Warm Thoughts

Have you checked your email today? Do you know how much time you spend on your phone? Let's review the signs of (possibly) consuming too much technology in our modern world.

Have you checked your email today? When my sister who lives in Colorado got a new computer a few years ago, I asked her what she named the computer. My grandson thinks computers need a boy name. However, I know university professor who calls his computer Susie. Not sure what he named the latest computer he purchased.

Does this sound a bit strange to the faithful readers of this warm thoughts column? Do you remember when America was referred to as a “she” by former President Reagan? Ships have been known as being female, “Steady as she goes,” and, “She's sailing great captain!”

When it comes to computers, I am not a scientist. My grandchildren are far more computer literate than I am. So this week, I will share with you 12 signs you've had too much technology:

Number one: you've just tried to enter your password on the microwave.

Number two: you have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.

Number three: you call your son cell phone to let him know it's time to eat. He emails you back from his bedroom, “What's for dinner?”

Number four: your daughter sells Girl Scout cookies from her website.

Number five: you chat several times a day with a stranger from South Africa. But haven't spoken with your next door neighbor yet this year.

Number six: your grandmother clogs up your email inbox asking you to send her a JPEG file of your newborn so she can create a screensaver.

Number seven: you pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home.

Number eight: every commercial on TV has a website address at the bottom of this screen.

Number nine: you buy a computer and a week later it's out of date and now sells for half the price you paid for it.

Number 10: you consider second day air delivery painfully slow.

Number 11: you get an extra phone line so you can get phone calls. 

Number 12: you start tilting your head sideways to smile. :)

Have you had too much technology? Do you have to ask your children and grandchildren to teach you? Recently, I gave a lecture on Biomedical Ethics and wanted my tape recorder to tape the lecture. Just guess what happened? The battery died after the instructor introduced me! And you may also be surprised that I seem to think better typing these warm thoughts columns on my old IBM typewriter more next week.

Thanks for your comments and gems of thought for this weekly column. Another warm thought: “Never miss the chance to read to a child a story,” by Maxwell Kato.

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

April 14 2005

Published in the Marion Record

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

New life and new days. We hope you have a joyful Easter for many years to come!

Easter joy. May all of you who read this warm thoughts column have a joyous Easter season. Easter is a time to celebrate New Life, a time to celebrate family, the joy of that first Easter and the joy of every Easter celebration. Ever since that first Easter will live on and on.

This week, many Christians will be making their pilgrimage and walking that road to Calvary. Many times I relive that experience. And each time I walked the Via Dolorosa, also known as “the way of sorrows.” When I was there on my pilgrimages I had many warm thoughts. When I reached the stage of the cross on my way to Calvary, where the burden of carrying the cross for Jesus was given to someone else to carry the rest of the way.

I stopped and thought of the lesson we can learn about our crosses and burdens that we are asked to bear. When these are too heavy, we need to have the courage to reach out and ask for help and prayers.

Some schools experience a spring break or a holiday. And children especially appreciate this time of family togetherness. A survey was once taken and 1500 children were asked this question, “What do you think makes a happy family?”

We are surprised by the wisdom of children. The answers they gave was doing things together. And so we listen to the children.

I just love the stories that mom and dad tell me when I am tucked into my bed. Singing together and going to church together as a family. Vacation time when we can go to the hills. Yes, a time of togetherness. Perhaps as we think about celebrating family, we will all agree with the results of the survey and listen to what the children in our lives are telling us. It is a time to celebrate Easter and new life and a time to celebrate the family.

A warm thought for the week: The greatest investment one can ever have is to spend time with your family. May you have an Easter season filled with joy.

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

April 5 2007

Published in the Marion Record

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 enjoying springtime? We are enjoying the warm weather currently, but sometimes we know the cold weather can't seem to stay away. Join Luetta as she recalls the blizzard that prompted her to start writing The Warm Thoughts column while sipping a cup of hot tea.

Welcome springtime! We will now enjoy the gift of the season of spring, a really positive and warm thought. However, our first day of spring here in South Dakota did bring us some surprises. As I returned home from church to that little home on the prairie, large flakes of snow and also rain in the blowing wind made me wonder, is this really the first day of spring?

As I write these lines, the sun is shining and the birds singing their song that spring really is here and not just on the calendar. And now as I travel down memory lane, and recall that just a year ago, on the day after spring, we had a good blizzard. For some reason I must deny that blizzards here in this state do happen even if the calendar states it is spring.

