By Trina Harger
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The podcast currently has 244 episodes available.
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.
It was Sarah Hale, an editor of a women's magazine in Boston, who waged a 30 year letter writing campaign to governors and the presidents, urging them to make Thanksgiving Day a national holiday and to pick one day for the celebration. President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a day of National Thanksgiving in 1863. Franklin Roosevelt pushed Thanksgiving into December in 1939 but two years later, it was moved back to the present, fourth Thursday in November.
Thanksgiving really dates back to October 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Many of the pilgrims who had come over on the Mayflower the previous year had died, and the survivors had weathered a severe winter, but their fortunes had changed by the spring and summer, and they had good crop harvests, thanks to the help of a local tribe, the Wampanoags. To celebrate the better times, the Pilgrims declared a holiday so that all might, after a more special manner, rejoice together. The Pilgrims did not forget the hard times, and they had a custom of putting five kernels of corn on each empty plate before a dinner was served. These five kernels were chosen because prior to that first harvest, things were so bad that the daily ration was five kernels of corn per person per day. That custom of the pilgrims is a reminder for us to reflect upon our blessings, which are given to us by a gracious, generous God.
Thanksgiving is a day of reflection on all that America has, our freedom, and our bounty. Every day is a day of thanksgiving and thanks living. I am reminded what the late A W Tozer once wrote about the habit of thanksgiving. He stated that "Thanksgiving will cure a host of injurious evils in our dispositions, self pity, resentment, murmuring and fault finding. All these will wither and die of themselves. For how can they grow inside a heart overflowing with gratitude and praise?" An unknown author wrote these prayerful thoughts, "Lord, we thank you for the privilege of living in a land of opportunity and beauty and plenty. We thank you for a religious heritage and freedom to worship as we may desire. We thank you for houses of worship that point fingers of stone towards heaven. We thank you for friends across the street, throughout the land, and around the world. We thank you for friendly nations on our borders and the ability to help the less fortunate in our own and other lands. We thank you for fertile fields swathed in robes of golden grain, for rolling plains blanketed with herds of lowing cattle, for majestic mountains ribbed with an ooze of steel. We thank you God for strength to work, for minds to plan and hearts to appreciate all good things from heaven." Happy Thanksgiving!
Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G Werner
Published in the Marion Record November 26th, 1998
Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.
Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.
Till next time,
Trina
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.
The Old Fashioned Thanksgiving. "It may be I am getting old, and like too much dwell upon the days of bygone years, the days I love so well. But thinking of them now, I wish somehow that I could borrow a simple old Thanksgiving Day like those of long ago. When all the family gathered round a table richly spread with little Jamie at the foot and Grandpa at the head, the youngest of us all to greet the oldest with a smile, with mother running in and out and laughing all the while. It may be I'm 'old fashioned,' but it seems to me today we're too much bent on having fun to take the time to pray. Each little family grows up with fashions of its own. It lives within a world itself and wants to be alone. It has its special pleasures, its circle, too of friends. There are no get together days. Each one his journey, wends. Pursuing what he likes the best in his particular way, letting the others do the same upon Thanksgiving Day. I like the olden way the best when relatives were glad to meet the way they used to do. But when I was but a child, the old homestead was a rendezvous for all our friends and kin, and whether living far or near, they all came trooping in with shouts of "Hello, daddy!" as they fairly stormed the place and made a rush for mother, who would stop to wipe her face. Upon the gingham apron before she kissed them all, hugging them proudly, to her breast, the grown ups and small. Then laughter rang throughout the home, and oh, the jokes they told - from Boston, Frank brought new ones, but Father sprang the old. All afternoon, we chatted, telling what we hoped to do, the struggles we were making and the hardships we'd gone through. We gathered round the fireside, how fast the hours would fly, it seemed before we'd settle down, it was time to say goodbye. Those were the glad Thanksgivings, the old time families knew. When relatives could still be friends, and every heart was true."
I enjoyed these thoughts so much by Edgar Guest, that I felt I just had to share these thoughts with you, the dear readers of this warm thoughts column. Thanks for sharing your thoughts during the holiday season!
More warm thoughts: We derive the greatest joy from the fact that we have people to love. Martin Luther. A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues. Cicero.
Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G Werner
Published in the Marion Record, sometime in November.
Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.
Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.
Till next time,
Trina
November. Can it really be November? Already, it seems, the year has it's last flare of youth in October. In November, the earth folds its hands, hands that have been trained in the lesson of content and waits for that garment of snow.
We have had some very beautiful autumn days this year, days for travel. No, I did not travel to Florida for that historic launch into space, but I did manage the trip to Nebraska, and while there, attended a 50th wedding anniversary of dear friends who live in Seward Nebraska, that Fourth of July city. It was so special to be able to share at that golden celebration a poem I wrote, and so I will also share the poem with the readers of this warm thoughts column.
