Recently, I read a book by H. Jackson Brown Jr. entitled, "Live and Learn and Pass it On." In the book, people, ages 5 to 95 share what they have discovered about life, love, and other good stuff. Some of the thoughts are a bit humorous, but somehow we can get the message. I've personally discovered throughout my years that if we really listen, we can learn so much.
Episode 225: Celebrate Family →
This Warm Thoughts column on family, during National Family month, had a beginning as I was 16,000 miles in the air - flying over beautiful Ohio and returning from visiting families in Ohio. It was very special to be able to attend the grand opening of the Warner Funeral Services in Mansfield, Ohio. Another highlight of my Ohio visit was to be able to attend the graduation ceremonies of my granddaughter, Rosa Warner. Six-year-old Rosa was radiant as she walked across the stage and received her "Master's Degree in Kindness Acts" from kindergarten. It was so special for her two Grandmas to share that moment.
Episode 223: Partners in Prayer →
Snow showers in April bring us the month of May. Soon it will be the month of May - an exciting month of the year. A month of wonders. The amazing beauty and mystery of this world wraps itself into May. May is family month. There are the Mother's Day celebrations, graduations, and the May flowers help us celebrate and also honor the dead on loved ones graves. The beauty and drama of this world entwines the whole month of May.
Episode 222: What Makes a Happy Family? →
Easter joy! May all of you who read this column have a joyous Easter season. The day of Easter 1993 may be history, but the joy of that first Easter and the joy of every Easter sunrise service and every Easter celebration since that first Easter will live on and on. In my last column I shared some warm thoughts about Bethlehem and the plight to the Holy Land. If it were not for Easter, the season of Christmas would not be a celebration. Easter is truly a celebration of life.
Episode 219: Forever Spring →
Happy Easter! Easter and Spring have arrived. As I write these warm thoughts, it is the week before Easter and there still are some mountains of snow surrounding the little home on the prairie. My grandson, Trevor, who lives in Nebraska and who is spending some special vacation days with his grandma in South Dakota, is overjoyed to make an Easter snowman. Is spring really here in South Dakota? The events following Palm Sunday bring many memories of my past trips to the Holy Land. Walking the Via Dolorosa on the way to Calvary is a memory that often comes to mind not only during Holy Week.
Episode 214: Grandma Quilt →
February - heart month - the month for Valentine's Day. The month we think "spring" even if all man winters still has his fling! Brrrr! It has been cold! One needs to keep warm with the extra comforter that would be at the foot of the bed in grandma's day. No cold chill could penetrate the warmth of that comforter as it radiated grandma's love and care. That quilt was grandma's legacy. Recently, my friend experienced all the excitement of being a grandma for the first time. My gift to her was a baby quilt, and a poem I wrote. Since many of my readers have expressed appreciation of poetry thoughts, I will share with you the poem I gave with the quilt.
Episode 213: Footprints in the Snow →
Many warm thoughts come to mind as one views snow covered mountains and valleys. Pleasant memories can be rekindled by the warmth of a glowing fire in the fireplace, as we read cards and letters from family and friends. A few weeks ago I received a letter from old friends who live in the heartland of America, who have endured many winters of snow and ice in their lives. These thoughts were included on their card.
Episode 212: The Afterglow of that Bright Star →
Many years in the past, I would write the family Christmas letter on January 6th, the Christmas of the Gentiles - the festival that commemorates the appearance of the Christ child as the promised Savior to the Gentiles and to all the world. A few days before Christmas, I spent some time with family and friends in Nebraska. While there, Trina, my seven year old granddaughter wanted to make a gift for her parents. Since she is reading now and loves to tell stories, she wanted to write "A Merry Christmas Story." She dictated each word for me to print. As I patiently listened to each word, I became a bit weary and felt challenged to listen to the rest of the story. "Grandma, we can't forget about the kings," I heard her say. And so she continued, "It was a star that led three kings from a faraway country to come to Bethlehem too."
Episode 211: Generations of Memories →
Warm greetings from the Little Home on the Prairie and a Happy New Year! When you read the first column of Warm Thoughts for this new year, your thoughts may still be reflecting on memories of your traditional Christmas with friends and family. How exciting to pass on those wonderful traditions to our children and grandchildren! We can have generations of memories.
Episode 207: The Compassionate Friends →
This week I will encourage readers of this Warm Thoughts column to light a candle on Sunday, December 12th. When your child and perhaps your grandchild dies in a family, the world changes and you will never be the same person. Life goes on, but priorities change, and remembering the child who has died is an important way of traveling through your grief journey. The holiday season is especially difficult, as old traditions often give way to new or more meaningful traditions that help to remember the child, sibling, or grandchild or great grandchild who has died.
Episode 204: Liberty →
November: the month of Remembrance Day, also known as Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving Day. How thankful we are to live in our America. Liberty, so precious a gift for each of us. It is so special that we can enjoy our liberty every day here in America.
