With presidential election debates starting, and tweets flying, I’m even more aware of how polarized we have become.
Add to that the isolation that can come with technology and social media and we can drift into loneliness and despair if we don’t fix our eyes on Jesus who made room for all of us.
Here are some resources that help us make space and understand others who are different from us…
If you are a Mama with kids still at home,
if you’re prone to comparison,
if you want to be an advocate for the unique way God created your kids,
if you want your kids or grandkids to understand and value others who are different from them, this is a book for you.
I read Heather Avis’ first book (a memoir), called The Lucky Few about her journey with infertility and adoption of two kids with Down’s Syndrome and one from Haiti. Even if I hadn’t liked that book (I did), and even if I hadn’t heard her talk on this podcast, I think I still would have bought this book just for the title – Scoot Over and Make Some Room!
Another book I loved was this one.
What to Say Next is a fictional story by Julie Buxbaum is about a teenage boy with Aspergers and the friendship that develops between him and a girl who has lost her father in a car accident. This is not written from a Christian worldview, but is a beautiful story about community and understanding.
Also, check out “Tea with Strangers.” Fascinating article on what one man is doing to combat loneliness! https://nyti.ms/2Lo9QvL
And…One of the organizations I love that is working for peace and understanding among Palestinians and Israelis, is The Parents Circle. It was started by Israeli and Palestinian parents who have lost children in the conflict. They are unified by their losses. They work to promote understanding, reconciliation and peace. One of the fascinating ways they do that is through “Embroidering for Peace.”
Palestinian women to teach Israeli women Palestinian embroidery. Through art and culture, we found a bridge to engage some who would normally shy away from dialogue activities.
the parents circle
Also, you might want to go back and look at the “Neighboring Challenge” series of posts I did a couple of years ago.
A couple of Instagram feeds I like that go with this theme…
Lastly, some comfort food! How about inviting someone over for dessert this week? 🙂
Gail’s Peach “Pie” (it’s kind of like a creamy cheesecake with peaches on top – so yummy!)
“Crust”:
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1 ts. baking powder
- 1/2 ts. salt
- 3 oz. NON-INSTANT vanilla pudding
- 3 TB soft butter
- 1/2 cup milk
Beat for 2 minutes. Pour into buttered 10″ glass pie plate. Place a large can of sliced, drained peaches on batter (but RESERVE 3 TB of juice).
Filling:
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 TB reserved peach juice
Spoon over peaches leaving 1 inch around edges.
Topping:
- 1 TB sugar
- 1/2 ts. cinnamon
Mix and sprinkle over filling. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
What have you been reading, or learning about making space for everyone? I’d love to hear from you!
If you get this in email, just click on the title and it will take you to the site where you can post a comment. If it’s your first time, don’t worry if it doesn’t show up right away!
And if you’re interested in some smaller doses of inspiration, join me over on Instagram. (You can turn on “notifications” in the upper right-hand corner if you want to know when there is a post.)