50 Years of Happiness. It may seem to you like yesterday, yet 50 years have passed away. Since at the altar you stood side by side a very young groom with his happy bride. And now your children's children stand close, gathered round and eager band. You may recall with smiles and tears the joys and griefs of those 50 years. For you have known the cares of life, sweethearts you were as man and wife. Yet you have not loved each other less through those 50 years of happiness. And now, as you are turning gray, you still trust in God your guide and stay. He's your constant and unchanging friend. He'll lead you both to your journey's end.
At a time when the average marriage is lasting seven years, it is certainly commendable that there are still some marriages who can celebrate that golden anniversary. Cheers to Les and Dorothy!
More Warm Thoughts: "Grow old with me. The best is yet to be." Browning. "The glory of green grasses fades away like shadows in the quiet autumn night, the golden leaves descend like birds in flight and in them, squirrels, like children, run and play." May you have many warm thoughts these autumn days!
Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. Werner
Published in the Marion Record, November 5th, 1998
Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.
Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.
Till next time,
Trina
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.
Can one person make a difference? We are aware that there have been many difference makers in history, to name a few. We remember that Thomas Edison brought us out of darkness and into electric light. Henry Ford gave us the Model T. Eli Whitney gave us the cotton gin. Ben Franklin provided your bifocals. John Bunyan guided the progress of millions of pilgrims. Then there was Columbus, Lincoln Beethoven, Einstein, and many others who made a difference. Our lives can be blessed by a caring community. I personally experienced this following a car accident that took six months of recovery. The outpouring of love and compassion was phenomenal. Over 600 cards and prayerful letters of encouragement for a speedy recovery were received. Visits and telephone calls from all parts of the country. A surprise call even came from caring friends who live in Switzerland and England. One afternoon, I experienced a caring community with their points of light and how they certainly can light up one's life and make a difference. I am very thankful for the caring communities around the world, whoever you are and wherever you are, thanks for all your caring.
Warm Thoughts: Caring is a garden where love grows. The world is blessed by people who care. The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor. Hubert H Humfrey. A little time to care for others, a little time to share with others. That's what makes someone like you so nice to know and to be with too. Helen Steiner Rice. October 26th is National Make a Difference Day!
Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. Werner
Published in the Marion Record October 17th, 1996
Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.
Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.
Till next time,
Trina
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.
I thought about what a Nebraska woman wrote in her best years should be now...She went on to state that she now has a beautiful home in a lovely neighborhood, an expensive new car, anything I want to eat, a hard working husband and good health. She then went on to state that her best years were in being a kid in the depression years, even though she lived in an old house with no running water and wore hand me down clothes, she didn't realize it was a depression, as she had a lovely family, and there were no concerns about who would be the next president or if another war might start.
As I traveled along in my thoughts, I couldn't help but remember what a wise man once stated, "though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord," from Habakkuk.
A Thought to Ponder: "Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul." Henry David Thoreau. Share a warm thought with someone each challenging day!
Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr Luetta G Werner
Published in the Marion Record, October 5th, 1995.
Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.
Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.
Till next time,
Trina
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.
The United States Planning Committee for this unique year recognizes aging as multi-dimensional and spanning every individual's lifelong development, the importance and contribution of Older Persons to intergenerational richness, the heterogeneity of the older population, and it's concern about the continuing poverty of many older persons and the necessity to provide adequate health care in the later years. The committee seeks to create opportunities for all of our citizens to understand, appreciate, and celebrate the contributions to nation, community, and family of older persons as citizens, caregivers, volunteers, and workers. The committee is working to focus attention on the challenge to our nation to ensure that the increases in life expectancy are matched by the increased opportunities for older persons to find fulfillment to these years. It also recognizes education as an enterprise that is lifelong and takes place in many different settings. It is the mission of this committee to encourage thoughtful planning of intergenerational projects, seminars, discussion groups and ethnic and cultural heritage programs in educational systems, corporations, religious organizations and the public and private sector. So dear readers of this warm thoughts column, be looking for special events in our community and be an active participant in this year honoring many of you.
Grandma and Grandpa: "I like to walk with grandma and grandpa. Their steps are shorter like mine. They don't say, 'Now, hurry up!' They always take their time. I like to walk with grandma and grandpa. Their eyes see things mine do. Wee pebbles bright, a funny cloud, half hidden drops of dew. Most people have to hurry. They do not stop and see, I'm glad God made grandma and grandpa unrushed and young like me." Author unknown. Celebrate "Towards a Society of All Ages" all year.
Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G Werner
Published in the Marion Record, October 1st, 1998
Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.
Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.
Till next time,
Trina
Recently, one of the readers of this column from Texas sent me an article entitled, "We Are Survivors: Consider the Changes We Witnessed." I thought it appropriate to share some of the thoughts from this article. Individuals who were born prior to 1945 will especially understand the changes in their lives.
