Category: Family

The Joys of Reading

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Ps 32:8)

As a child, I would read until I heard my mom’s raised voice, asking me to dry dishes for her. I knew I was in trouble at that point – it meant she’d called for me at least two or three times. I wasn’t ignoring her; I just didn’t hear her because I’d been transported to another world.

My mom’s voice brought me crashing back to the real world pretty quickly. I would hurry through the task so that I could get back to my book. I took books to family holiday gatherings, and I always had enough books to fill an entire suitcase when I went on vacation. (This was before the Kindle.) I even had to pay extra for my luggage one time because I bought so many books while on vacation. Continue reading “The Joys of Reading” →

A Father’s Example

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Cor 3:2-3)

From praying before meals when I was a child to demonstrating a strong work ethic, my dad is a man of conviction who leads by example and supports and encourages his family.

When I was growing up, I learned the value of a good education by watching my dad earn multiple degrees and become a teacher. He didn’t need all those degrees to teach, but he enjoyed the process of learning, and he taught me to enjoy it as well. When he attended summer school in Stillwater, he took my brother and me to class with him a few times. It’s an experience I still remember to this day.   Continue reading “A Father’s Example” →

Lessons Learned from Gardening

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” (Lk 8:14-15)

Before the first freeze last fall, I brought my herbs inside my house. Each one grew in its own container, so I made a place for them in my laundry room, which receives a lot of sunlight. There were four: basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.

One by one, the herbs died until the oregano was the only one left. At first, I watched it diligently for rot or dryness. Soon, I became distracted and forgot to check it as often as it needed. One day, I noticed its dry leaves and realized with chagrin that I had forgotten to water it. Overnight, it seemed, many of the leaves dried up and fell on the floor. My neglectfulness led to the eventual death of the oregano plant. Continue reading “Lessons Learned from Gardening” →

A Mother’s Influence

Posted on by Staci Mauney

This post was originally published in 2018.

“Her children arise and call her blessed…” (Prov 31:28)

Since Mother’s Day is today, this seems like a good time to acknowledge the women who have influenced me the most in my life. From my mom to her mom to my dad’s mom, these women have provided strong examples of who a Christian woman should be. Continue reading “A Mother’s Influence” →

Lessons Learned from Leading OWFI

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“He [David] cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.” (Ps 78:72 NLT)

For the last year, I’ve served as the 2019 Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI) president. As of today, my tenure as president is over, but not my involvement in OWFI or my local writing community. (In last week’s blog post, I wrote about the transition I was facing. You can read that post here.)

For years, I believed I couldn’t be a leader because I’m introverted and quiet. I don’t like making decisions, but I do believe in standing up for people and doing the right thing. Over the years, I’ve held various leadership positions that, in hindsight, I know prepared me for this one. Continue reading “Lessons Learned from Leading OWFI” →