How My Half-Empty Glass Got Full     

A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford A friend of mine likes to analyze her friends, like a therapist, to decide their “temperament.”  Through the years, I’ve taken lots of those tests, all based on the psychology of the moment.  I remember a test by...

A Quiet Defense of Christopher Columbus

A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Handford We celebrated Columbus Day last week, on the date he first spied new land from his flagship, the Santa Maria.  You may have heard derogatory statements made about him and the statues of him that were destroyed.  I’d like...

Serving Jesus or Just Scammed?

 A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford “Grammy!” an agonized voice said over the phone.  “This is your oldest grandson.  I need your help.  My car wouldn’t start this morning, and I got a ride with a friend, and the police stopped him, and I didn’t know...

Couldn’t You Ease Up a Bit?

A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Nobody likes to be called into the school principal’s office.  So I was accustomed to talking to uneasy children. But one morning, years ago, the parents of twin girls in our school came into my office seeming to be...

Getting Old Is Tough— But So Is Being Young

  A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Recently I invited my seven children and their spouses for supper.  “Bring big empty boxes and newspapers.  I want you to take home everything you want of my stuff from the house.  I’m not going to be needing any...