personal growth – Looking for Eden

When you’re lying in a sea of odd socks

I was literally lying in a sea of my own odd socks.

Beware of the ditches!

It was my first day at boarding school. I was the grand old age of seven, and this was the most exciting adventure I’d ever had. Imagine it: four little girls the same age, from four corners of the world, nestled in bunk beds at night under mosquito nets and stumbling through corridors in the dark with torches when the part-time generators went off…

What one thing would you wish for?

I asked my six-year-old a pretty deep question today. Zoë, is it more important to be clever, beautiful or kind? Her wee eyes fluttered up to the sky and back again, which is what she always does when she’s deep in thought. ‘Kind, mummy.’ ‘Yes honey. If you’re clever and beautiful, but you’re not kind,Continue reading “What one thing would you wish for?”

But this I call to mind…

There is always hope. And it starts again with with each new morning.

Would you give up your spot?

In your heart, will you:
❤️put them in their place?
❤️ squeeze in beside them, resenting that they are there?
❤️Or, will you be radical enough, generous enough, lovinge enough to give them your spot, smiling with delight as you watch them enjoy every moment of it?

The worry stone

Poor little Zoë faced her first major rejection today at school. This evening she struggled to fall asleep because she was worried the same thing would happen tomorrow. We talked about it. We prayed about it. But she still felt sad, and my mummy heart was hurting for her. Then came the idea. I grabbedContinue reading “The worry stone”

Keep feeding them, and they’ll keep coming back

What do you need to build to ensure you don’t give the energy-drainers, joy-stealers and peace-takers in your life free range? Otherwise, they’ll just keep coming back for more. 🐔

You shall know your ‘shoulds’ and your ‘coulds’ shall set you free

Find yourself thinking ‘I should’ an awful lot these days?

I should be enjoying home schooling…
I should be half a stone lighter…
I should be keeping in touch more with friends and family…

Maybe there’s a more helpful approach …

Living a #nofilter life: who are we when no one is watching?

We are made to be instruments not ornaments.
We are made for connection over making good impressions.
We were made for service above self-promotion.

Store it up for a rainy day: The power of encouragement

Find yourself feeling discouraged more often lately? Maybe you’re a teacher receiving complaints, a leader experiencing criticism, a volunteer feeling overlooked, or a parent feeling taken-for-granted.

In times like this, it can really help to store up the golden moments, thank yous and affirming words in a place where they can’t be washed away by rainy weather.