It is always a joy to receive warm thoughts from readers. These special gifts can then be shared with the reading audience of this column. The column a reader once gave me entitled, "Count Your Blessings," received many comments, so it was very special this week to receive these additional thoughts on counting blessings from a special friend: "Count your garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall. Count your days by golden hours. Don't remember clouds at all. Count your nights by stars, not shadows. Count your years with smiles, not tears. Count your blessings not your troubles. Count your age by friends, not years."
Episode 273: You Are What You Eat →
Recently, I read an article about how our attitude depends on what we eat and when we eat, as it has major impact on our performance and moods. We have heard often, "you are what you eat," according to Dr. Jack Grapple, a well known nutrition and fitness expert, he tells us how to have a better attitude. He states that we need to remember what your mother said about breakfast. Don't skip it. Grapple says no ifs, ands, and buts... eat breakfast. Breakfast is most important. He tells us why it is so important. "After a good night's sleep, your body is nearly devoid of glucose or blood sugar you need to replenish when you eat a proper breakfast, your cognitive abilities, your energy and your attitude are better. Cereals and grains are good, and even a little fat is okay."
Episode 272: A Quilt is Love →
Recently, I attended a Quilt Fest at the Pioneer Hall in Freeman, South Dakota. There were 155 quilts displayed, and the featured quilter was a 94-year-old resident of the Salem home. Throughout her life, she has been involved in the making of hundreds of quilts, and love has turned the patterns into works of art. As I stood there by the Christmas quilt, the wedding ring quilt, and many others, there were many warm thoughts that flashed through my mind. In the many quilts I have given away in my lifetime, I have included this poem entitled "Warm Thoughts."
Episode 267: I'm Free →
To some, Memorial Day means a day off from work, a three day weekend, opening day for the local pool, or the official start of the summer season. But for others, Memorial Day is a time to remember the dead, especially those who perished in America's wars. Memorial Day is said to have started in Waterloo, New York, when on May 5th, 1866 residents held a commemorative program and decorated the graves of those who died in the Civil War over time and as the United States fought more wars, Memorial Day, or "Decoration Day," as it is called in some areas, added the remembrance of those soldiers who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. Memorial Day is also a day of prayer for peace, as well as a patriotic day in which Americans display the flag.
Episode 266: A Young Mind →
During the month of May, many states host an annual event on the governor's conference on "Aging." At these conferences, older Americans may learn new ways for healthy living and lifelong learning. Some time ago, my friend Mary shared an article entitled, "Nostalgia," which I feel may be interesting to our readers as they review the changes of the century.
Episode 265: A Great Heart →
As I write this column, on the day of National Day of Prayer, many warm thoughts come to mind. Throughout the country, many students will be graduating from schools of learning this month. Graduation is both a happy and a sad occasion. The diploma a symbol of excellence in knowledge, is the inheritance of our youth. I am reminded of what a big, gray haired, soft spoken Professor Greek once stated as he handed out the diplomas. He said, "Young ladies and gentlemen, it is not possible for everyone to have a great intellect, but it is possible for everyone to have a great heart."
Episode 264: A Letter from A Mother →
When you read this Warm Thoughts column, it will be just a couple of days before Mother's Day. Many families will be together on this special family day honoring their mother. Recently, I read an essay, a letter a mother wrote to her daughter. It touched my heart, and no doubt will be taped on a kitchen cabinet or refrigerator, and so I share it with my readers.
Episode 263: The Joy of Spring →
As I write these lines, my thoughts are still centered on a hill outside Jerusalem. It is so overwhelming to realize God's love in our lives. Reflecting on Easter memories shared with family and friends, one finds in life meaning, purpose, hope, and love. Easter is the greatest celebration of the year, and should be celebrated every day. It is a joyous celebration of victory. The whole world becomes more beautiful at Easter time. For Easter ushers in spring, when all nature seemed as dead, there suddenly is life from brown branches and small twigs and stems tender green leaves come forth. The whole world is a veritable garden making a beautiful Easter offering.
Episode 262: Easter Reflection & Prayer →
As families throughout the world look forward to celebrating the Easter season, I'm overwhelmed with many warm thoughts and memories. Memories of the place where all the events of Holy Week took place are so real and meaningful to me. Many times I relived that experience of walking the Via Dolorosa, "the way of sorrows" when I was there on my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We all are pilgrims.
