Columns by Ann:
Seed is All We Need
I could barely hear her as she whispered the words, “It is so small.” She looked at me to confirm the importance of what she held in her hand.
Joy to the World
Our five senses seem more alive during the holiday season, don’t they?
Christmas is special enough that it can touch all five senses at once.
The Beggar
Another day. Just like yesterday. And the day before. Going out to beg for money.
The Wait
ometimes, a wait in the hospital ‘waiting room’ isn’t too bad – like when waiting for a new ...
The List
My mother made lists for everything. After her three children had grown up, she began ...
Do Not Take That Pencil
Early in my teaching career, which was decades ago, my class was working on 3 digit-by-3 digit multiplication.
The Choice to Rejoice
We need to make the choice to rejoice! The words, “Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,” come straight out of ...
You Saved My Life
Sometimes, he asked if he could go to church with us. He was 14 and was my daughter’s friend. He lived in ...
Mini Golf
A game of miniature golf is a must at least once a year, right? One would perhaps assume I was pretty good ..
The Stones
Get up and go. Joshua rose early. He and his people were headed to the Promised Land. • Prepare yourself. He ...
The Big Reveal
It was time for the big reveal: Pink balloons burst out of a huge box and began floating away. It was ...
Resting on Us?
The words had been written in my scribbled print on a notepad that I discovered in a drawer. I have no idea ...
School Daze?
School days or school daze? This year it feels like a little of both. The definition of the word daze includes some ...
A Season of Brokenness
If you are in a season of brokenness, you may not want words of advice. You want breakthrough! I understand. I sure ...
Ready to Rest?
I couldn’t help but smile when I saw the young mother whose T-shirt was imprinted with the words, “I’m so tired.” Her ...
Grains of Sand
Sand. We love it. We hate it. Mostly love it. The times I hate it are when I am trying to get ...
Lay Down With Me
This is a difficult column to write. Not easy, but applicable to our lives, for sure. Grab a tissue and hang with ...
We Say
We say: My load is heavy. God says: Cast your burden upon me. Psalm 55:22 We say: It is incurable. God says: With My stripes ...
Looking Back
“I told my children about you,” she said. “I showed them a book we made in Sunday school.” It had been around ...
Fragile
The package was delivered. The first thing I noticed was the warning: Fragile. Some packages may not give a warning that it ...
Do We Forget?
Have you heard a speaker speak, a teacher teach, or a preacher preach lately? Research shows that within an hour of hearing ...
Abide
The reality of it is embedded in our hearts. It has been lovingly placed there by the Holy Spirit. I remember when ...
Hide and Seek
No doubt we have all participated in a game of hide and seek. Everyone knows the rules. The person who is “it” ...
He's Always Been There
Psalm 71:5: “For you have been my hope, my confidence since my youth.” As a 13-year-old, I began attending..
Addiction Hurts
Addiction is vicious. My father and brother died from it. My adult children struggled with it. It separates you from those you ...
The Roundabout
I don’t remember when. I don’t remember where. I don’t remember how. But I do remember that I had no idea what ...
Be Astounded
I understand, Habakkuk. I really do. Life sure can be a mystery. Sometimes, there are things we need to know. Sometimes, there ...
Let Go
Letting go. It is personal. No one can do it for you. Telling someone to let go can be helpful — but ...
The Overcomer
Without a doubt, the columns I have received the most messages and emails about have dealt with going through difficult circumstances in ...
Weak But Strong
On an early March morning in 1995, my family gathered around the bedside of my mother. She was on her final earthly ...
Help from Haggai
Consider our ways. How can we consider our ways? To consider means to think carefully about something. Ways means our way, ...
I See You
Walking in the grocery store felt like a privilege. Every color imaginable was there. There was even fruit!
A Little Farther
This column was first published in 2018. By Ann Farabee What an evening it had been! Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. ...
COVID Vaccine #2
The memory: While sitting in the auditorium of my elementary school, looking up into the eyes of a nurse dressed in white ...
The Stain
I stepped away for just a second. It was long enough for her paper towel bib to be removed and the bowl ...
Say Nice Things
“You are doing a great job!” were the words my principal spoke as he left my classroom. Hearing him say those words..
The Failure
That F in geometry did not look good. Nor did the D in Driver’s Education. I was a failure. I was a ...
COVID Vaccine
7:45pm. It had arrived. COVID vaccine No. 1 was underway. It had been a journey to get to this point. After signing .
Mark My Word
His name was John Mark, but we call him by his last name — Mark. He was younger than those he hung ...
COVID Journey- Go to Rehab
As I left my doctor’s office, all I could think of were her words that had been spoken ever so gently, “Your ...
The Safety Net
In a recent column, I referenced feeling as if traversing through difficult circumstances was like trying to keep my balance on a ...
Pizza on Trees?
Teaching Sunday school to 6-8 year-olds was so much fun! I mean, how do you have greater moments in life than to ...
Be Easy
She did not crawl. She did not hold on to furniture as she tried to learn to walk. She went straight to ...
Restart It
It was during a faculty meeting that I learned the news. We would be getting a classroom computer, take computer training, and ...
One of my readers sent me this message, “I noticed that you write about hope a lot.”
I did not realize it, but I think they are correct.
Be a Master Builder
At my home, we have an abundance of Legos. Christmas means more Legos are coming — if there are some available we do not own yet.
Grace is Amazing
His name was John.
His mother died when he was seven. Spiritual training stopped.
Work Hard, Do Your Best
Work hard. Do your best.
It was time for parent-teacher conferences at the end of the first nine weeks.
Feeling Thankful
Feeling thankful? Should we be feeling thankful? 2020 has been a year. And we are still here.
Ring the Doorbell
It was early in my COVID journey. Our family was quarantined. We did not ask for help. But others listened to their hearts, as God placed it in their spirit to help us.
My COVID journey, part 7 — The hope
That word — COVID — still feels like it belongs to someone else — not me.