Do cross-cultural workers ever get angry? You know we do. In fact, unresolved anger has driven people away from their work and sent them home with their tails between their legs.
Actually, it is unrealistic to think we would never get angry. But it is realistic to learn what to do with that anger, and how to prevent explosions.
Anger has many causes, some unique to our cross-cultural context. But we may not find the help we need when we live and work overseas. After all, aren’t we supposed to be the strong ones?
I am indebted to a book called, She’s Gonna Blow! by Julie Ann Barnhill for this discussion.
Julie’s book is subtitled, ‘Real help for moms dealing with anger.’ Though she wrote the book with anger towards our children as the focus, much of what she discusses has real life applications for whatever stirs our wrath.
Continue reading 'Anger Danger'»
Did you ever have one of those days? You know. The days when nothing excites you, nothing stimulates you, and you feel slightly like day old bread? In the rhythms of life we are bound to have days like that, even if we are mighty women of God, serving the unreached and the needy. Some days just refuse to shine, no matter how much we buff them with prayer and embellish them with praise.
You try everything. You pick up your Bible, either electronically or in the good old fashioned way. You look for a spark- something to ignite the fire you do not feel. Blah. Continue reading 'Blah!'»
I woke this morning in a grumpy mood. My husband had planned a meeting with a local pastor around lunch time. She asked if we could meet at our house and then suggested the menu for lunch. I knew that now it was not just the two to three hours she would be there to talk, but also the preparation time for the meal. My attitude was not very charitable.
After starting the meal, I came to my office to see if there was anything already in print that I could use for Peter’s Wife this month. I am recovering from a two week bout of flu that put me way behind on my preparations. I picked up Sue Eenigenburg’s book, Screams in the Desert. It is a book of stories and devotions about living cross culturally. I leafed through the book and was intrigued by the title, I Gave God My Life, But Not My Toothbrush. After reading the chapter, laughing and groaning, I had to change my attitude about our lunch appointment. Actually, it was the best time we have had with this sister.
Blessings!
Diane
Continue reading 'Not My Toothbrush'»
The most frequent questions this month asked about menopause. Although many of you are younger, you can begin taking care of yourself to prevent some of the complications of menopause.
The Transition Years
Some of us will go through these transition years with hardly a thought and no physical problems, for others it may be a pretty rocky transition. Unlike our grandmothers’ and mothers’ time, today there is so much more information available and many more aids to get us through with a minimum of problems.
Continue reading 'Menopause- The Transition Years'»
Comments (0) 
Themocracy