“Grace” is the traditional term for prayer before a meal. Scripture tells us Jesus modeled the practice of thanking God for food (Matthew 14 v 19; Matthew 15 v 36; Luke 22 v 19). We also read that Jesus blessed food before He ate, hence we say or ask “The Blessing” at meals (Matthew 26 v 26; Luke 24 v 30)*.
When I considered what should be my featured image for this post, this one came to mind. I had no idea it was entitled “Grace,” nor that it was a photograph – the official photograph of Minnesota, where it was taken by Eric Enstrom. https://www.sos.mn.gov/about-minnesota/state-symbols/state-photograph-grace/
The vast majority of Americans, even Christians, no longer regularly say “Grace” at mealtimes. Look around the work lunch table or a restaurant dining room and you will rarely see folks offering a blessing over the food. Thanksgiving however will be the exception, as many will pause to acknowledge their plenty in the form of a prayer to the Almighty.
I grew up in a home where every meal began with a prayer of thanks, usually led by my father. (See photo below) And although “Grace” was a routine and might have become rote, instead the ritual solidified foundational beliefs. By praying at meals, we were acknowledging God’s reality and presence, and His provision at our family table. Gratitude is a desirable, health-promoting trait and it rightly positions our hearts toward God “from whom all blessings flow.” ** Remember Jesus leading at the last supper: “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat…’” (1 Corinthians 11 v 24 NJKV).
I am grateful for you, my readers. I am looking forward to some entries I have in mind for December – stay tuned! As always, my posts are best viewed at “A Writer’s Daughter” especially to view the photos.
* I found “gave thanks” and “blessed” to be interchanged depending on Bible version.
** Thomas Ken, “Doxology,” 1674.
This photo is deeply personal but I will share it. It is the last photo I took of my parents together. Saying “Grace.”
It encourages me when a door opens that I did not foresee. Such is the case with my recent blog post on goal setting. The topic and outcome felt lackluster to me but it a spawned a Part 2 – a surprise to me!
I ended the “Goal Setting” piece with the first question of the Westminster Catechism. The question “What is the chief end of man?” summarized a goal priority to my mind. Which now leads me to, “Why catechisms?’ I will not cover the history and purpose of catechisms here except to say that the question/answer format is a teaching tool. For difficult foundational doctrines, new faith converts (or those seeking faith) easily learn important truths through the repeated question/answer process. For that reason, catechisms are often used with children.
Out of the mouths of babes.
In my family, one of our young grandsons was learning by way of a catechism. The toddler had been asked many times, “Who made you?” Not being in a cooperative mood one night at dinner, he refused to answer the question. His baby sister, sitting in the highchair next to him, seized the opportunity for success and attention, and peeped out, “God.” Whoa, a homerun for this tiny one!!! She knew.
Young children absorb and learn and know so much, much more than we realize. I had a similar experience that I shared in a blog once before. My own children were at a craft show and had the opportunity to shop for me. They came out with a pair of yellow and orange tie dye socks and my son exclaimed that the bright socks would match the candy corn earrings I liked to wear in the fall. How had he noticed? Why had he remembered? Kids are always watching and learning from their parents, grandparents, and others.
For our wedding ceremony, one of the Scriptures Craig and I chose was Deuteronomy 6 v 8 – 9: “6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” We were agreeing with God’s Word that everywhere and all the time we would constantly need His Truths in place to establish a home built on Jesus Christ.
Children need more than church to learn the tenets of faith, and they learn as much from example as they do from words. Credit to my sister for this beautiful New England photo.
Are you a goal setter? It is not my preferred approach to getting things done. I love lists and checking off tasks, but setting goals feels time constrained, like a stressful deadline.
Goal setting was a big part of the job in my last 10 or 15 years of educational work. Not only were teachers required to set goals for evaluation purposes, but students had to write goals a couple of times per year. It seemed far-fetched to make first graders write a six-month goal when they understand so little of long-range time and learning potential.
