The Open Sofa

Having a daughter, love has taken on a new meaning in my life.  I look at my daughter and want her feel loved, to grow to be happy, healthy and treated right by the future man in her life if that is in her future.  I may not be a man but being a woman, a daughter, the mother of a daughter and a therapist I think I have a little insight into little girls and some of their needs. I am fortunate enough to have grown up with a father who loved me.  I would think that most fathers say they love their daughters but how does this love translate in a little girl's life.  How do they know their daddy loves them? Starting from a small age, daughters look up to their daddies and want nothing but love from them.  When little, many daughters will even say they want to grow up to marry their daddy because he is "the man". Daddies are the first experience of male love a daughter will ever have. So how can you show your daughter that you love her?  Because l...

Currently being in a situation where I don't know what the outcome will be, I began to think about this question.  Who/what am I depending on right now?  We all have people or things that we depend on, especially in difficult times. We depend on: Things:  We depend on our car to get us to and from work, the store and whatever appointments we have. We depend on our cell phones to store the information we need it to and to call and send texts when need be.   Jobs:  We depend on our jobs to provide us with the finances we need to pay our bills. Money:  We depend on savings to get us through hard times or be available for retirement.   People:  We depend on people, especially those closest to us, to be there when we need them. As great as all of these things are, there is a problem.  The problem is that no matter what category you look at, they all can fail.   Some may even say that people provide the least amount of de...

We all come to a point in our lives when we question God.  Questions come in many forms depending on the situation we find ourselves in.  I know there have been many moments in my life when I questioned God's plan, especially when it seemed to make no sense.  At this moment in my life, I am in a place of transition, and I asked: What are some of the major questions we ask God, and, more importantly, what are the answers to these questions? I found there are three major questions we ask. Question 1:  When?  When will it happen? When will my prayer be answered? When will I see a change? When will I know that God has changed things? When do I need to do what's asked of me?  There are a lot of when questions.  This question is about timing. You may or may not have heard this verse before, but it gives a little perspective: "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day...

"For I am the least of the apostles ad do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God, I am what I am." 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 I think we have all been in Paul's shoes at one time or another.  Of course not that of being an apostle, but having that sinking feeling that you are not enough.  Identifying with a feeling of inadequacy.  Paul had to ask, "how can you use someone like me?  Why would you choose me?" Paul had done horrible things in his lifetime.  He had actually killed God's own people.  Thats intense.  He questioned how it could be possible that he could be used by God but was also sure of the answer.  Grace.  God showed a murderous man Grace.  This grace allowed Paul to be who he was truly meant to be. God's grace is free for us all.  It can free us to be who we are truly meant to be.  The question is will we accept it? It doesnt matter your...

"And now the most excellent way.  If I speak in tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have a gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but I have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I am nothing.  Love is patient, love it kind.  It does not envy, it doest not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps not records of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always hopes, always preservers.  Love never fails."   1 Corinthians 13:1-8 This is a verse, most of us have heard before, especially if you have ever been to a weeding.  I have read this verse many times.  A lot of times I check out a little during all the de...