Tag: reading

Posted in Family, Faith and Fitness

What do you post?

Posted on by Lucretia Cahill

Lenten Reflections #18

March 8, 2026

In our world that seems like it is set on an interminable spin cycle setting, I found solace in the variety of thoughts shared on Substack:

  • THE I CAN’T BELIEVE MY STATS POSTS: “Last week I had 10 followers, today I just hit 450!” I mean…wow. I have had the same 11 followers for awhile, I had 12, but Dad is legally blind now and can’t read anymore or drive (which everyone with car keys should be thankful for…)
  • THERE ARE THE LONG POSTS THAT ARE BRILLIANT AND RELATABLE: Permission to Chase Work you Love
  • THERE ARE SHORT, DEEP THOUGHTS THAT HOOK: usually about mindfulness, anxiety, fluttering stomachs and clenched jaws. I connect immediately with these as I try to relax my jaw for a moment.
  • THERE ARE JOINT CELEBRATIONS: Happy Women’s Day announcements – (”I am woman, hear me roar”). These draw me in because, well, I love a good celebration, especially when coupled with Helen Reddy lyrics.
  • THE QUESTIONS GET ME TOO: Simple ones like: “Are you listening?”
  • Finally, proclamations by genius-minded people like Anne Lamott just make sense:

So: I don’t know. I’ve told this story here before (what else is new?) but when my mom was getting sicker with Alzheimer’s, on top of diabetes, my panicky brothers and I spilled to an elder care nurse at our HMO our fear and confusions about her future, and our not knowing much of anything about what to do next.

She listened gently and then said, “How could you know?”

Say what?

How can we know what it means, and what to expect and what to do?

We can’t. But I do know that when we take the next right action, glimmers of insight follow.

We’ll read and listen to the voices we trust, and they will help guide us. – Anne Lamott

What I learned:

Writing your story matters. You matter.

Thanks for joining me.

I’m so glad you’re here,

Lucretia

Posted in Family, Faith and Fitness

Bedtime + Kids = so many questions

Posted on by Lucretia Cahill

40 Reflections – #30: 40 days of raw recollections during the Lenten Season

It is quiet at home tonight. Justin and the dogs are asleep, the Braves are on TV, and I thought back to the memorable, noisy nights when the kids were home. I looked back on a few older pieces I wrote and found this recollection of our unforgettable nightly routine:

I had a post started for today, but I was redirected physically and mentally toward what makes every day complete: my children.

Bedtime in our home has become a sacred time. It is when the day’s silly moments, most profound questions, and emotional tribulations bubble up. And I am always ready to listen.

When the kids were younger, there were questions following prayers. I would stand in the hallway like a professor at a podium and take all inquiries: “What are we doing tomorrow? Will it be cold? Should we play soccer or baseball first? When does the pool open? Can we make waffles in the morning?”

Then, there were the medical mysteries. Most days, our kids stay healthy, aside from a few ‘must-have’ Band Aids. But at bedtime — BAM! The ailments roll in after the final Amen. “My arm/leg/knee/head/elbow hurts!”

Their questions vary: “Who will I eat lunch with on the first day of school? Will the teacher understand if I didn’t annotate my bibliography? Why is there so much drama with girls? Will we travel for spring break? Can you pick me up early from school? Pleeeease?”

Then the recent doozies: “Why are kids being shot in their schools? Will that happen to us? Will I get in trouble if I walk out and protest against gun violence?” And…Sometimes, they simply give you the bitter truth and say, “I’m scared”.

What I learned:

I consider bedtime my prime listening opportunity because, quite frankly, I don’t have answers. Sure, I can console after a messy friendship issue and confirm the weather will be warm enough for shorts. However, when the questions are beyond comprehension, I kneel by their bedside one more time, and we say an extra prayer for lives lost, families broken, and those kids in the world who feel so terribly alone.

What I continue to learn:

Always take the time to listen to your children and those you love. They are reaching out for a reason.

Here’s to Another Good Day!

Thanks for joining me,

Lucretia