God's Faithfulness

My Surprise: Brought to Light

June 20th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

When I went to bed last week, my cyclamen was alone, or so I thought. Unbeknownst to me, a growing pinhead was hiding under the leaves. Less than twelve hours later, a 4-inch common gilled mushroom was sharing the cyclamen’s pot.

I marveled at my morning surprise. After lamenting that I didn’t have children to share the wonder, especially my fall students, I used the Seek app and set about learning.

A common gilled mushroom was the closet match and satisfyingly fascinating. These mushrooms can release 100 million spores per hour. Spores are carried by wind, rain, insects, and birds, which answered my question of how one arrived. My cyclamen has had a few ventures outdoors, but they were on my second-floor deck.

I’m always looking for spiritual applications and there were several. Here are two.

For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

Luke 8:17 (ESV)

And he said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises day and night, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.

Mark 4:26-27 (ESV)
Favorites, Parenting, Relationships

Do You Need a Mediator?*

June 13th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

As my children aged, their sharing with us lessened and our need to understand them grew. Misunderstandings mounted from our lack of communication. They wanted freedoms we weren’t ready to give, and the resulting arguments wearied us.

How could we break barriers and truly listen? One son, a tween at the time, brought his teddy bear one evening as a mediator.

Teddy** had a disarming voice and a sweet way of saying Grandperson.

“Grandperson, Bob** is mad at you,” said Teddy.

“Why?” I asked.

“He thinks you are unfair.”

“How am I unfair?”

The conversation continued as we patiently listened to each other.

A friend tried this with her son and reported, “It works because you can’t fuss at teddy bears, and they don’t fuss back.”

I shared my experience with another friend. “It is not a new trick,” she said, “but I am always amazed that it works.”

Is this a gimmick? I don’t think so. I think it was a way of breaking bad communication patterns. Variety helped us listen carefully because talking through a teddy bear was unpredictable. And fun.

*Edited and republished for the sixth anniversary of 100words.

** pseudonyms

Favorites, God's Faithfulness, Relationships

The Value of Transparency*

June 6th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

I vividly remember a homeschool prayer breakfast where I learned how much transparency—though it takes courage—changes everything

A beloved supporter of our group was the morning speaker. After she encouraged us to raise our children in accordance with Scripture, the leader asked for prayer requests. Usually, we shared about children struggling with reading or math, wisdom in ordering our day, curriculum decisions, dealing with opposition to homeschooling, or our husbands’ work schedules.

Our speaker responded first. She poured out her heart concerning a matter that was deeply troubling her. She listed her questions, her fears, and her doubts. As an older and wiser woman, she had just given us advice, but she was not afraid of transparency. She understood she had no merit apart from Christ’s sacrifice. She was equal to us in needing and relying on the grace of God alone.

Our speaker’s transparency—and vulnerability—changed the direction of our meeting. We eagerly followed her example and openly talked about—and then prayed for—the concerns that were most heavy on our hearts. We were different when we left.

Has someone’s transparency changed your direction?

PS Thank you, J’aime.

*Edited and republished from July 25, 2021

Decisions, God's Faithfulness, Relationships

A Time For Pity

May 30th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

Pity: sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed or unhappy.

Merriam-Webster

For too long, I’ve born the consequences of the foolish actions of a middle-aged woman. Frustrated, I complained again.

Mollie, she doesn’t know her right hand from her left.

My Husband

He was right. She didn’t, and what did God do with a great city of evildoers who did not know their right from their left?

And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left …

Jonah 4:11 (ESV)

Unlike me, instead of lamenting the Ninevites’ lack of knowledge and listing the reasons why they should know better, God had pity. He took action to correct the situation. I may not be the one to correct, but I can have pity.

Relationships

Answers Rather than Questions

May 23rd, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

He always has an answer, but I’ve never heard him ask a question.

This observation about a church leader impacted someone who later shared it with me. I’ve never forgotten it either.

I thought about those words when my doctor causally said, “You might want to think about walking or swimming,” as he exited the examining room. At that time, I was walking daily and swimming twice a week. Are you exercising would have led to more helpful advice.

I’ve thought about people giving me answers rather than asking me questions the times I was told how to deal with a situation that didn’t exist. Or to try a solution I had tried many times.

And then I caught myself doing the same. I opined on a situation that needed my questions rather than my quick advice.

For three years, our family has walked with loved ones through trying times. Not only did they need help, but so did we. Advice has abounded, but I am grateful for those who asked questions first.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Luke 2:46