Here’s a goal I should set: finish this needlepoint project by the time the medical course is finished (that’s why I started it). I have until January. and it was motivating just to pull it out for the photograph.
Goals pop up in everyday life. Today an online word game that I play blazed the words “Goal Completed” across the screen. I have no idea what the goal was nor how I achieved it! My watch reminds me of goals throughout the day and blasts a ring of fireworks when I reach its predetermined settings.
My initial blog goal was to publish twice a month. I kept up very steadily with that goal in the first years but in the spring and summer of 2020 I backed off, finding it hard to write topically in the firestorm of issues at that time. I had another unplanned lag when my site was hacked into. It took several weeks of technical expertise the get “A Writer’s Daughter” functional again.
Where do I land this post so I can catch up to my personal writing goal? I have had a few ideas that didn’t fly. I considered a passage in Romans 8 that repeatedly used the phrase “set your mind” but looking carefully at the text, the term “set” does not imply a command; it is not a directive to make smart thinking goals. But it’s a good passage if you care to check it out for yourself. Instead, the first question of the Westminster Catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man?” The answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Scripture says, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11 v 36) This sounds like a great goal to me.
A butterfly enjoys late season marigolds spilling over our driveway. This post doesn’t strike me as a ‘homerun’ but coming across the Scripture three times in a row was confirmation for me that I should go for it. And I meet my publishing goal! Enjoy the World Series!
Happy New Year! You see, September always feels like New Year’s to me after my school years, then college, then becoming a teacher. Later, it felt like New Year’s when I sent my kids back to school … which at that time was September, but now, for many students, is mid-August. You financial types also experience the fiscal new year at this time.
This New Year’s (September) started with a bang for us: an early morning phone call on Labor Day weekend with a list of woes to be righted! Nothing life-shattering, but there were matters to attend to, nuisance issues to handle, on a holiday weekend. Frankly, troubles continue to pop up and I share this because I know you, my readers, face the same, and you’ll understand why I’m finally getting back to my blog.
We are thankful for a few days in the NC mountains recently. We were at The Cove (Billy Graham Training Center, hence our nametags). What could be better than September in the mountains? October! But it was so refreshing.
September, like New Year’s, urges a return to routine. My “A Writer’s Daughter” blog encourages the routine of being in Scripture, the book God authored for us. I came across some good insights on Bible reading this summer that I would like to share, written by J. D. Walt* (Wake-Up Call).
“’Meditate on it day and night.’ (Joshua 1 v 8) Do you know when that is? Yep. Always. It is always either day or night. But this little word – meditate– might mean more than you think it does. Many Eastern religions have laid claim to the concept of meditation. The biblical idea of meditation, as I understand it, is quite different. Meditation is often an attempt to empty one’s mind. The biblical practice of meditation is about filling one’s mind- with the Word of God.
“The Hebrew word (transliterated) hagah is pronounced “daw-gaw.” It means “to growl, utter, speak, or muse.” And, yes, you read it right, “to growl.” The biblical concept of meditation carries the image of a lion growling over, eating, and savoring its freshly caught prey. We so often think of the Word of God as duty we must exercise. The Spirit teaches us that the Word of God is a meal to be savored and enjoyed. Recall the signature instruction of Psalm 1: “But whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.” (bolding mine)
“I have a working rubric that helps me engage the Word of God over time, and it has led me from a disciplined, dutiful reading of Scripture to a deeply delighted and desirous appetite for God’s Word. The hand is the mnemonic device with each finger representing a sequential step of engagement. And, of course, it is alliterated, each beginning with the letter r.
Little finger: Read (mouth)
Ring finger: Ruminate (meditate)
Middle finger: Rememberize (slowly load the long-term memory)
Index finger: Research (dig deeper)
Thumb: Rehearse (do it)”
May we all be encouraged to make time in God’s Word this New Year as part of our regular routine, in a delighted, enjoyable set aside time, and through on-going, joyful meditation.
