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The gift of baby Jesus
BY DAWN REED The Christmas play was ready to begin. Angels and shepherds milled about. Evie, 3-years-old and dressed in white with gold trim, stood at the manger. She tapped the wood as she stared longingly at baby Jesus. We watched her as she watched the baby, wondering if she would grab him and run.
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Good news for the shepherds
BY DAWN REED “And there were shepherds…” (Luke 2:8-20). How fitting. Moses had been one for many years and then became a shepherd to the people of Israel in the desert. David had been a shepherd as a boy. He penned our most favored Psalm. Often seen on cards or shared at funerals, Psalm 23
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Christmas study at the jail
BY DAWN REED At the jail Sunday, female inmates sat on the floor as we studied the first part of the Christmas story. Due to the number incarcerated, we were squeezed into the visitation room. No one complained. We always begin by telling them why we’re there. We want to remind them that God sees
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How can this be?
BY DAWN REED That day, it was only a poor teenage girl and the angel of the Lord (Luke 1:26-38). There was a lot to take in. An angel. Good news. A baby on the way. The Son of God. Mary listened. Then she had a fair question: “How can this be?” Gabriel gave a
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Asking for eggstra help
BY DAWN REED The deviled eggs nearly ruined the Thanksgiving feast before it began. The apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh. I believe I’ve found mine: peeling boiled eggs. I grew up in a family of delicious meals, holiday or not. Almost every one of them featured a crystal tray filled with beautiful
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Not being scared
BY DAWN REED It is my great privilege to be a dental assistant at a pediatric practice. I didn’t find out what I wanted to be when I grew up until I was 44. (Late bloomer.) Most people despise going to the dentist. They hate it like, well, a toothache. Despite that, helping kids and
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Relishing Thanksgiving
BY DAWN REED The difference between a Northern cook and a Southern one is often revealed during the holidays. I married a man from the South. He was living in Sidney at the time, but he had roots in Georgia and Florida. He came from a place of black-eyed peas, savory ham, and cornbread dressing
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Telling the Story: Remembering our veterans
BY DAWN REED Forgetting things is a pet peeve of mine. Oh, it’s not a big deal to me if you forget stuff. It’s when I forget stuff that it drives me bonkers. I’ve said for years that I wouldn’t have been able to play sports because I so hate it when I drop the
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Telling the story: One small thing
BY DAWN REED Several years ago, I started having chest pains-not terrible, but consistent. It concerned me, but I kept it to myself. Just before that, totally unsolicited, my pharmacist friend mentioned that heart disease is a leading cause of death in women over 50. Yay. I was over 50. After a few weeks of
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Telling the Story: A good dose of vitamin sea
BY DAWN REED Genesis tells the magnificent story of creation. “God called the dry ground ‘land’ and the gathered waters He called ‘seas.’ And God saw that it was good” (1:10). And it WAS. Looking at the ocean this week, “good” is a small word that describes an indescribably wonderful thing. It all takes my
