Why we don't say "best friend"
Language is one of my favorite subjects to study and think about. I’ve always told my students that whoever owns the dictionary owns the culture. It…
Three truths about Christian community
The desire to connect with others consumed my thoughts as I played with my toddler at our apartment’s playground late one summer afternoon. My…
How to stay sane as a parent in a world going insane
Remember when parents used to send kids down the street to play? No cell phones, no GPS tracking. No idea whose house they ran into or which woods…
Accepting help in motherhood
I balanced a small box of baby clothes on top of my bump and stretched to reach the remaining box on the floor. “Bethany!” I heard my grandmother’s…
How do I make friends as an adult?
We believe friendship matters, right? But how do we make friends as adults? It’s not as easy as it was in elementary school, high school, or even in…
A college freshman’s advice for parents
Hi, my name is Blake Jefferson. I just finished my freshman year at the University of Texas at Austin. I grew up in a small, Christian private…
Reach out and reconnect
My best lessons in friendship came during my loneliest season of friendship. As a newlywed in a new city, I started at square one. I got invited to…
Living out God’s original plan for family
I believe with all my heart that the first, best community God created was the family. During creation, on day six he built his masterpiece: humans.…
The traveling circus: Friendships in every stage of parenting
When my kids were younger, I felt like I was living in a circus. Constant activity. Animals everywhere—actual dogs, costumed children, stuffed— My…