*Walt, J. D. “Growling in the Word of God,” August 1, 2025. Wake-up Call, Seedbed.com
Niagara Falls is stunning! My family stopped at the Canadian Horseshoe Falls many times as we vacationed and visited family nearby. The Falls always scared me. The edge’s height, and the rushing forceful river plummeting to a deep drop below was nothing I wanted to be close to! I feared the power and danger of it all. Recently someone close to us shared a momentous waterfall experience. It is deep, personal, and worth passing on to you, but I’ll not use his actual name.
I remember being at this spot as a child. Photo by Ken Lund, wikimedia.org
Matt, as I’ll call him, told us his story of a dangerous edgepoint in his life. He was young and making choices; temptation teased him, and he was caught in its rush. Matt shared that as circumstances swelled around him, an older confidant reached out to him. The mentor spared no words in confronting Matt regarding his precarious situation. Matt said that he counselled him with words something like this: “Matthew, you are nearly at a point of no return. It’s as if you’re headed toward a Niagara Falls. You’re so close to being swept up and thrown over. You’ll plunge into disaster and be dashed on the rocks and tumult below. You’ve got a choice to make. It’s almost too late.”
Matt reflected on the mentor’s wise words, spoken out of love and concern. Time and proximity were opportune, so shortly after the conversation, Matt drove to Niagara Falls. He walked to the viewing edge. Looking over into the swirling depths far below, Matt shared that the gorge looked peaceful, something his life was not. I sensed that it was a moment of crisis: maybe he even considered taking that plunge; I was not sure what he meant.
But Matt continued his waterfall story. The following day, alone and still contemplating his future, he turned on the TV. In his channel surfing, he came across a preacher, who was standing in front of a waterfall backdrop – probably the filming magic of a ‘green screen’! The preacher blurted out, “Do you want to know the secret of real joy?” Matt did not want to know what the preacher’s idea of joy was, so he quickly changed the channel. A few moments later, Matt thought maybe he did want to hear the preacher’s answer. He clicked through the channels again, but he found no waterfall and no sermon. Without the TV message, the Lord brought to mind a little ditty his father had once told him. You probably have heard it too: JOY is found when you order your life with Jesus, then Others, and then Yourself. It seems trivial but it is truthful. Jesus must come first for a right life.
The rest of Matt’s story is that he edged away from the rushing whirlpool he faced. Instead, he turned toward the safety of solid ground although we know that shoreline can be steep and rocky. It was a victory for him because of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. We all admitted with Matt that we are always nearer a dangerous water’s edge than we realize.
This morning, I read these words in Psalm 94, “When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your love, O Lord, supported me” (v 18), “ the Lord has become … the rock in whom I take refuge.” (v 22). Turbulent temptations rage at times, but we can claim the calm of Jesus’ victory on the cross. (See 1 Corinthians 10 v 13
Fun waterfall frolic at the NY State Fair last summer!
In part 1 of Gym Wonderings, I shared my observations as a new gym member, part of the silver set who exercise against aging. I noted with amusement the people-types at the gym. The physically fit gym regulars are known as gym rats. I try to get to the gym often, so I do not lose my membership, but my level of working out does not fall into the gym rat category.
I have noticed a gym employee who also does not fit the usual gym rat stereotype. She wears loose t-shirts and jogging pants rather than spandex athletic wear. Her body type is not the muscular, toned variety of most of the staff, but she is cheerful and confident in the uber fitness environment where she works. I admire her courage, her confidence to be who she is, though she stands out from her lean and lithe coworkers. I will add here that I understand there are many body types; not every figure is built to be lanky and trim. In fact, I’m sure she exercises regularly and has a healthy heart rate.
Honestly, not everyone at the gym should be in good body shape. Exercisers like me are there working out to become more fit. Our muscles need strengthening, we need to build stamina, and we want to firm up flab. We go to the gym as we are … in our not-so-haute workout attire!