"We were before television, before penicillin, before polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, frisbees and the pill. We were before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams and ballpoint pens. Before pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip dry clothing and before man walked on the moon. In our times, bunnies were small rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagens. We were before daycare centers, group therapy and nursing homes. We never heard of FM radio, tape decks, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, yogurt, and guys wearing earrings. For us, time sharing meant togetherness, not computers or condominiums. A chip meant a piece of wood. Hardware meant hardware and software wasn't even a word. In our day, grass was mowed. Coke was a cold drink, and pot was something you cooked in. Rock music was grandma's lullaby, and pizzas, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. We thought fast food was what you ate during Lent and outer space was the back of a local theater. We hit the scene when we were five and ten stores where you bought things for five and ten cents. The corner drug store sold ice cream cones for a nickel or a dime. For one nickel, you could ride a streetcar, make a phone call, buy a Pepsi, or enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards. You could buy a new Chevy coop for $600 but who could afford one? A pity too, because gasoline was only 11 cents a gallon, and we got married first, and then lived together, and we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think you needed a husband to have a baby. But we survived!"
Warm Thoughts: Seasons change, and so do people. For me, managing change quite literally meant "survival." Terry Anderson. May you have many warm thoughts every day!
Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G Werner
Published in the Marion Record, September 26th, 1996
Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.
Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.
Till next time,
Trina
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 the gift of time with that child. Perhaps Saturday, October 26th does not fit into your schedule. Then make it October 17th for a day that will also make a difference day for you or someone in need.
There is no age limit for this Make a Difference Day. The stories of volunteers are very heartwarming. In Maryland, 10 year olds gave personal items to an older friend. Two retired teachers in Selma, Alabama befriended a 96 year old widow, helping her to continue to live independently. And in Washington State, friends celebrated their 50th birthday by collecting 7,500 pounds of food, clothing, and blankets for an emergency network. Perhaps this Make a Difference Day can focus on your regular service project in the church or community. If you want a big impact on Make a Difference Day, pull the community together to blitz a needed project or solve an existing need in the community. Just think about it. Will you make a difference? One person can make a difference. Will it be you?
Warm Thoughts to Ponder: Give what you have to someone, it may be better than you dare to think. Longfellow. Remember October 26th is Make a Difference Day!
Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G Werner
Published in the Marion Record, September 19th, 1996.
Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.
Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.
Till next time,
Trina
Some time ago, a dear friend and great grandma who has faced many emotional challenges in her life, shared some thoughts about counting. This dear friend regularly reads this Warm Thoughts column and wanted to share the thoughts by an unknown author with all you dear readers out there, somewhere. We live in an age where we have many choices and changes. Some time ago, I heard someone state that "pain is inevitable, but misery and being miserable is a choice." In the School of learning and hard knocks, the following thoughts may warm our hearts and perhaps motivate us in our own countdown.
"Count your blessings instead of your crosses, count your gains instead of your losses. Count your friends instead of your foes. Count your smiles instead of your tears, count your full years instead of your lean. Count your kind deeds instead of your mean. Count your health instead of your wealth. Count on God instead of yourself." Thanks to your friend for sharing these warm thoughts. Your thoughtful gift of sharing, perhaps touched some dear soul who takes time to read and live these thoughts.
A Thought to Ponder: Choose carefully the company you keep, for you may become what they are.
A Warm Thought: Choose carefully the memories you live with. Have a beautiful day counting your blessings!
Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. Werner
Published in the Marion Record, September 7th 1996.
Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.
Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.
Till next time,
Trina
Recently, I read a very interesting article on the challenges of aging. Studies by the experts state that "the generation who are celebrating their 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries have succeeded in kicking the blabbers out of the stereotypes of aging." Perhaps this can be explained by one word - attitude. The experts stated, "the attitudes of a 70-year-old today are equivalent to those of a 50-year-old, but only a decade or two ago." It is interesting how many couples are in their 50th, 60th and even 70th wedding anniversaries. More individuals are also reaching that century mark. The late George Burns stated, "I see people who, the minute they get to be 60, start rehearsing to be old. They practice when they sit down and grunting when they get up, and by the time they get to be 70, they're a hit. They've got the part - they're old."
I like to think that the streams of life bring depth and wisdom in our lives. Goth finished his Faust at 81. At 80, Verdi produced his famous Falstaff. Tennyson wrote "Crossing the Bar" at 83. Valtaire was still penning plays at 84. Monet was painting great pictures at 86. Marian Baininray in "The Stillness is Dancing" says, "At 50, the mind has yet to reach its zenith. At 60, it as at its best, and then declines gradually that at 80, those who have kept themselves mentally alert can be just as productive as at 30. Judgment and reason may have actually improved and creative imagination is scarcely touched by age. I think Mark Twain says it best, "Age is mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
Warm Thoughts: If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy. The old are the precious gems in the center of the household. Chinese proverb. Have many warm thoughts every day!
Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G Werner
Published in the Marion Record, August 19, 1996.
Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.
Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.
Till next time,
Trina
The podcast currently has 244 episodes available.