Traveling throughout the heartland of America, I was impressed with the beauty of the green fields. After attending the International Congress on the Family in Colorado, it was a joy to again spend special time with family and friends and celebrate another birthday. I did not realize that the year I entered this big world, it was a banner year. It was family in Wisconsin who shared these thoughts on a birthday card.
Episode 228: Happy Father's Day →
The first day of summer! Good old Summertime is very near. Next Sunday not only is the first day of summer, but it is also Father's Day. In our own special way, we honor our fathers on this day. We have very special memories. Many memories touched my heart as I read about the "Old Fashion Daddy."
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 199: Surviving the Changes of Life →
Recently, one of the readers of this column from Texas sent me an article entitled, "We are Survivors: Consider the Changes we have Witnessed." I thought it appropriate to share some of the thoughts from this article.
Episode 192: I've Learned... →
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 191: Always Have a Dream →
The world watched the passing of the torch for the Olympic Games. Whether one has the dream of carrying that torch or winning a gold medal, we all have some dreams and goals in our lives. Recently, I read an article by a noted doctor stating that everyone has dreams. What is your dream of dreams? The following thoughts by Amanda Bradley have blessed the lives of many people. I have often used it when closing a speech or at the end of a seminar or workshop. I would like to share it with all my special readers of this column.
Episode 189: An Attitude Worth Catching →
It is always a joy to receive thoughts from faithful readers of this Warm Thoughts column. They share with me thoughts so precious that I feel the need to share with others. A faithful reader from Florida who has lived a long life and has a contagious attitude worth catching, sent me thoughts by Charles Swindoll on attitude. "The longer I live, the more I realized the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me, is more important than the facts, it is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on this one string we have and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes."
Episode 171: Listening to the Children →
In recent Warm Thoughts columns you've read about the joy one receives when you really listen to the children. Their words of wisdom not only surprise us, but their thoughts jog our minds to higher levels of understanding, for they are our master teachers. I was so pleased to learn that our governor signed a proclamation encouraging us to find a child to read to on March 2nd. This date is "America's Read to Kids Day." It is hoped that all states will become aware of how important it is to read to the children. This is a nationwide campaign to encourage reading.
Episode 168: We Are Never Too Old →
In last week's warm thoughts column we shared thoughts on the importance of listening to the children. I never cease to be amazed at the words of wisdom children can give you when you really listen to them. My experience throughout the years has also been that one can gain wisdom and understanding when we really listened to the older generation. Their wealth of experiences are a treasure and need to be shared.
Episode 162: Relaxing with a Good Book →
During the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, many people travel by air and land to visit family. It is a busy time, and often the stress and strain from travel and the social events can cause us to feel overtired. It becomes apparent that we need to focus on the reason for the season. In my travels throughout the years, I have noticed people relaxing while reading a book. It is one of the ways of finding quiet moments of relaxation. I usually travel with books and find moments to have some quiet thoughts from the heart.
Episode 154: Autumn Reflections →
As I turn the calendar to October, one realizes the season of fall is really here. It is one of the most beautiful seasons of the entire year. It is the time of the bright blue skies, the cool nights, frost in the air, beautiful sunsets, and many warm thoughts come to mind. Recently, a poem I wrote on Autumn Thoughts was published by Lifelines Magazine, and I will share these thoughts with you, my faithful readers of this column.
Episode 144: The Parent of all Virtues →
In last week's column, it was mentioned that one of the best attitudes is gratitude. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated one day of the year. Thanksgiving and thanksliving is an attitude that can be practiced every day, making it a daily habit. My observation throughout the years is that the happiest persons are the most grateful individuals. They live "The Attitude of Gratitude" each day of their lives, an awakened, revitalized recognition of our blessings encourages gratitude thoughts.
Episode 132: Reap What You Sow →
Spring is here and many of you are preparing your fields for planting and putting in your gardens. It always reminds me of the verse, "A man shall reap what he sows," Galatians 6:7. Recently, my daughter from Wisconsin came to visit me and wrote me this poem about planting seeds of love. Dear mother, you always taught me that you will reap what you sow. So we should always do unto others what you want them to bestow. But there are days when it is hard to live those words, it's true. Yet, I remember the lessons you taught me in the example I learned from you. All those days you spent cooking and cleaning, the nights you worked without sleeping, the seeds of love you kept on planting is the love you now are reaping. Even now, as you lay on your hospital bed, and others must give to you. All those years you gave of yourself, those words are coming true. Yes, true living is in true giving, and His love is what we owe. Though it may be years before we realize that someday we will reap what we sow. Ruth Stuhr.
Episode 114: Planting Seeds of Hope →
Every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Bible Sunday is observed. The theme for this year is "planting seeds of hope." As one research is survival on words of hope, there are many Bible promises on hope. Recently, pollster George Gallup Jr. speaking to a group of international reporters said, people in many nations appear to be searching with the new intensity for spiritual warnings. One of the key factors prompting this search is certainly a need for hope in these troubled times.