There’s a spiritual parallel here. Many people think they will return to God once they clean up their act. They feel they must do better before they exercise any spiritual muscle. But like going to the gym, you don’t get spiritually fit first. Nothing we do fixes us spiritually. Instead, the Bible tells us to release ourselves to God, then the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will do its transforming work. “Wash me [God], and I shall be whiter than snow,” declared David the Psalmist (Psalm 51 v 7). And Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5 v 32) Just like you can’t put on a trendy Under Armour outfit and call yourself fit, you can’t put on a Christian face and think you are saved. God’s power works in us from the inside out. Take courage, as the front desk gal at the gym does, and show up at a good workout place (a personal Bible study, or a church community group, or a worship service at a Bible believing church would be good starters for you). I would love to hear your story and how things are going!
Full credit to Coastal Fitness where we work out.
Part 1
Last fall, my husband and I joined a local gym. Thanks to an advantage of our health insurance, we, the Silver Set, get free membership! It’s a great deal and we are blessed to have a very nice facility close to our home.
This is a new experience for me. I was not a high school athlete, so I did not work out in a gym, except for the required P.E. classes. In my adult life, I’ve taken various exercise classes, but it is a first for me to frequent the gym for personal workouts.
A few things immediately stood out to me. I noticed the types of folks at the gym and the types of workout outfits they wear. Many gym goers are younger than me, with buff bodies, seemingly very fit. They flaunt well-defined muscles in spandex-tight workout clothes. I now recognize gym regulars, the body builders, and the staff trainers. While that crowd is miles ahead of me in fitness, I’ve found them to be friendly and respectful.
I’ve noticed another set of gym types. They are older and less fit. They work out in outfits from their drawer: maybe stretchy pants and a t-shirt but I saw one guy in denim jeans, with a leather belt and flannel shirt. Bless his heart, at least he was exercising! I am more aligned with this group: working out on a basic level, dressed in something less than Under Armour.
So, what am I wondering, you’re wondering? Does the Bible say much about fitness? Yes, fitness is addressed in Scripture. New Testament events took place in Greco-Roman times, when body building and sports competition were popular, and there are Scripture references to both. The Apostle Paul told young Pastor Timothy to train for a godly life because “physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way” (1 Timothy 4 v 8). In Hebrews, believers are encouraged to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12 v 1)
As summer approaches, I will continue my gym visits and not neglect to train spiritually as well. Of course, I love that the Hebrews quote above calls Jesus our Author! I encourage you to exercise the habit of reading His Word regularly. “How to Read the Bible” on my Pages tab provides ideas for Bible reading. I also added a new quote on the Testimonial page.
If you subscribe to my blog via email, thank you. Posts are best viewed at “A Writer’s Daughter”
Last fall, my husband and I joined a local gym. Thanks to an advantage of our health insurance, we, the Silver Set, get free membership! It’s a great deal and we are blessed to have a very nice facility close to our home.
This is a new experience for me. I was not a high school athlete, so I did not work out in a gym, except for the required P.E. classes. In my adult life, I’ve taken various exercise classes, but it is a first for me to frequent the gym for personal workouts.
A few things immediately stood out to me. I noticed the types of folks at the gym and the types of workout outfits they wear. Many gym goers are younger than me, with buff bodies, seemingly very fit. They flaunt well-defined muscles in spandex-tight workout clothes. I now recognize gym regulars, the body builders, and the staff trainers. While that crowd is miles ahead of me in fitness, I’ve found them to be friendly and respectful.
I’ve noticed another set of gym types. They are older and less fit. They work out in outfits from their drawer: maybe stretchy pants and a t-shirt but I saw one guy in denim jeans, with a leather belt and flannel shirt. Bless his heart, at least he was exercising! I am more aligned with this group: working out on a basic level, dressed in something less than Under Armour.
