Warm Thoughts

The second 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 grandchildren!

Many years ago, an author by the name of Dorothy Law Nolte wrote these thoughts about children and what they learned from those around them: Children Learn What They Live. "If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy. If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty. If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient. If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence. If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate. If children live with fairness, they learn justice. If children live with security, they learn to have faith. If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves. If children live with acceptance and friendship they learn to find love in the world."

Children are our teachers. They walk us, or push us, through a process of purification to our own maturity. How can we respect and honor this gift? I am reminded of what former First Lady Barbara Bush stated in a graduation speech. She said, "One hundred years from now, it will not matter what your bank account has or what sort of house you lived in, or the kind of car you drove. But the world may be different because you were important in the life of a child." Celebrate the gift of a child on Children's Day.

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G Werner

Published in the Marion Record June 10th, 1999.

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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

Today is Ascension Day. Some churches throughout the world observe this church festival day with special services. Ascension Day is on Thursday, forty days after Easter. It commemorates Christ's ascension which took place by tradition at the Mount of Olives near Bethany in the Holy Land.

My research on Ascension Day states that the earliest documentary evidence of the observance of the feast of the ascension is of the fifth century, which presents it as already long observed. Pictorial representations of the event narrated in the Acts are found in fifth century hinged tablets and frescoes. The Eastern churches know the feast as the Analepsis. The Roman liturgy ranks the day among the highest feasts, and marks its celebration with a visual and an octave. Connected with the liturgical solemnity were certain customs, including the blessing of beans and grapes during the Canon of the Mass, the extinction of the paschal candle, triumphal processions, and, in some churches, the elevation of a figure of Christ through an opening in the church roof, symbolizing the Ascension.

Ascension Day Church services have always had a very special meaning in my life from early childhood days. These services for me were as important as Christmas and Easter. Many special memories of attending Ascension Day church services flood my mind and hold even more special meaning having been able to worship in the Chapel of the Ascension on my last pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It is very interesting that the hotel where I stayed while there was near the Chapel of the Ascension on the hill where tradition has it, that Jesus left his disciples and gave us all the great commission to carry on his work in spreading the Gospel to all nations. I was able to walk the path alone to this chapel to meditate and pray and light a candle. These memories of spending precious prayerful moments at this hill so far away, will forever remain in my memories. Thank you dear readers of this warm thoughts column for sharing with me how very special today is as we celebrate and appreciate this very special festival, the Ascension of our Lord.

Some prayerful thoughts to ponder: Lord, lead me to some soul today. Oh teach me, Lord, just what to say. Lord, lay some soul upon my heart and love that soul through me. And may I gladly do my part to win that soul for Thee. Have a very special Ascension Day!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner

Published in the Marion Record June 1st, 2000.

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

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.

Come Visit My Grave. I am a veteran laid under the sod. I'm in good company, I'm up here with God. Come to my grave and visit with me, I gave my life so you be free. Today is Memorial Day throughout this great land, there's avenues of flags, parades, and bands. I can hear the music, the firing squad, and taps. Here come my comrades, the Legionnaires, the Blue Caps - one of them just put a flag by my stone. Someday he will have a flag by his own. Some think of this day as just a day free from toil, while others are busy working the soil. They say they have plans other things to do, don't put us aside as you would an old shoe. Come visit my grave in this cemetery so clean. This is what Memorial Day means! There are many of us lying in wakeless sleep in cemeteries of green and oceans of deep. It's sad that for many who fought so brave, now no one comes to visit their grave. They died so you can have one whole year free. Now can't you save this one day for me? There are soldiers, sailors, airmen up here who went into battle despite of their fear. I've been talking up here to all of those men, if they had to do over they'd do it again. Look, someone is coming to visit my grave. It's my family - for them, my life I gave. My wife, I remember our last embrace as I left the tears streamed down your face. I think you knew the day I shipped out. I wouldn't return your life'd to be turned out. There's my daughter that I used to hold. Can it be that you're nearly 20 years old? Next month is to be your wedding day, I wish I could be there to give you away. My son's here too, Dad's little man. Always love your country, do for what you can. There is one thing that really did bother - is seeing you grow up without the aid of a father. I wish you could all hear me from up above, that a father's best gift to his children is love. And what better way to prove my love to the end - Is that man lay down his life for his friends. I see it's time for you to go home. Your visit made it easier to remain here alone. Don't cry honey. You look so sad. Our children are free. You should be glad. Daughter. Thanks for the bouquet, so cute. Thank you son, for that sharp salute. Come again. I forgot you can't hear me from up here but I know you'll come visit me next year. I hope all veterans are treated this way. On this day to remember, Memorial Day. Author unknown.