Episode 203: Leadership Lessons from the Geese →
This is a time of year when some folks leave the Prairie Winds and go south for the winter. Folks down south who have permanent residence there will say, "The snowbirds are coming!" About the same time, the northern geese are going south too. Recently I read that these geese are not going as far south as they used to go in past years. These geese flap their wings and fly south and a "V" formation. In the spring they fly north and it is always a special time for us to learn some lessons from the geese.
Episode 202: Homespun Patchwork Quilts →
My dear friend of many years, who is over 90 years old now, really warmed my heart this past week with a letter. She has always written beautiful and inspiring letters with many warm thoughts. She has enjoyed the book, "Love is a Quilt," and sent thoughts about homespun patchwork quilts on these chilly autumn evenings one feels the need for that warm comforter quilt. Here are her thoughts.
Episode 198: How Can You Make a Difference? →
One of the very faithful readers of this Warm Thoughts column recently sent me an article entitled, "You can Make a Difference." It was an article informing the public to take action on October 26th and make that day a day of caring. A National Day to inform us that the Make a Difference Day can help everyone to help others. The sixth annual event in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation takes place on October 26th. Mark your calendar! How do you plan to spend Make a Difference Day? It may be a month away but it is not too early to think about what you can do to help your community pull together a project for the day. You can also make a difference in the life of even one lonely shut-in, give a helping hand to a busy mother, write a letter of cheer to someone in need of an encouraging word, or touch the life of a child by sharing a gift of time with that child. Perhaps Saturday October 26th does not fit into your schedule, then make it October 27th or a day that will also Make a Difference Day for you or someone in need.
Episode 197: Hugs for Everyone →
The Labor Day weekend provides a great holiday for families who still need a few more days vacation. September is when we start counting the days of summer we still have left. September is also the month for Grandparents Day. This past summer, the grandchildren came to vacation at the little home on the prairie. One day I heard the older grandchildren laughing upstairs. They had found grandma's humor box. The youngest grandchild, very active two-year-old, Trevor, keeps everyone challenged. Grandma would rub his back at naptime. When he returned home from vacation, he ordered his dad, "Rub my back!" It is a real joy to receive many warm thoughts from the readers of this column. Recently, someone sent a poem which I will share with you.
Episode 184: Come Visit My Grave →
May is the month when families come together for the Memorial Day weekend. I shall never forget the memorial service I once attended in a cemetery. And as I stood at the grave of a veteran who had given his life for his country, this poem was read over the loudspeaker, and I would like to share it with you in this week's Warm Thoughts column.
Episode 176: My Walk with Jesus →
At this time each year, we all look forward to the glorious Easter season and experience the joy of Easter morning. The week before Easter is especially meaningful to me, as I recall my pre-easter pilgrimage to the Holy Land and walking that road to Calvary. When I returned from my pilgrimmage, I wrote these thoughts that I would like to share with you now.
Episode 175: An Ode to Good Friends →
It was five years ago that I wrote the first Warm Thoughts column over a cup of tea. I can remember the moment as if it happened yesterday. The first day of spring in 1993 was a beautiful springy day. Surprise, surprise! On Sunday morning, following that first day of spring, I awoke to a winter wonderland and a real South Dakota prairie blizzard. However, my pioneer spirit urged me to go to church that morning. Surprise, surprise! I was the only parishioner in church that morning. I was not aware that weather conditions were that severe to call off church services. What a lonely feeling. I later joked that the pastor went through the entire message and even shook my hand as I left the services! That afternoon, as the north winds blew and the snow covered the plains, I sat down at my old typewriter and typed the very first column of Warm Thoughts as I sipped a cup of tea. And I had many warm feelings as I appreciated a warm and safe home as the winds blew.
Episode 170: A Letter to Luetta →
When you read this Warm Thoughts column, it will be February and January has come and gone. Where has the month gone so fast? It has been a month of London fog flinging a crystal veil over the heartland, a real winter wonderland. February is heart month - the month of the Groundhog, Valentine's Day, Presidents Day...Did I forget something? February is also the month when many warm thoughts on love come to mind. In his book "How to Love," Arthur H. Rahner Jr states, "It is a selfish world." He defines love as not emotions or feelings, but the willingness to sacrifice for another. When we are selfish and look only to support our own causes, we cannot truly love.
Episode 169: Celebrate Life Each Day →
After I delivered last week's Warm Thoughts column, I walked to the post office. At the counter stood someone receiving a parcel - it was for her 90th birthday that day. I stood there in amazement and deep in thought as she drove away, alone, on the icy streets. I thought, "Here's a lady who understands what celebrating life each day really means. She lives every day of her life." In the mail that day came a letter from a longtime friend and reader of Warm Thoughts. She related about how her family and friends gave her a warm reception on her 80th birthday. She shared with me one of the readings her daughter read, and I feel you too, will enjoy these warm thoughts.