Michele Cushatt's Blog, page 6

5 Necessary Practices To Learn How To Listen

“Mommy, can you help me with my homework?” She waved her paper in the air, trying to get me to listen, but I wouldn’t have any of it.

This is the question I hear almost every evening between 4 and 6 pm. And this is the child who would much rather allow me the privilege of doing her homework for her rather than doing it herself. I pushed back, saying something like, “I think you can handle it.” Besides, I had dinner to prepare and dishes to put away. I didn’t have time to repeat fourth grade.

Bu...

Life and Death, Death and Life

I don’t remember exactly when I first stumbled on her Instagram account. A month or two ago, maybe a little more. You know how it goes: After clicking on a friend’s post, you follow the tags and links until somehow you land on the profile of a random stranger you’ve never met or even heard of. And you end up spending half a day reading all the details of her personal life like some kind of weird internet stalker.

[Please tell me I’m not the only one.]

All stalker tendencies aside, this time I c...

Finding Hope In The Hard Places {& Giveaway!}

Today’s post is a guest post (and giveaway!) by my dear friend, Sarah Beckman. Sarah is a national speaker, author, and communications trainer. Her new book Hope in the Hard Places helps people walk through struggles with tangible help, biblical truth, and a heavy dose of hope. She also wrote the bestselling book, Alongside: A Practical Guide for Loving your Neighbor in their Time of Trial . She and her husband live in Albuquerque, NM and have three grown children and a big white pup. She love...

To Sleep In A Storm

The day began with sunshine and warmth, no hint of the storm that would come. My children played outside with other pint-sized neighbors, carefree and happy. From my seat in my office, the sounds of laughter and make-believe filtered into my ears. Their joy sparked my own.

But then the sun set and the day came to a close. And with it the warmth and sunshine. Dark roiling clouds curled over the mountains to the west, galloping across the Colorado sky toward our front door. I knew what was comin...

Two Tiny Words That Hold the Power to Reframe Failure

“So, basically, I blew it.” Twenty minutes before I’d walked into my counselor’s office with a light step and confidence. But after replaying the events of the weekend before and talking through the words said and choices made, I knew I’d failed. Again.

My good mood escaped like air out of a balloon. How did I let that happen? I’d tried so hard to get it right. But here I was, once again, on the back side of an altercation, discovering I hadn’t handled it as well as I thought I had. Nothing tr...

Talking Back When Shame Keeps You Silent

I did something this week I should’ve done a long time ago. Honestly, I didn’t mean for it to take so long—four years. I kept putting it off, telling myself I could save for another day. But then one day turned into well over a thousand days. And what I knew I needed to do never got done.

I didn’t expect it to be so difficult, to tell you the truth. A death of sorts, like walking the plank and choosing to jump into shark-infested waters. I hovered at the very edge of safety, not sure I had it...

A Merry Christmas Message (+ Special Holiday Book Bundle!)

The most important moments of life often require the neglecting—at least for a season—of lesser ones.

I’ve had to do a bit of neglecting over the past several months, including this blog. You may have noticed. In fact, many of you wrote to let me know you missed me.

Thank you for that. And, please, forgive me. It wasn’t personal, I assure you. The reason for my extended absence?

I wrote another book.

This makes Book #3, and I have to tell you: It’s perhaps my most important project to date....

A Mom’s Survival Guide to Simplifying Your Summer with Special Needs Kids

During my sabbatical, I am glad to welcome Meagan Ruffing for a summer post. Meagan is a parenting journalist and mom to three kids, one of whom has special needs. She loves sharing what’s worked and hasn’t worked for her and her family while navigating the world through her son’s eyes. For your free Summer Survival Guide: 26 Simple Activities You Can Do with Your Kids , visit www.meaganruffing.com

While my kids counted down the days until school was out, I quietly made a mental check...

Rest is the Necessary Ground Of New Life

It’s time. I can see the familiar signs: the worry about things that normally don’t cause me angst. The weariness that isn’t cured by a good night’s sleep. The lack of clarity—and lack of time to contemplate it. The irritability I feel whenever I spend even a few moments on the internet.

Yes, it’s time.

Time to pull back the words and think about them instead. To cease talking and engage in more listening. Time to process and pray as if life depends on it.

It’s time for the necessary work of...

Productivity and How I {Don’t} Do It All

APPLICATIONS OPEN Applications are now open for the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 Inspired Life Mastermind! If you wrestle with designing and building a life and work you love, you’re not alone. In the Inspired Life Mastermind, I will help you identify your Inspired Life Mission Statement, establish goals to live it out, and provide you with teaching and tools to help you discover the joy and freedom of living your one life—to the best of your ability and the glory of God. Let’s do this, togethe...