Author

Lois Flowers

When Someone You Love is Infertile (and a Giveaway)

by Lois Flowers December 1, 2015

by Lois Flowers

Holidays in the wilderness are tough, no matter the struggle. But the desert of infertility presents particular challenges because so many of the festive celebrations and cozy traditions revolve around children. I’m not there now, but I remember all too well how the ache deepens at this time of year. If you know of someone who is walking this lonely road, this post is for you.

You may never have thought of this before, but people who deal with infertility often feel like misfits in a society that is so oriented around children. This is especially true in the church, where motherhood is considered to be one of life’s most noble callings.

Take it from someone who knows: Your infertile friend doesn’t want you to feel sorry for her, but she does want you to care.

December 1, 2015 24 comments

Finding Blessings Tucked Between Pages of Scripture

by Lois Flowers November 24, 2015

by Lois Flowers

When it comes to Bible management, there are two extremes. There are people who come home from church on Sunday and immediately remove every scrap of paper from their Bibles, and there are those who keep every single bulletin, flyer and inspirational bookmark they’ve ever owned stuffed between the pages of their Bibles.

(I know this spectrum exists because I am married to one of those first people, and I’m pretty sure it’s a scientific fact that every extreme must have an opposite extreme, thus the second group.)

Several weeks ago, author Jennifer Dukes Lee posted something on her blog that got me thinking about this.

November 24, 2015 16 comments

When Bad Nights Inspire Warm Memories

by Lois Flowers November 17, 2015

by Lois Flowers

Little Molly was sick, but not enough to warrant ER-in-the-middle-of-the-night concern. At least we didn’t think so at the time. Her cough was thick and her breathing quick, but not so fast as to be alarmed.

As the hours passed, her symptoms worsened. Had it been daytime, I would have taken her to the pediatrician, or at least called the office for advice from the nurse. But it was late, and at that point in our parenting journey, we had no experience with after-hours clinics.

When her fever hit 103, though, I called our insurance company’s emergency nursing hotline. If her fever goes above 104, take her to the ER, the nurse calmly told me.

November 17, 2015 16 comments

What Not to Say to Adoptive Parents

by Lois Flowers November 10, 2015

by Lois Flowers

When I see someone walking through a dark valley or trudging through a long wilderness, I want to reach out, but I’m often at a loss for what to do.

That’s why I find articles featuring what I like to call “from-the-trenches” guidance to be so helpful. What better way to learn—to truly understand—than from someone who’s been there and knows first hand what it’s like?

Tricia Lott Williford, a widow with two young sons, recently wrote a column of this type titled “4 Ways to Offer Help to Someone in Crisis,” in which she listed questions and statements that do not help, each paired with words that do.

Author Liz Curtis Higgs added her wise perspective at (in)courage a while back with this insightful piece: “What Not to Say (When You Gotta Say Something).”

November 10, 2015 22 comments

A Waiting Room Answer to ‘What do you do?’

by Lois Flowers November 3, 2015

by Lois Flowers

When my daughter Molly was younger, people would always ask her, “What do you do?”

What they wanted to know, of course, was which extracurricular activities she was involved in. Soccer? Dance? Piano? Tennis? Competitive tight-rope walking?

The answer? Until her fourth-grade year, nothing.

For a while, she went through a phase of weeding out what she didn’t want to do. Not surprisingly, this endeavor was largely based on what her older sister was interested in the time. Every now and then, on the way home from dropping Lilly off at some practice or class, I’d hear from the backseat:

November 3, 2015 38 comments

Song of the Month: A Look Back and a Birthday Song

by Lois Flowers November 1, 2015

by Lois Flowers

Since I introduced the Song of the Month on Waxing Gibbous last November, it’s been my joy to share with you some of the music that has meant to the most to me over the last year.

This isn’t a feature that draws a lot of response, nor do I intend for it to be. But I do love it when a tune touches a deep place in someone’s heart, and he or she takes the time to let me know.

I’ve heard from the teenage daughter of my college roommate, from my brother across the globe in the Philippines, from a dear former colleague in Arkansas. And every note and comment solidifies what I believe with all my heart—that God speaks to His children in powerful ways through music.

November 1, 2015 8 comments