Category: Trust

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.” (Proverbs 18:13)

I struggle with personalization—where I think someone’s actions or comments are aimed at me, specifically, even when there’s no clear indication that the person meant it that way. For instance, if a friend doesn’t respond to a text by the time I think she should, I might start to think that she doesn’t want to talk to me. That leads to a spiral where I replay everything I’ve said or done that could have been misinterpreted as offensive. Then I end up believing that, not only does she not want to talk to me, but I have also done irreparable damage to our friendship (by doing something I have no memory of). When she eventually responds and tells me about her sick child and the complications of running the household while also being sick herself, I realize the delayed response had nothing to do with me. Continue reading “The Stories We Tell Ourselves” →

The Justice System

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:33-34)

Recently, I received a jury duty summons. I, along with approximately 1,200 others, showed up on the specified day and spent the day participating in our justice system. On that day, three jury trials were to begin. Ultimately, I wasn’t selected to serve, but I sat in the audience with bated breath all day, waiting to see if my name would be called. Watching the process up close gave me insight into the process—and human nature—that I’ve never had before. Continue reading “The Justice System” →

Directionally Challenged

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

Many years ago, my mom and I attended a women’s conference in Oklahoma City. I drove, as is our custom. I can’t remember if I had a GPS system or if I had printed out the maps from MapQuest (it was that long ago). Either way, I wasn’t all that familiar with many areas of the city back then, and after dinner, I found myself turned around, in the dark, trying to find my way back to our hotel. I missed our exit, which meant I was now heading away from the hotel instead of toward it, and I started to panic. We were lost, and it was my fault. I didn’t know what to do. Continue reading “Directionally Challenged” →

Our Forever Home

Posted on by Staci Mauney
Charlie Bones

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)

As an adult, I’ve had two dogs, and both have been rescues. They were dogs no one wanted initially, and then in both cases, the people who took them in couldn’t keep them. That’s how I ended up with Lilly and then, thirteen years later, Charlie.

After Lilly died, I considered going to a shelter to get a dog. I perused shelter websites looking for the perfect dog. Most of the dogs were big, and I wanted a small one. I stopped looking because it was too heartbreaking.

Then Charlie came along, and he was the perfect fit. He’s high energy—too high energy for some people, which is why he came to live with me when his first owner decided he wanted a calmer dog. I had thought that Lilly had a lot of energy, but she was almost reserved compared to Charlie. The things that kept her occupied didn’t work on him. He loves to chew and has sharp teeth. I engaged him in training and found natural chews that he could tear into—and not bite my fingers or my furniture. Continue reading “Our Forever Home” →

When the Task Ahead Seems Difficult

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“And God said, ‘I will be with you.’” (Exodus 3:12)

A few months ago, the battery in my key fob started dying. In my mind, changing the battery seemed daunting—I needed to find someone that could change it, drive to the location, wait while they switched it out, and then pay an exorbitant amount of money. Apparently, I thought changing the battery in the key fob was similar to any other sort of car issue—inconvenient, time consuming, expensive, and something only a professional could do. So I switched to the other key fob. Then, a few days ago, that battery started to wane as well. Now that I was faced with two dead key fobs, I turned to Google for help.

You probably already know where this is going. The thing I had put off for so long had a very easy fix—purchase the appropriate battery, the number of which Google supplied on demand, pop open the key fob, and change the battery. No special equipment or expertise needed. And voila, both of my key fobs are now working again. Continue reading “When the Task Ahead Seems Difficult” →