Tensions in the Ukraine have continued to rise as separatists stormed government offices in the nation’s east—a location where Russia has amassed thousands of troops along the border (BBC, April 7, 2014). Several eastern cities in the Ukraine have a majority of Russian speakers (ibid.). With the situation deteriorating, the U.S. and Denmark have both recently sent additional F-16 fighters to the region, and “Germany has said its air force is ready to increase security on Nato’s border with Russia, despite Moscow’s promise not to escalate the crisis in Ukraine” (EU Observer, March 31, 2014). 

Do you remember that old caution, “Do you know where your children are?” Well, I am asking you as a Christian mother, “Do you know what your children are reading?” Many mothers do not know—and, sadly, many teachers do not know or even care, as long as the children are reading.

It was silly of me, really. There I was, walking along, running my mouth like a typical teenage girl, not watching where I was going, when all of a sudden, BAM! My shin smacked hard into a big rock in my path. How I missed seeing it, I still don’t know to this day. However, it was from that incident that I learned a very important life lesson.

The uses of words in our language changes and evolves constantly. Our burgeoning technology brings with it new words, some of which seem meaningless. Who knew what a “selfie” was until the ubiquitous smart phone made digital cameras and the transmission of photos so popular—particularly in conjunction with social media and YouTube, where one’s everyday activities are shared with the world? What else has changed?

Some time ago, I was traveling down the interstate when a most surprising thing happened. We were in the middle of a snowy day (which is actually not the surprising thing, considering January weather in upstate New York, where my family and I lived at the time). What was surprising, however, was the cascade of snow, ice, and gravel that landed on top of our windshield just before we went under a bridge!