Author Archives: Shandi White

Failure = Opportunity

Epic fail or divine purpose? There are not a lot of things more discouraging than feeling like you’ve failed at something. You start to convince yourself you’re incapable of change, better off without trying again, and basically put your own ball and chain around your ankle. Consider the idea that God will re-purpose your garbageContinue reading “Failure = Opportunity”

Should You Apologize to Your Kids?

By far, one of the greatest lessons you could ever teach your kids is how to humbly apologize. I’m not always good at it, but I feel like I’ve not been terrible at it, either. It starts with apologizing to them. It doesn’t make you a bad parent to admit you messed up, it doesn’tContinue reading “Should You Apologize to Your Kids?”

Got Grit?

Who are you when things aren’t perfect? Our lives are filled daily with imperfect situations and relationships where God has given us this beautiful, unique ability to reevaluate and modify the way we manage. While we can’t control what’s happening TO us, we can certainly control our actions in response to imperfect circumstances surrounding us.Continue reading “Got Grit?”

Actions & Reactions Matter

Ignoring guilt that leads to correction is turning a slip into a fall. We must realize our actions have a ripple effect because we don’t sin in a vacuum & a “whatever” attitude will cause us to fall short in our relationships. It’s healthy to imagine how our actions will impact others & react accordingly,Continue reading “Actions & Reactions Matter”

What’s Big Enough to Pray For?

Sometimes I don’t think about praying for “little” things because I feel like they should be my responsibility or because I think “I can’t bother Him with that.” Wow. How foolish to insert my judgment over His. God should get to decide which prayers are important & which ones aren’t. He already knows what’s onContinue reading “What’s Big Enough to Pray For?”

Who Are Your People?

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16:10 NIV My best friendships have been discovered through the truth in these words. If you want to feel God’s love in action, look for the people inContinue reading “Who Are Your People?”

Do You Love Well?

Popular misunderstanding about love languages: The way you feel love is by default the way you love the best. Example: You feel loved the best by someone offering acts of service, so you are exceptionally good at serving others. Cooking dinner, washing the car, doing the laundry, etc. BUT…if the person you love’s love languageContinue reading “Do You Love Well?”

You Forgive Your Dog for Worse

If you’ve ever come home to find your dog has totally destroyed the crate and smeared a hot steamy dump all over the walls around it, you will relate to this. Meet Charlie. He’s a rescue and I’ve had him for 11 days. He’s adorable and cuddly and loving. He wants so badly to pleaseContinue reading “You Forgive Your Dog for Worse”

Parenting Evolves into Mentoring

The instinct to vehemently protect and defend your children doesn’t fade when they become adults, but it does evolve. As much as I would like to, I am not powerful enough to shield my kids from every evil this world has to offer. I can’t keep people from being spiteful wenches any more than IContinue reading “Parenting Evolves into Mentoring”

Weed the Garden

People won’t stop throwing nonsense at us and doing stupid stuff. When we act all emotional in return, we forget how to get things done because we’re focusing on the wrong thing. I can’t tell you how much energy I’ve wasted in the weeds only to find out weeds are ugly, have no value, andContinue reading “Weed the Garden”

What’s Your Morning Routine?

“Unless we form the habit of going to the Bible in bright moments as well as in trouble, we cannot fully respond to its consolations because we lack equilibrium between light and darkness.” Hellen Keller What’s the first thing you did this morning? Check Facebook, check your bank account, your email, read the paper, turnContinue reading “What’s Your Morning Routine?”