Warm Thoughts

Have you read about the most creative job in the world? Let me tell you about it. Perhaps you have even lived it. This most creative job in the world involves taste, fashion, decorating, recreation, education, transportation, psychology, romance, cuisine, designing, literature, medicine, handicraft, art, horticulture, economics, government, community relations, pediatrics, geriatrics, entertainmen...

Today we celebrate Independence Day. It is a day of celebration for parades and families, and we see our nation's flag flying in the breeze. As a mother and grandmother, I save precious thoughts that my children and grandchildren have written. Recently, I ran across an essay that my daughter Kathy wrote when she was 13 years old and in 8th grade. On this Independence day, you too may appreciate th...

It seems that the readers of the Warm Thoughts column appreciate thoughts that may sometimes jog their minds. They also tell me they like essays and poetry. I really appreciate it when they share their thoughts. This column came from a very faithful reader of this column who apparently collects gems of thought. Thanks for sharing these thoughts. Let the words I speak today be soft and tender, for...

The month of June brings families together. There are still graduations, showers, weddings, birthday celebrations, wedding anniversaries, and it is the month for Father's Day. Togetherness can strengthen the family ties. The summer is a time to do some summer reading as a family. Perhaps at the dinner table, read something out loud to your family. Tomorrow night, another member of the family can r...

It is interesting to know that Father's Day, which this year will be celebrated on June 16th, was, ironically, inspired by a Mother's Day sermon. Mrs. John Bruce Dodd, a Spokane Washington artist, is credited with fostering Father's Day. She got the idea while listening to her minister deliver an impassioned sermon on motherhood. Mrs. Dodd's mother had died young, so her father had to raise 6 chil...

The 2nd Sunday in June is children's day. The following Sunday we celebrate Father's Day. A great deal of concern has been focused on our children as the dawn of a new century is fast approaching. Children who have graduated this last year in the 20th century are told that they will be shaping the next century. What a challenge for our children and our grandchildren. Many years ago, an author by t...

It is gardening time. It was a beautiful spring day when 6 year old grandson Trevor and his old grandma decided to plant the garden and then plant flowers in the flower pots. Trevor patiently helped plant the potatoes, better boy tomatoes, carrots, and broccoli. After the completion of the gardening project, we watered the garden. I suggested to Trevor that if it did not rain, he could pray for ra...

When you read this warm thoughts column, it will be just a couple 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 will share it with you, my readers. Dear daughter, although you a...

This is the last day of April. The month of April has been national poetry month. It is interesting that a dear friend in Florida sent me in the mail an original poem she wrote on her birthday. It is such a joy to be able to share with the readers of this warm thoughts column, the gems of thought and poetry. So thanks, Sarah Gray, for her precious thoughts. Little pleasures. Oh, the joy of little...

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 of 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 1st draft. Be a kid again. Dot a...

Here I go again, in my thoughts about listening to the master teachers in my life, the children. As we continue to experience rapid changes in technology, I realize every day it is my grandchildren who will be teaching me the changes in this computer world we now live in. And so I listened to the comments collected from computer children, ages 10 to 15. These are students who spend an average of 1...

As families throughout the world look forward to celebrating the Easter season, I am 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 relive that experience of walking the Via Dolorosa, also known as the Way of Sorrows, when I was there on my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We are all pi...

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...

Glancing at the calendar, I note that the first day of spring is just a few days away as I write this Warm Thoughts column. Yes, another spring is here this month, and the colors of spring will soon be all around us. The redbird and robins will sing their songs of cheer, The green frogs will start croaking in the babbling brook, The flowers, grass, and trees will come to life. The geese and ducks...

Recently, I attended a retreat at Cedar Shore in Chamberlain, South Dakota. It was a women's retreat, and all generations were present from the great grandmothers to the young mother with her baby daughter. It was a learning experience about the different generations which I would like to share with you this week and during family month. 1900 to 1925: The missionary generation, the happiest, most...

Right after St. Valentine's Day was history, I immediately saw St. Patrick's Day cards and decorations in the stores. There may be signs of winter and white snow around us, but the shamrock decorations of green are symbolic of life, and soon we'll have St. Pat's Day and Spring. I have always been curious about Bishop Patrick and why people considered him a saint in their lives. In my research, I r...

Recently, I attended a couple of exciting basketball games while visiting my family in Nebraska. My granddaughter performed as a cheerleader, and the folder that listed the names and pictures of the players and cheerleaders was also the top 10 reasons to sport a winning attitude. I was impressed, and since many of the readers of this Warm Thoughts column attend the sports activities, I thought I w...

President's Day is Monday, February 19th. We now celebrate all former presidents. We originally honored only George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, both whom had birthdays during the month of February, February 22nd and 12th, respectively. George Washington was the 1st and only president to be elected unanimously by the electoral college. He received all 69 of the votes. He was a first president w...

Since February is National Children's Month, I thought about writing an essay on what my grandchildren have taught me. They are now in school with children of other cultures, and although they may have graduated from Crayola college, they are color blind and love their friends from other cultures. Recently, my grandson Trevor was teaching me to count to five in the Japanese language and even write...

The year 2001 is the Year of the Books, and January was National Book Month. The year 2001 is also the Year of the Child, and the month of February, Heart Month, is also National Children's month. Children can come up with pearls of wisdom that simply seem so amazing. I will share with you the wisdom of children who were asked by a teacher to write advice to their parents on how to raise children....

Among the many Christmas epistles received during the Christmas season was a letter from a dear old friend in Ohio. Olga has been a real inspiration to me. For many years, she has been a lifelong learner and a pioneer in the work of missions and ministry. Her letter arrived on the 12th day of December, as she had a busy Christmas season. She was born on December 24 and last year, celebrated her 10...

The following column appeared on January 29th, 1998. It was a favorite column among the readers, and maybe again, for those who are celebrating birthdays this month. 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 her 90th birthday that day. I stood there in amazement and deep in thought as she drove away alon...

Have you made New Year's resolutions? A recent study informed us that many who make New Year's resolution have already broken them after two weeks. Some people do make it to Valentine's Day. In my collection of thoughts on the new year, I found an article that appeared in a Nebraska newspaper on January 2nd, 1914. As we read these thoughts, can we see ourselves applying it in our lives? 85 years l...

In one of the Christmas epistles I received during the holiday season, I was reminded that there now is Bethlehem Star TV as Trinity Broadcasting Network has a station in Bethlehem. The antenna is atop the Church of the Nativity. Isn't this exciting to know this is happening in this century? This network reaches all over Israel and even into Saudi Arabia, and in the future, will reach out to the w...

As I write these lines on Veterans Day, a time of remembrance, many warm thoughts come to mind. I can also remember past Veterans Day when we experience a blizzard, as we had yesterday. On this Veterans Day, I would like to share these prayerful thoughts with the readers of this Warm Thoughts column as together, we pay tribute to all those who served their beloved country. Thanks from the Heart. "...