Love your country. God bless America!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G Werner

Published in the Marion Record May 29th, 1997

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

May is family month! When you read this week's column, many of you will be looking forward to a day off from work - a three day weekend, the opening of the swimming pool, and the official start of the summer season. You may be celebrating life with family and friends. Memorial Day is a day and a time to remember the dead, especially those who perished in America's wars. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Memorial Day is said to have been started in Waterloo, New York, when on May 5th, 1866,residents held a commemorative program and decorated the graves of those who died in the Civil War. Over the years and as the United States fought more wars, Memorial Day, or "Decoration Day" as it is called in some areas, added the remembrance of those soldiers who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. Memorial Day is a day of prayer for peace. It is a patriotic day when Americans display the flag. Memorial Day has also become a day to honor one's ancestors and family members who have died. It is a day when many Americans will visit the graves of their loved ones and leave flowers on this special day.

Memorial Day is also a day to celebrate family and show appreciation for the living members of family and community. As we reflect on this day, in the memories of the many Memorial days of the past, may we experience many warm thoughts on peace.

Warm thoughts to ponder: Peace comes not from the absence of conflict in our lives, but from the ability to cope with it. May God's love rest upon you, like a refreshing shower and bless your life with inner peace and with his healing power. Peaceful. Before me, peaceful. Behind me, peaceful. Over me, peaceful. Under me, peaceful. All around me, peaceful. Navajo.

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G Werner

Published in the Marion Record May 24th, 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

As I write this column we are experiencing May showers. May the May showers bring blessings and May flowers! The weekend found many in the community planting their gardens and flowers. My joy and challenge was having a two-year-old granddaughter helping plant the seeds. Indeed a challenge with those little hands planting seeds of love!

It was over ‘a cup of tea’ at the Recognition Tea for our South Dakota Mother of the Year, Margaret Connors, that I shared the joys and challenges of motherhood with mothers and grandmothers. I was seated across the table from our 1993 American Mother of the Year, Mrs. Ruby Washington and her daughter, Michele Blakely, both from Grand Island, Nebraska. Our American Mother for this year is indeed a jewel of a mother and we feel confident that she will represent motherhood well this year. Her love for God and a wonderful sense of humor has helped her through thirty-five years of marriage and motherhood. She has seven children and has been a foster-mother to two-hundred twenty-five foster children. Most of the foster children their family has had in their home have been teenagers who have needed parental guidance and support during a difficult time in their lives. Our American Mother for 1993 will tell you how her parents left an indelible imprint on her life. They, too, loved many children and helped and guided them along life’s way.

Have you ever attended a bridal shower when the bride is not present and is in another state? Recently I attended a shower for my niece who lives in Texas and will be getting married in June. It was a real fun time for family to get together and not know when the video camera would come in your direction. It was like being on ‘candid camera’ and seeing the production before returning to your homes again. The gifts were not opened as they will be taken to the bride when family goes to the wedding. However, we played the game of acting out what was in the gift we brought! Really funny on ‘candid camera!’ In this age of high technology we need not even have to fly all over the country to be present at your bridal shower - just receive the video and of course the gifts! As families together celebrate at graduations, weddings, showers, birthdays, and special family celebrations, let us plan to make a memory. And how important it is to choose carefully the memories that we live with as we travel down memory lane together.