Last year I went to church in Blizzard weather on that day after spring appeared on my calendar and found out that I was the only parishioner. How could I know church was cancelled because of a blizzard? I returned home that cold day and in a moment of creative and quiet solitude, wrote my first column for the Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea. This column of warm thoughts is now a year old and I feel like celebrating. You dear readers have truly been my cheerleaders and cheer me to keep on keeping on.

The smell and aroma of good old home cooking and baking. A recent survey found that 95% of Americans feel that home cooking smells good as well as taste good. They like the smell of bread baking in the oven because it gives them a feeling of warmth, a feeling of hearth and home childhood memories, a sense of relaxation, and a feeling of love.

Love is giving your family and friends a warm loaf of bread. I have baked bread for up teen years from scratch, as we used to say, but I never thought I would change and reach that stage of life. When you buy Mama's frozen bread and surprise family with home baked bread. It took a broken arm on the day Queen Elizabeth broke her arm in England to for me to finally reach the stage of life to buy the frozen bread and have that marvelous smell and the kitchen and all those warm thoughts over a cup of tea. And all this on a marvelous Monday morning as I write these warm thoughts.

In my first column I shared one thoughts on listening. And I will quote from the column the warm fact for the week listening as the prerequisite to almost any kind of effective giving or expression of love. And I will add to that thought that the gospel becomes more believable and people feel loved when we listen. It helps them feel understood. And when they feel understood, they may begin to understand themselves and see their true needs and worth to God.

Listening is hard work. It requires concentration and a great deal of love and communication that you care. I am reminded of a poem by an unknown author entitled, “Listen, Child.”

I never promised you wings, life without wounds. Life without wise. I never promised to your untroubled love. I never promised you eternal delight, life without detours life without mud holes, and never promised you continual son and never promised you tear lists eyes, life without strains. Life without questions. I never promised you faultless answers. I only promise to you life.

Warm thoughts for the week: Great thoughts come from the heart valve and it is possible for everyone to have a heart of love.

Have a great week, selfless life, and warm loving thoughts.

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

March 24 1994

Published in the Marion Record

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

Aren't you glad spring is finally here? So are we!

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 red bird robins will sing their songs of cheer. The green frogs will start croaking and the babbling brook. The flowers grass and trees will come to life. The geese and ducks will fly high as they crack and giggle in the sky. Children's joyful voices will fill the air as farmers plant seeds with hope and prayer. Another spring will soon be here. We love to welcome sweet springtime. It is indeed a time of promise, hope and joy.

An unknown author once wrote, “Every day can be a spring in your life, even though you are approaching the winter of your life and those sunset years.”

As I was deep in thought about spring and the colors of springtime, a dear friend shared a poem entitled Winter Colors.

Some call winter dismal. I surely disagree. Winter has its colors if you only stop to see. Red cardinals skipping through the head. The shimmering blue of the ponds waters at the mallards had a velvet green, made brilliant by the sun's golden shine. The color of winter is not dead, but filled with colorful hues instead.

March 22nd is known as “Young as You Feel Day.” Everyone can take this day to remember that they are no older than they feel. March 15th is “Hug a Farmer” day and the week of March 15th is National Agriculture Week dedicated to the farmers of America and is designed to educate the people about agriculture and the United States.

Farewell winter as we welcome spring. Each season brings with it colors to brighten our lives. More Warm Thoughts: As we watch for the signs of spring. Let us hold the warmth of all those blessings of our seasons on our hearts. May you have many warm thoughts the spring season.

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie by Luetta G. Werner

March 19 1998

Published in the Marion Record

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

Happy St. Patrick's Day! May you be filled with Irish Blessings this week.

On March 17th, we remember St. Patrick and St. Patrick's Day. I have special warm feelings about the Irish blessings I have experienced throughout my long life by having very special Irish friends. I cannot claim any genetic Irish wit and know no Blarney. But I do love to collect thoughts on special Irish blessings.

The Irish seem to have a sense of humor. And perhaps it is because they pray for a special blessing.

Grant me a sense of humor Lord, the saving grace to see a joke to win some happiness from life and pass it on to other folk. I have learned that many of the Irish pray for special blessings. May this home and all there in be blessed with God's love. Many blessings to cheer you each day, the year through, and the luck of the Irish in all that you do. God bless you now and always with the gift of Irish cheer. God give to you a happy heart and keep you through the year. May God grant you many years to live. For sure he must be knowing the earth has angels all too few. And Heaven is overflowing.

