Mollie T. Cox, Author at 100 Words

What Is Big? What Is Little?

July 12th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

It depends.

Devil’s Den was the site of a major Gettysburg Battle on July 2, 1863. However, during multiple family trips to Gettysburg beginning in the 1990s, Devil’s Den was not a “must see.”

Why?

It was a pile of stones. Seemingly, unimpressive stones.

Devil’s Den (DD), left of me, as seen from Little Round Top (LRT).

Little Round Top, the site of a major Gettysburg battle on the same date, was impressive. My family visited Little Round Top during each Gettysburg trip.

If I zoomed my camera lens while at Little Round Top, Devil’s Den had more substance.

Eventually standing on and among Devil’s Den boulders was the only way I understood how imposing the battle site was.

How little is Devil’s Den? It depends on where I’m standing.

How big is Little Round Top? It depends on where I’m standing.

LRT monuments as seen from the DD parking lot.

How big are my problems? How big are others’ problems? It depends. Am I looking from a distance or am I standing in the middle?

Are you far away or up close?

Friendship, Relationships

Another Goodbye

July 5th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

Easter morning 2023 with one of my dearest friends

When people die it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to give them up.
C.A. Belmond

I didn’t want to give up Tina, but unlike my previous loss (see here), the imperfect words have been said.

I met Tina almost twenty-five years ago, but it wasn’t until the summer of 2021 that we started saying all the imperfect words to each other. As we stood at the back of our church sanctuary one Sunday, Tina told me something vulnerable from a place deep within her heart. A different friendship began with that conversation.

While our husbands ran half marathons together, Tina and I walked or rather “talked” the 8Ks. Now we said more. As we went deeper, I never worried about how I phrased something. I could just speak. Tina did not judge or give careless advice. She listened well. She responded with prayer.

Along with our imperfect words, Tina and I also spoke the perfect ones. I love you.

As I long for more, I rest in the knowledge that Tina is with the Lord. One day our conversations will continue.

Let’s keep sharing our words with our loved ones.

Decisions, God's Faithfulness

Accomplishing Goals

June 28th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

I ask God every day to bring all the right things and all the right folks into my life and to help me recognize them when they show up. That’s how I built my whole life.
Dolly Parton

Dolly dreamed big dreams, but she focused on the process and what she had been given, trusting God to provide.

I don’t dream big dreams. (See here.) I don’t believe I can be whatever I want to be. (See here.)

How do I move forward with the vision I believe I’ve been given when I have doubts or become discouraged?

The past fifteen months, I was involved in two unexpected, overwhelming projects that had great impact on others and blessed me tremendously. On reflection, this scripture came to mind.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

By recalling how God prepared me for these recent works—which I would not have chosen—it becomes easier to trust that I’ve been prepared for those future projects that at times seem overwhelming.

Family, Friendship, Parenting

The Power of Cake

June 21st, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

All the world is a birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.
George Harrison.

I have incredibly wonderful memories of my grandmothers. Unconditional love, sacrifice, understanding, laughter, special gifts, family stories, and more. I remember some of those in detail but not all.

However, I remember in detail the cakes my grandmothers fed me. Almost forty years after my last bites, I can visualize the appearance and recall the taste of homemade apple stack cake made by Mamaw and the red velvet and coconut cakes Grandmommy bought from Miller’s Bakery.

What’s another cherished childhood memory? The rainbow cake my parents bought from Glenwood Bakery. That Saturday outing lasted only one or two years, but the memories have lasted sixty. The colorful layers that were revealed after that moist cake was cut were marvelous to my young eyes.

My book club shares their cake details and photos.

I hadn’t thought about my childhood cakes until I read the opening quote by George Harrison. I googled the psychology of cake, and the best description is below.

Cake is not just a food; it’s an emotion.
Anonymous

Let’s take seriously the joy of cake and its effects on us.

Favorites, Parenting

Protect the Colts*

June 14th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

While playing with peers, my sons were exposed to inappropriate, harmful behavior. My husband and I made the hard—yet easy—decision that there must be adult supervision when our boys were with a certain child.

The day after we explained our unpopular stance, we providentially read aloud Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Young Almanzo wanted to train the two-year-old colts, but his father said,

A boy who didn’t know any better might scare a young horse, or tease it, or even strike it … It would learn to bite and kick and hate people…

When Almanzo persisted chapters later, he was told,

In five minutes you can teach them tricks it will take me months to gentle out of them.

When Almanzo eventually went too near the colts, his father repeated his warnings.

That’s too good a colt to be spoiled. I won’t have you teaching tricks that I’ll have to train out of it.

We were accused of being overprotective, of taking mischief too seriously. We knew it was deeper. Reading Wilder’s words—written over fifty years earlier—encouraged us. Our sons were far more valuable than colts.

Have you providentially received encouragement from an unexpected source?

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