Mollie T. Cox, Author at 100 Words

Savoring Our Photos

December 27th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

Was it worth the time and expense of making detailed photo albums for my sons? Another friend wondered the same about her grandchildren’s albums.

I decided the answer was yes. Choosing and arranging photos meant I not only reviewed my sons’ lives from birth through high school, but I also savored the memories and gained insight into our family.

Years later, one son told me he explained his life to new friends by showing them his photo albums.

The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things with words.
Elliot Erwitt Documentary Photographer

I wished we had reviewed our photos on a regular basis. We might have gained more insight into our family history. Memories might be sharper. I don’t remember that were sad words to hear when a family event had been important to me.

There is nothing more touching to me than a family picture where everyone is trying to look his or her best, but you can see what a mess they all are.
Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies

Perhaps I’ll review our 2025 photos on New Year’s Day. Perhaps you will, too.

God's Faithfulness, Relationships

Being Angry on My Behalf

December 20th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

I’m angry that happened to you. I’m angry for you.

I was comforted by those words after someone asked for a favor and then used that favor to steal from me. I told a friend, “Sometimes we need to be angry on someone’s behalf.”

“Is that always a good idea she questioned?” I thought so until I read Gentle and Lowly.

As you consider those who have wronged you, let Jesus be angry on your behalf. His anger can be trusted.
Gentle and Lowly by Dane C. Ortlund

Wow! And it’s true. My experience proves that. As I look back, I can recount how God has defended me and not let the wrongdoers prosper—although it may take decades to see the judgement.

I’ve thought about and blogged on this quote before. (See here.) I bring it up again, because the holidays are a time to be blessed and a time to be hurt and a time to let Jesus be angry on your behalf.

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it only tends to evil. Psalm 37:8 (ESV)

Christmas, Decisions

Christmas Adaptations

December 13th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

One day, if my husband and I live long enough, we’re not going to be able to put up a tree at Christmas. My sadness at that realization used to make me feel materialistic or overly secular. However, as my husband and I age, I view my Christmas ornaments the same way I view my photo albums. They are visual reminders of the people and places in our lives.

The past five years, I have warned that a particular day was coming and this year it arrived. My family purchased an artificial tree. I’ve taken to heart the principle of simplifying instead of giving up. (See here and here.)

The energy we spent on choosing, transporting, setting up, vacuuming fallen needles, adding lights, attempting to hang ornaments on uneven or weak branches and watering—as well as arguing about all the previous steps—is now devoted to hanging ornaments. More ornaments than we have hung in the past decade. My heart is happy as I reflect on the memories they represent.

Christmas is a box of ornaments that have become part of the family. Charles Schultz

PS Our simplified deck decorations for 2025

Christmas

Christmas Thoughts

December 6th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

I love the truths that we sing in our traditional Christmas hymns.

Our family sings every evening of Advent.

The quotes below are good reminders of the same truths.

Christ was born in the first century, yet he belongs to all centuries. He was born a Jew, yet he belongs to all races. He was born in Bethlehem, yet he belongs to all countries.
George W. Truett

Christmas: the Son of God expressing the love of God to save us from the wrath of God so we could enjoy the presence of God.
John Piper

The world can’t save itself. That’s the message of Christmas.
Tim Keller

Christmas is built on a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.
G.K. Chesterton

It’s Christmas every time you let God love others through you.
Mother Teresa

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.
John Wesley

Christmas, Parenting

What Is A Normal Christmas?

November 29th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

One Advent evening, while my family sat in our living room singing Christmas Carols, we were interrupted by a knock on the door. A teenager in the neighborhood, whom we only knew by sight, was collecting donations for a club. We invited him to join our singing. He chose a song from the book we handed him and stayed a bit.

I was surprised. I still debate whether I was more surprised by the quickness of his response or by the lack of self-consciousness on the part of my sons and him. After he left, I decided that our sons saw our activity as normal while I suspected that a family singing Christmas carols in early December was rare.

What about our visitor? Did he think a singing family was normal? It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I remember the seamlessness of that evening because our Christmas tradition was well established. We were the makers of “normal” for our Christmas season.

What else is normal for us? A long breakfast followed by Scriptures and singing before opening presents. No travel. No Santa. Fun gifts. Jelly Bellies anyone?

What is your “normal?”