Irish friends can be angels in your life. I have had an Irish friend who has been an angel in my life from my high school days. She has been an Irish blessing in my life. It is very interesting that her birthday is the day before St. Patrick's Day. That really makes her almost all Irish.

It was no surprise when one day she told me I pray for you every day. No surprise that some folks who are Irish are also prayer warriors.

Have you wondered who St. Patrick was and why do we celebrate St. Patrick's Day and wear green and try to look Irish? Well, St. Patrick was a boy who had been kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. He managed to escape, but returned to spend the rest of his life telling people about the God he loved so much.

A Special Irish Blessing:

A special Irish blessing from the heart of a friend, my good fortune be yours. May your joys never end. May your heart be warm and happy with the level of Irish laughter every day and every way and forever and ever after. My God guard you through each night and day and ever watch above you. God's smile on everything you do. God go with you. God loves you. May you have many special blessings.

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

March 14 2002

Published in the Marion Record

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

Tired of those winter blues? Embrace the transition as we look forward to spring!

This year is leap year and we are blessed with an extra day 24 hours. A special gift. This happens every four years that we have an extra day in the year.

Some folks think it should be a quadrennial holiday. What should we do with this unexpected gratuity? Every day is a day that has never happened before. And every day is a wonderful opportunity to start all over again. It can be a day to change our attitude, a day to wipe away grudges, and count our blessings.

As we reflect on that leap day, we are grateful for that special extra day that appears on the calendar every four years. March is considered a month of change: a transitional month. It is the month when we have our final winter storms, spring weather, sighing ice, and it seems our world changes. It is a time when we chase away the winter blahs and watch for the small signs of spring. And it is a time when we welcome sweet spring time.

As we think of the changing seasons, let us hold the warmth of all these blessings of our season and our hearts.

A Prayer From March

As we go into a new day, we think for all time mercies and we will see each other. That this day, God’s strength would pilot us and power preserve us. Thy wisdom instruct us. Watch over us. Ears to hear us. The word. Give us sweet talk. Thy hand defend us and thy ways guide us. St. Patrick.

Warm Thought to Live By: Today is yours. Make it a special day.

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

March 7 1996

Published in the Marion Record

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

Listen to some inspiring stories on the power of prayer and meditation.

The Secret of Happiness Through Prayer

Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote many years ago, “More things are wrought by prayer than the world ever dreams of.” These words of wisdom are still true in our age. We especially think thoughts on prayer, the mightiest force in the world during this week when we observe World Day of Prayer.

However, every day is a day of prayer for the world who needs to realize more fully how prayer can be the secret to the happiness they seek to find.

I once had a friend who found this secret of happiness through the art or science of prayer, and I would like to share her secret with you. She had been bedridden for 35 years with arthritis, which had crippled her small body. Daily she suffered pain, but each time I visited her she seemed so cheerful, and never complained about pain or suffering.

One day when I visited her, she was especially exuberant, and her joy and faith seem to fill the room. Having long been astounded by her cheerfulness, I finally asked her to tell me the secret of her joy and happiness.

“Why, I've been all over the world today, praying for missionaries, my president, the church leaders, my friends who are ill, my children and everyone who might think needs my prayers.

Underneath her pillow was a long list of the many names of people for whom she was praying. She had found inner peace in carrying out the command, pray for one another.

Although she had received very little formal education, she had become educated in the great book of books, and had sharpened her mind through prayer and kept in harmony with the great mind. She gained inner strength and happiness through prayer, and found that it does work wonders when you use it.

The story is told of a pastor who regularly visited one of his parishioners who had been bed fast for a long time. Each visit, he found his parishioner and good spirits, and she never complained about her incurable illness. One day he asked her, “It seems every time I come to see you, you are so cheerful.” She replied, “Well, Pastor, do you see that chair beside my bed? I pretend that Jesus is there. And when I tell him all my troubles, I don't feel like telling anyone else.”

This woman had learned through the school of experience, that there is great prayer power and talking to God. She had found the peace and serenity through prayer to gain the needed mental and spiritual strength for her daily needs. 

Lord Ashley, before he charged at the Battle of Hedgehill, made this short prayer. “Oh, Lord, you know how busy I must be this day. If I forget thee, do not thou forget me.”

Are we really too busy to pray and this speed age? Do we find the needed time for God and prayer? Try prayer power. Find that there is power in prayer.

St. James writes “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. We too can experience that inner peace and serenity when we find the secret of happiness through prayer.”

