God's Faithfulness

Enjoying the Story

July 4th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

I have told you that my mom reads the last chapter of the book so she can enjoy the story because she knows how it ends. When we were kids, she went to the computer in the middle of a movie to find out how it ended.
My son

I’m guilty as charged. I claim I’ve run out of adrenaline or else I need to save it because my supply is short. That may be true. I didn’t read the last chapter of books when I was young.

Twenty years ago, I stood with my oldest sons for a for a high school graduation photo. I thought, “I wish I had known how it would turn out. I wouldn’t have worried so much.”

As I turn sixty-nine, I want to apply the lesson of fiction to my real life. I want to enjoy my story and the stories of others much more because I know the ending.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
Revelation 21:3 (ESV)

God's Faithfulness

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, 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.

Category: God’s Faithfulness

Enjoying the Story

My Surprise: Brought to Light

The Value of Transparency*

A Time For Pity