Episode 261: The Power of Prayer →
When many of you read this column, it will be National Day of Prayer, and large and small groups throughout our nation will be praying for the future of our world. In America, these groups are found in homes, churches, offices, factories, schools and in state and national capitals. These groups believe that positive prayer is power, and that behind all leaders of church and state, there must be prayer.
Episode 257: World Day of Prayer →
Each year on the first Friday of the month of March, World Day of Prayer is held throughout the world. Women of every nation, creed and color, gather together in a place of worship to offer their prayers in word and song. They offer their prayers for peace and reconciliation and have become God's ambassadors and prayer warriors to the world. World Day of Prayer has touched the hearts of many throughout the world.
Episode 250: Fresh Dreams for the New Year →
This is the first Warm Thoughts column for 1998. An unknown author once wrote this New Year's thought, "What the new year will bring us depends a great deal on what we bring into the new year." Among the many Christmas greeting cards received were many warm thoughts: A Prayer for Peace. "Dear Lord, let this be a year that moves us one step closer to each other. Let this be a year that brings us understanding in our hearts. Let this be a year that fills us with a yearning, burning, feeling for peace with one another and a oneness, Lord, with you."
Episode 248: Singing in the Shepherd Hills →
Every year now, as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day approaches, my memories take me to the little town of Bethlehem. How special it was to be able to worship in a cave on the shepherd hills in Bethlehem, the night I worshiped in a cave on those Shepherd hills will long remain in my memories. We traveled the winding roads of those hills with Abraham as the driver of the bus called "the guiding star," and Elijah and Gabriel guided the driver as we sang those beautiful Christmas carols. It seems that the angels in heaven were helping us to sing on those Shepherd hills.
Episode 247: Christmas Epistles →
It is National Family Week. As I write this warm thoughts column, families have traveled from far and near to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. There is more travel over the Thanksgiving weekend than any other time of the year. How wonderful for families to be together and celebrate the family ties. Every day is a day to celebrate the family.
Episode 246: National Family Week →
It is National Family Week. As I write this warm thoughts column, families have traveled from far and near to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. There is more travel over the Thanksgiving weekend than any other time of the year. How wonderful for families to be together and celebrate the family ties. Every day is a day to celebrate the family.
Episode 245: That First Thanksgiving Day →
Thanksgiving Day. Have you wondered about that first Thanksgiving Day? I found it very interesting that 200 years ago, in 1789 George Washington declared November 26th the official day of Thanksgiving. This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 26th. After 1789, the States continued to celebrate on different days.
Episode 244: The Old Fashioned Thanksgiving →
Are you making preparation for the family Thanksgiving? This week, I will share some thoughts from the book, "Just Folks," by a very favorite author, Edgar A Guest.
Episode 242: Make a Difference →
A recent warm thoughts column provided information about Make a Difference Day, which is October 26th. It is a day when everyone is encouraged to make a difference in their community and world by making it a Day of Caring, an annual National Day of helping others. Across the nation, about 1 million Americans will help others on this Make a Difference Day.
Episode 241: More than Money →
While in southern Nebraska on a weekend retreat, my daughter called the Little Home on the Prairie from Texas. Thanks to answering machines, she informed me that in their area in Texas, they got their first cold front. The temperature got to a lovely 70 degrees. I also was made aware that Boulder, Colorado had a storm, no school, and in Denver, many of the trees were destroyed because of an ice storm. And my friend in Florida informs me about the challenges their state experiences in Love Bug month. This time traveling back home throughout the heartland of America, I saw many fields not yet ready for harvest that had been damaged by the early frost. It brought back memories of the challenging years that many of us experienced as a child in those years of depression, which now seem to be history.
Episode 240: Towards a Society of All Ages →
A recent article I read states that the United Nations General Assembly has designated 1999 as International Year of Older Persons. The theme will be "Towards a Society of All Ages." This theme was chosen to promote the philosophy that societies should be inclusive in nature, should embrace all population groups, and share their resources equally. October 1st, 1998 will be the day that the UN launches this year long celebration, which is also the International Day of Older Persons, having its beginning in 1990.