov 16, 2017 | emotion, failure, humility, identity
My friend gazed at me through FaceTime, a kind smile on her face. “I just want to let you know that I just counted you saying the word ‘stupid’ six times when talking about yourself.” Yikes. She grinned. “I’m telling you this for...
by Janel Breitenstein | Nov 14, 2017 | challenging, children, Culture, humility, Ideas, kids, methods, Parenting, practical, spiritual life skills/spiritual disciplines, tweens and teens
Like this series? Get more of these here. I’ve been putting this post off. It’s pretty much because creating a sense of respect in my kids still makes me want to tear my hair out. Admittedly, my oldest is now 13, so we’re breaking new ground in this...
by Janel Breitenstein | Nov 9, 2017 | children, community, Culture, current events, kids, Parenting, practical, relationships, social justice
We were headed to church, exhaling clouds of steam in the still-cold car. Up in the front seat, I happily remarked to my husband about the expanding diversity in our small town–as judged authoritatively, of course, by my trips to Wal-Mart. After five and a half...
by Janel Breitenstein | Nov 7, 2017 | challenging, discouragement, emotion, failure, God's will, identity
Her: So what do you do for a living? Me: Oh. I’m a freelance writer. Her, crease darkening her brow as she wonders, Is this a clever way of saying “virtually unemployed”? : Okay… So what does that look like? Now. Compare this scenario to about...
by Janel Breitenstein | Nov 2, 2017 | beauty, faith, identity, prayer, time alone with God
Allow me to briefly refer to a bad movie, if you would. After all, that’s what makes for a great Thursday. Remember Shallow Hal (2001), with Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow? Tacky as it was, the idea of the movie is actually sheer genius. Hal, a total womanizer...