So, what am I wondering, you’re wondering? Does the Bible say much about fitness? Yes, fitness is addressed in Scripture. New Testament events took place in Greco-Roman times, when body building and sports competition were popular, and there are Scripture references to both. The Apostle Paul told young Pastor Timothy to train for a godly life because “physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way” (1 Timothy 4 v 8). In Hebrews, believers are encouraged to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12 v 1)
As summer approaches, I will continue my gym visits and not neglect to train spiritually as well. Of course, I love that the Hebrews quote above calls Jesus our Author! I encourage you to exercise the habit of reading His Word regularly. “How to Read the Bible” on my Pages tab provides ideas for Bible reading. I also added a new quote on the Testimonial page.
If you subscribe to my blog via email, thank you. Posts are best viewed at “A Writer’s Daughter”
There aren’t many truly blue flowers. Most lean a little purple. This is Evolvulus, currently blooming in my yard. “He hath set eternity into the hearts of men.” Ecclesiastes 3 v 11
C. S. Lewis called himself “a votary of the blue flower.” I came across the Lewis quote in a book I read this spring. The quote caught my attention because I did not know the meaning of the word ‘votary.’ I wondered if it had anything to do with a similar word, votive. A votive is a receptacle, usually glass, for a short stocky ‘votive’ candle, the type left by parishioners at a vigil or an altar. It turns out that a votary is a person; an adherent or follower, dedicated to a calling — even a nun or monk. Both words have religious overtones, from a Latin base meaning vow.
So why would C. S. Lewis call himself a “votary of the blue flower”? As author Jennifer Rothschild explains, the blue flower symbolizes longing in English literature (Heaven, 2025). She writes, “it symbolizes a desire, yearning and love of the eternal.” Lewis was a scholar of English literature, well familiar with its deepest imagery. Lewis committed himself to real Christian faith at the age of 33. He wrote of his love of the eternal in an autobiography, “Surprised by Joy,” twenty-four years later. I think Lewis loved deep and symbolic literature, loved God and His timeless truths, and began to yearn for heaven, his forever home.
I found it interesting to be reading Rothschild’s “Heaven” (a topical Bible study) so soon after my Dad’s passing and through a season of planning a remembrance of him with my family. His Memorial Service is this coming weekend. We would appreciate prayer for everyone’s travel and that our efforts would honor my father and point us all to his legacy of faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you.
He hath set eternity into the hearts of men. Ecclesiastes 3 v 11
If you subscribe to my blog via email, thank you. My posts are best viewed directly at “A Writer’s Daughter”
Hello Readers. It’s been longer than I like since my last post, but life is full, we are coming and going a lot, and there are preparations to make. There are respites though, and I’ll share a recent one.
On a crisp spring day, I plopped myself on one of the lower treads of a classic wood staircase at my daughter’s house. Late afternoon sun rays streamed through the smudged glass storm door. Warmth and light flooded my spot, the kind of basking spot any cat would envy! Two of my grandchildren sat beside me. I’m not sure if we stopped there to remove boots or if we were all just drawn to the sunshine and an invitation to sit.
My friend’s cat relishes a sunbeam, as all cats do! I’ve said of our various cats, “they are lucky dogs!”
I made small talk with the two preschoolers and eventually the third one joined us. Realizing the three were content in the moment, not anxious to move on, I kept the chit chat going. We pondered silly questions like, “Do trolls live on mountains?” I sang goofy songs like “My Darling Clementine” and dodged the inquiry about why it was “dreadful, sorry.” I sure did not want to divulge her aquatic demise. Somehow this spontaneous repose went on for a restful fifteen minutes or more, until dinner was called and all calmly headed to the dining room. What a surprising variation from the normal energy and activity level of this age group! And I too felt refreshed in body and spirit by taking the load off my feet and mind.
Quiet, stillness, and interludes restore us. A nonstop, hectic pace produces a hectic heart. Scripture speaks of our need for rest. Tranquil words like “abide” and “dwell” pepper its pages. Not surprisingly to me, Sunday’s church class touched on this subject in Micah 2 even as I was already mentally drafting these thoughts. The lesson reminded us that God called the Promised Land His place of “rest” for His people (Micah 2 v 10, Exodus 33 v 14, Deuteronomy 12 v 9). He planned that His chosen would live peacefully and flourish if they followed His ways. For all, the heart finds rest when it depends on and trusts in God, His goodness, and His plan for us.
