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 179: Be a Kid Again →
Last week we learned some thoughts from the kids and computers. In the past, I've received some interesting comments from my readers in my peer group who are having a growing edge with all this computer technology. I have been reading some perspectives on aging and how to be a kid again and so I will share these thoughts found on the internet. Perhaps it is the first draft.
Episode 161: The Power of "Thank You" →
Happy Thanksgiving! Today is Thanksgiving Day and many families will be gathered together to share thoughts on gratitude. Can you name at least seven things for which you are grateful? Do you believe in "Thank You" power in your life? The latest research on the impact of positive emotions in our lives is very interesting. The influence of gratitude is quantifiable, both physically and emotionally. Simply being thankful and making it a point to recognize those good things will positively change our lives. There is scientific proof that we will be happier, healthier, and better able to handle the stresses of daily life simply by saying, "thank you."
Episode 150: Grandparent Hugs →
Every year at this time I am reminded by letters I received about International Hug Day. This year, it is September 17th. It is rather interesting that it is a week later than Grandparents Day. The National Grandparents Day is the second Sunday in September every year.
Episode 80: Forgiving Others →
In last week's column, it was mentioned that January 21st is National Hugging Day. I also read about Thank You Day being in January. And the last week in January has long been known as International Forgiveness Week. The other morning I was listening on the radio, and heard it say that a noted doctor stated that, "70% of the people would be released from hospitals in 24, hours, if they knew they were forgiven." A French philosopher once said that, "To know all is to forgive all." Among my heroes of faith are many missionary friends whose forgiving heart has taken them to their former captors. That is the story of St. Patrick who went back to Ireland as a Christian missionary to take the love of Christ. A well known missionary and author of many books, worked among the people who killed her husband, and other missionaries. There are many heroes of faith, who live a life of daily forgiveness. Forgiveness is the mark of maturity. Life is too short to hold a grudge. Harry E. Fosdick once said, "Hating people is like burning down your home to get rid of a rat." The inability to forgive and forget, is what makes one sick. As we have many warm thoughts on forgiveness during International Forgiveness Week, may we remember, there is a little remedy to ease the life we live and make each day, a happier one - it is the word, forgive.
Episode 55: Decoration Day →
As we approach Memorial Day, our warm thoughts may go down memory lane and remember many of the patriotic holidays of past years that have brought joy into our lives. For many, Memorial day is the day of vacation, a time to travel, and perhaps spend time with family and friends, it is also a time to appreciate family and decorate the graves of our loved ones. For many years, this annual date was known as Decoration Day. It was early in May of 1868 that General John A. Logan, then the commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, officially designated the 30th of May, as a day for decorating the graves of the comrades who died in defense of their country. Decoration Day then acquired its present, and more symbolical meaning of Memorial Day.
Episode 52: Reflection in the Mountains →
It is springtime, and the Rockies. After the wintry April of South Dakota, it was a spring retreat for me to fly to the mountains of Colorado. It is always a joy to go see family in Colorado and celebrate special family events. Going to the mountains provides special moments for reflection and meditation. It was many years ago that I reflected on Psalm, 121, a favorite psalm for many and at that time, I penned these lines, which I will share with you.
Episode 31: Sweetest Day →
Last week we had a few warm days, and we really enjoyed the beautiful summer weather. I remarked to my granddaughter about the warm weather and emphasized that it was really warm.
“Grandma, what does warm mean?” “Not so hot” was my quick reply.
Apparently I was having a brain cramp. At the moment, I said it would be too difficult for her to understand Webster's dictionary, or how the dictionary got started. I remember long ago, I was told how the dictionary got started, it was one night when Mr and Mrs Webster, got into an argument, and one word led to another and his famous dictionary was compiled at the age of seventy years.