A Warm Thought for the Week: “If you love from the heart you can love one another with all your heart.” Ruby Washington, American Mother for 1993. Have a week filled with warm memories!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner

Published in the Canestota Clipper May 20th, 1993

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

Cheers to the graduates! As I write this column, on the day of National Day of Prayer, many warm thoughts come to mind. Throughout the country, many students will be graduating from schools of learning this month. Graduation is both a happy and a sad occasion. The diploma, a symbol of excellence and knowledge, is the inheritance of our youth. I am reminded of what a big gray-haired, soft spoken Professor Greek once stated, as he handed out the diplomas. He said, "Young ladies and gentlemen, it is not possible for everyone to have a great intellect, but it is possible for everyone to have a great heart."

Over a quarter of a century ago, I read an essay written by an unknown author entitled, "Two Easy Questions," which I feel I would like to share with you, my dear readers of this warm thoughts column: It was graduation day and as a teacher, I sat before the speaker's lectern. Here we go again. I amused. Another boring, unimaginative, uninteresting speech. But how very wrong I was! The speaker merely said that he had two easy questions that he hoped each graduate could answer for himself in the affirmative. If any student had to give a negative answer to one or both questions, he stressed, then that person was in deep trouble. He asked the graduates, "Do you have the ability to love? Do you have the capacity to receive love?" I was moved - so was the entire audience. He went on. "There is an identification crisis in America. People don't know who they are or where they are going. They have no purpose. They are frustrated and hate swells within them. If we don't love ourselves, how can we possibly love someone else? Hate blunts and stunts sensitivities and sensibilities. People attempt to erase this frustration and hate by eating too much, drinking too much, and smoking too much. It takes people to help people become people. If we give love, we will receive love. But to love, we must love our bodies and chasten in our emotions. We must not gallop and gulp, rather, we must pause to savor and sip. We all know that love is not physical, but our spiritual and mental and emotional complexities are so entwined with the physical, that we must fight hard to make ourselves physically disposed to love. Love the bodies and chasten the emotions. In a world full of lonely persons, isn't it a tragedy for anyone to be lonely, alone?”

Some time has passed since that commencement speaker (bless him) hurled those two questions at his audience, but they continue to echo and re-echo in mind. He did, however, give us a clue, a rule to live by: We must find love in ourselves. Very well. I'll begin there. I'll love myself. I'll educate myself, discipline myself, and think noble thoughts. What's more? I'll even try to make myself more lovable. It is possible for everyone to have a big heart. May the inspiration of wisdom and the hope for the future be with our graduates and their journey through life. Congratulations to the graduates!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner

Published in the Marion Record May 14th, 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

Today, May 3rd, 2001, is National Day of Prayer. Many a church door will be open for prayer warriors to enter and pray on this special day. Wherever we may be, may we observe this very special day of prayer for our country and the leaders of our nation. Our nation was born in a meeting based on prayer. Many important decisions were only made after careful prayer to God. Unless the people of our nation and its leaders turn to God in prayer, our best plans will fail. Mighty leaders in the past have not hesitated to bow down before God. Our first President, George Washington, was recognized by members in Congress to kneel in prayer. Our forefathers and foremothers are known for being prayer warriors. Many events in history have been altered and changed when people have gone to their knees in believing prayer.

In this year of the books, I am reminded of what Dr. Frank Laubach once wrote many years ago in his illuminating book entitled, "Prayer, the Mightiest Force in the World." He stated the following, "We do not persuade God to try harder when we pray. It is our world leaders, our statesman and churchmen, whom we persuade to try harder. When great numbers of us pray for our leaders, a mighty, invisible, spiritual force lifts its minds and eyes towards God. If they listen to our suggestions, we should probably be more or less wrong. But what God tells them when they listen to Him, it is infinitely better for our world leaders to listen to God, than for them to listen to us. Most of us can never enter the White House and offer advice to the President. Probably, he will never have time to read our letters. But we can give him what is far more important than advice. We can give him a life into the presence of God, make him hungry for divine wisdom, which is the grandest thing one man ever does for another."

Prayer can change lives and it can change nations and it can change us. Everyone who prays can be a builder of the future. Recently, I read the little book entitled, "The Prayer of Jabez," by Bruce Wilkinson. The book only has 92 pages but contains a very powerful and life changing message and ends with the Jabez prayer. And Jabez called on God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." So God granted him what he requested. Pray for our country and our leaders on this National Day of Prayer!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner

Published in the Marion Record, May 3rd, 2001.

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

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.