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

March 2 1972

Published in the Marion Record

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

When was the last time you read a book to a child? Join us as we dive into the importance of reading - especially to children.

In recent Warm Thoughts columns, you've read about the joy one receives when you really listen to children. Their words of wisdom not only surprised 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.

There was great joy in reading to children and for families to designate a special time to read together. It encourages children to create their own stories and also develop critical thinking about the stories they read or are being read to them. Listening to their creative thoughts helps us in celebrating special time together.

Why was this date chosen for this nationwide campaign on reading? It happens to be the 94th birthday for Dr. Seuss. So color your world and join and this reading campaign. My Many Color Days is the last book published by Dr. Seuss. Reach out beyond your world to encourage reading. Thank you for caring about reading. Our children need our time to read to them.

Warm Thought: Rediscover the exhilaration of laughter, the freedom of honesty, and the joy of simplicity through the lives of children around you. Paul Welter

Pearls of wisdom from students. Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd rather have been talking. Opportunity won't often knock for the fellow who doesn't give a rap.

From the mailbag recipe for life: Take two heaping cups of patience, one heart full of love, two handfuls of generosity, dash of laughter, one head full of understanding. Sprinkle generously with kindness, add plenty of faith and mix well spread over a period of a lifetime. Serve to everyone you meet. Celebrate life by reading to the children.

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

February 26 1998

Published in the Marion Record

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

Join us as we pray for the discernment and leadership of our country.

Every year in February, we observe Presidents Day. Many churches throughout the land may observe a day of prayer, at which time they pray for the leaders of our country.

Two of my friends were among the many who attended the President's breakfast in Washington DC. This annual Day of Prayer is a 45 year old Washington tradition that draws people from around the world, including politicians, judges, diplomats, bureaucrats, foreign leaders and military personnel.

Praying for our nation and for our leaders is no new thought. Instead, it has been encouraged throughout the ages. C.H. Spurgeon stated, “Whenever God determines to do a great work, he first sets his people to pray.”

Many of our presidents who have served our country have been men of prayer. This reliance on spiritual assistance has especially characterized times of national transition and uncertainty. When our country was ravaged by the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln remarked,”I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming convictions that I had nowhere else to go.”

During President Garfield's term, a member of his cabinet believed a meeting needed to be called immediately to address a national crisis. President Garfield told the cabinet member he would be late because he had another appointment.

His cabinet member was aghast. “Just who could be so important that your appointment with him can't be broken as we face this national crisis.” President Garfield responded, “Let me be quite frank, my engagement is with the Lord to meet him and his house at 10 o'clock. I will be there.” The President kept his appointment, the crisis passed, and God was honored.

John Wesley once said, “Nothing is accomplished, except by prayer.”

A prayer thought to ponder: More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson 

Pray for the leaders of our nation.

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

February 20th 1997

Published in the Marion Record

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

Many of you will be reading this warm thoughts column on Valentine's Day. Many moons ago I received these warm thoughts on love and understanding. I do not know the author of this paraphrase of the love chapter of the forever best selling book. This month, we want so much to give the gift of love and understanding to others. May these warm thoughts inspire you to prayer thoughts for the understanding parent.

Though I provide with the abundance of the finest parent and have not understanding, I am become a clever provider and a charming counselor. And though I understand all schedules and all rules, it is not enough. And if I spend many hours and home decoration and become tense and nervous with strain, but have no understanding of the personal problems of my children, it is still not enough.

The understanding parent is very patient very kind is not shocked when children bring their confidences, does not panic is not easily discouraged, does not behave in ways that are unworthy, but is at all times a living example to his or her children of the good way of life of which he or she speaks.

But whether there be fads, they shall become obsolete, whether there be styles, they shall become outmoded. Whether there be abundance, it shall be abandoned, For we know only a little and can pass on to our children only a little. But when we have understanding, then all our efforts will become creative. And our influence will live forever and the lives of our children. When I was a child, I spoke with immaturity, my emotions were uncontrolled, and I behaved childishly. But now that I am a parent, I must face life as it is with courage and understanding. And now abide is abundance, devotion, understanding. And the greatest of these is understanding

More Warm Thoughts: Look at the world through the eyes of a child. Teaching children to get along is best accomplished by parents who do. 100 years from now it will not matter what your bank account was, 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. He or she who teaches children learns more than they do. German proverb. Happy Valentine's Day.

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

February 14 2002

Published in the Marion Record

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