Reflections on Advent
When I read these words about Advent on Friday, I knew they needed to be shared in my column. They are not my thoughts but those of my daughter, Emily…
Read MoreArticles by Janet Hart Leonard
Burn that taper!
‘Tis the season for comfort and joy … and less perfection. This year, I vowed to stop needing everything to be perfect and to enjoy the present moments that bring…
The Gratitude Bucket
To have and to hold from this day forward. For better, for worse. I’m not talking about marriage. I am talking about Gratitude. How can we hold onto Gratitude when…
An invitation for Grace
What if we invited Grace to the holidays, not Grace, the person, but Grace, the act of compassion, kindness, and courtesy? Why do we put so much pressure on our…
The Grinch meets the Hope Dealer
What happens when the Grinch meets up with the Hope Dealer? It begins to feel a lot like Thanksgiving. I took a walk around downtown on Monday. It was a…
Gathering at a table
There’s something special about gathering around a table. The table was set, and the meal was prepared. The aroma coming out of the kitchen had my taste buds salivating. I…
Rollercoaster prayers
Thirty years. That’s how long I’ve been praying a particular prayer. Thirty years is a long time to pray the same prayer. The truth is that it was answered 30…
About that hurricane …
And now … the rest of the story. Last week, I shared my thoughts about waiting for Hurricane Milton. This week, I’m writing about its arrival and how it felt…
Waiting on a hurricane
He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. Psalm 107:29 When I read that scripture today, Oct. 8, 2024, I processed it differently: it’s the day before…
Slathering gentleness & grace
Gentleness is a force to be reckoned with. I learned that from my mother. If you ever knew my mother, you would know she was a kind and gentle soul….