Be a Kid Again. "Dot all your i's with smiley faces. Sing into your hairbrush. Grow a milk mustache. Read the funnies, throw the rest of the paper away. Dunk your cookies. Step carefully over the sidewalk cracks. Try to get someone to trade you for a better sandwich. Give someone a hug around the neck. Blow the wrapper off of a straw. Refuse to eat crusts. Make a face the next time someone tells you "no." Ask "why?" a lot. Have someone read you a story. Wear your favorite shirt with your favorite pants - even if they don't match. Eat dessert first. Put an orange slice in your mouth peel side out and smile at people. Remember to say your prayers. Ride a roller coaster two times in a row. Run through the sprinkler with all your clothes on. Lick all the cream out of an oreo before you eat the cookie part. Eat just the chocolate strip out of your neapolitan ice cream. Start thinking now about what you want for your next birthday. Lie on your back in a field and look at pictures in the clouds. Make a slurping sound with your straw when you get to the bottom of a drink." Found on the internet. And don't forget to say your prayers!

One More Closing Thought: International Walk day is April 30th. On that day, leave your car at home, walk wherever you have to go and enjoy the spring weather and the surroundings. And remember to mark your calendar for April 30th!

Warm Thought: Count your age by friends, not years and count your life by smiles, not tears. May you have many warm thoughts in the springtime!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G Werner

Published in the Marion Record, April 23rd, 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

One morning from my hospital bed, I could see the sun rising above the South Dakota plains. What a beautiful sight. As a child, I grew up on the Nebraska plains. When I would herd the cattle along the countryside, I dreamed of being a writer and began writing poetic lines. When I was old enough to read the Columbus Telegram, I would read Edgar Howard's editorials. I will never forget his last editorial, for after that he laid down his pen. The editorial was about a Nebraska sunset and I would like to share with you these cherished words.

"I have never seen an Italian sunset. But last evening I witnessed a Nebraska sunset beyond compare it was more beautiful than an artist's dream. Peering through the haze, clouds of uncertain hue. The great orb of day flooded the landscape with the radiance of unspeakable beauty. I do not know what visions an artists beholds when he views an Italian sunset, but when I gazed last evening upon the marvelous Nebraska sunset, I saw visions of every sweet picture in my own memory mirror. I saw the peach blush bloom on the cheek of my boyhood sweetheart, the golden gleam of a true chums friendship. The Carmen tint of Holy Mother love. How many colors does God hang in the sky? When he paints a Nebraska sunset, more beautiful than any other climb has known. I could not count the colors. It was enough for me to know that they were in number to represent every fragrant flower from my conservatory of memory. Enough for me to know that they brought me face to face with every rapture of the years now dead. Enough to know that they appealed to me more eloquently than orators words or authors lines to struggle along the upward way. With promise sure that at the end of the journey, I may be privileged to behold upon the horizon of paradise, another sunset and in the radiance of it to count the colors of a welcome smile." Edgar Howard.

Warm Thoughts: Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. Enjoy the sunset in your state!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner

Published in the Marion Record on April 18th, 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

This past week I had read the book "Dakota," a spiritual geography by Kathleen Norris, who lives in Lemmon, South Dakota with her husband David Droyer, who is a poet. Kathleen has also written two books of poetry, "Falling Off," and "The Middle of the World." Perhaps some of you have read this memoir, which is a remarkable new work of nonfiction.

She writes with humor and lyrical grace. It's a book of stories about the Great Plains where things timeless and deep can be found, offering gifts of grace and revelation. It's about second, third, and fourth generation Americans who have lived on the land for many years apart from the mainstream American culture, which has become more urban and filled with cities with every passing year. It is about aging congregations in small towns. I choose not to tell you much more hoping you will read it for yourself. Many of my readers have their stories of pioneer days to tell. I would love to hear from you!

Warm Thoughts from Dakota: Handwritten prayer and Bible: Keep me friendly to myself. Keep me gentle in disappointment. The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. TS Eliot. Poets and Christians are people who believe in the power of words to affect change in the human heart. Kathleen Norris. Have a beautiful day in the afterglow of Easter!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G Werner

Published in the Marion Record April 11th, 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