The familiar Psalm 23 notes the priority of rest: not being in want; lying down; pastures; quiet or still waters; restored souls; no fear instead comfort, goodness, mercy; and the hope to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” It is a wonder that Ecclesiastes 3 does not say, “a time to rush and a time to bask.”
If you receive my posts via email, thank you. They are best viewed directly on my blog, “A Writer’s Daughter”
Our cat enjoys an ocean view, not our home, in this basking spot – “Lucky dog!” My days are not always so sunny. To be honest, I was in stressful tears a few days ago, having to drive our new car alone for the first time. After 11 years and 181,000 miles with our former car, the adjustment scared me. Now I love its comfort and innovative safety features. I guess “there is a time for a new vehicle.” Thank you, Lord.
In a prophecy concerning the coming Messiah we read this: “to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor” (Isaiah 61 v 2-3). Because of our hope in Jesus, my family is comforted, not despairing, at the recent death of my father, David Kucharsky. He was an “oak of righteousness,” God’s name of blessing for all who believe. It is our opportunity to “display … His splendor” as my dad humbly did. Below I share his obituary which the family collaborated on, but was first drafted by my sister, Sandy Barton, also the writer’s daughter. Thank you, Sandy.
David Eugene Kucharsky
August 3, 1931 – February 21, 2025
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8. This scripture captures the essence of the person and life of David Eugene Kucharsky.
Gene entered the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Friday, February 21, 2025. At the time of his death, he was a resident of Shell Point Retirement Community in Ft. Myers, Florida. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Gene was the only child of recent Ukrainian immigrants Leon and Marie Kucharsky (née Dachko). He graduated from Duquesne University in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and as an ROTC commissioned officer in the US Air Force. He served in the Korean War, stationed in Newfoundland, Canada.
He married Patricia Patterson in Hamilton, Ontario, on August 31, 1957. They lived briefly in Pittsburgh where Gene was a staff correspondent for United Press International. The following year they relocated to northern Virginia when he became News Editor of the newly formed periodical Christianity Today, headquartered in Washington D.C. He remained there in various editorial positions, concluding as Senior Editor in 1977. During his long tenure, he covered religious events throughout the world, with particular reporting on Billy Graham crusades across the globe. As a member of the national press corps he accompanied President Richard
M. Nixon on the Moscow Summit of 1972.
Four children were born to Gene and Pat during their years in Virginia. In addition to being a devoted husband and father he pursued a wide variety of interests and activities. This included support of land conservation in Arlington, Virginia, and participation in the initial Lausanne Congress on Evangelism in Switzerland. He faithfully served his church, Arlington Memorial Church (Christian & Missionary Alliance) in multiple capacities. He tirelessly lobbied on behalf of five C&MA missionaries who were kidnapped and disappeared during the Vietnam War. He sought to draw national attention to their plight and fate, most notably in an interview by
Barbara Walters on NBC’s The Today Show.
He is the author of The Man from Plains—The Mind and Spirit of Jimmy Carter, published in 1976 by Harper & Row.
In 1977 he became Editor of Christian Herald magazine, headquartered in Chappaqua, NY. As Senior Vice President of the Christian Herald Association, he oversaw numerous ministry and publishing ventures in the New York metropolitan area, including The Bowery Mission. He was
a Trustee of The King’s College in Briarcliff Manor, NY, and served on the Board of Christian Publications (the publishing arm of the C&MA). He took a keen interest in the ministry of Ridgeway Alliance Church and often provided sermon research and editing on behalf of his friend and pastor Art Robertson until retirement in 2010.
Mr. Kucharsky is survived by his wife, Patricia; four children, Brenda Proulx (Craig), Debbie Endean (Rick), Sandy Barton (Andrew), David Kucharsky (Pari); ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He will be laid to rest in Ft Myers, FL. A service will be planned at a later date.
