• Relationships & Peacemaking

    Skills Need to be Acquired When People are Usually Least Able to Take in New Information …

    “Mastery in the emotional domain is especially difficult because skills need to be acquired when people are usually least able to take in new information and learn new habits of response—when they are upset. Coaching in these moments helps. Anyone—an adult or fifth grader—needs some help being a self-observer when they’re so upset. Your heart is pounding,  your hands are sweaty, you’re jittery, and you’re trying to listen clearly while keeping your own self-control to get through it without screaming, blaming, or clamming up in defensiveness.’ Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman (Another great reason to host a Peacemaker Ministries’ conflict coaching and mediation training event at your church or ministry,…

  • Grace in Daily Life

    You and I are Different

    I had one of my “unprepared for a speaking event” dreams last night—I’m sure in part because I am serving at a staff meeting for our local crisis pregnancy center next week and in part because the inaugural launch of my new women’s retreat on fear is coming up very soon. These dreams are really something else. Extremely stressful and embarrassing while I’m going through them, but kind of funny in hindsight once I wake up and (WHEW!) realize they were only dreams. (Thank. God. Thank. You. God!) To scratch one of the to-do’s off of my subconscious worry wort area, I decided to use my early morning time to…

  • Uncategorized

    Today

    Today I was so tired that I laid down and took a twenty minute nap. Can you imagine? It was so great. I really should try to do that more often … Oh, and Ron & Judy Ten Harmsel just left after a nummy meal and a fun time on Wii. Aunt Judy beat ALL of the records on the ski jump. Next visit, we’re going Wii-free, though, because the men are gearing up to take each other down in a take-no-prisoners-not-for-the-weak-at-heart game o’ SCRABBLE.   Thanking God for grace for another day— And for friends. G’nite, Tara B.