by Shannon Popkin | Jun 11, 2015 | Submission
For a moment, let’s set aside submission in marriage. Think of submission in terms of submitting your plans to a decision-maker. As a writer, when I submit my work to an editor, I willingly give up the right to decide. Maybe my work will be published. Maybe it...
by Shannon Popkin | Jan 21, 2015 | Christian Growth, Faith, Father, Hardship, Humility
We don’t have a snow-blower. My husband says, “Why would we have a snow-blower, when we have three healthy kids who need to learn to work?” So while other kids are inside sipping hot chocolate to get out of the cold, my husband is sending our kids...
by Shannon Popkin | Jan 1, 2015 | Fear, Goals, Holidays, Humility, Jesus, Serving
I laughed as I read my friend Jocelyn’s Christmas letter. She described how her 8-year-old, Elsa, has solidified her life plans–where she’ll attend college, her field of study, and her career objectives after graduation. Life is quite tidy for Elsa....
by Shannon Popkin | Dec 19, 2014 | Compassion, Family, Gifts, Holidays, Hospitality, Kids' Perspective
Each year, our friends, the Gebhards, put up a ‘Jesus Stocking’ at their house in December. All month, they collect money, and then use the funds to buy a gift for someone in need. All month, they thumb through the Samaritan’s purse catalog, hoping to be able purchase...
by Shannon Popkin | Dec 13, 2014 | Compassion
Last week, Ken and I went out of town for a little getaway. While Ken was running an errand, a man knocked on the door of our hotel room. I looked through the peephole, and saw that he had a red sweater on, which to me, symbolized ’employee’, so I turned...
by Shannon Popkin | Oct 19, 2014 | Conflict Resolution, Marriage, Submission
The day Ken and I got home from our honeymoon, we went grocery shopping together. When we got to the checkout, the bagger asked, “Paper or plastic?” (Back then, they used to ask you this.) We responded simultaneously.”Paper,” I...