Warm Thoughts

To some, Memorial Day means a day off from work, a three day weekend, opening day for the local pool, or the official start of the summer season. But for others, Memorial Day is a time to remember the dead, especially those who perished in America's wars. Memorial Day is said to have 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 time 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 also a day of prayer for peace, as well as a patriotic day in which Americans display the flag.

Memorial Day has also become a day to honor one's ancestors and family members who have died. Many Americans visit the graves of their loved ones and leave flowers on this day. For a time, beginning in 1948, Memorial Day was observed on May 30th, issued by a presidential proclamation beginning in 1948. Since 1971, however, it has been officially designated the last Monday in May. This year, it falls on May 25th.

Recently, I read a poem written for Memorial Day by an unknown author, entitled, "I'm Free." "Don't grieve for me, for now, I'm free. I'm following the path God laid for me. I took His hand when I heard Him call. I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day - to laugh, to love, to work, to play. Tasks left undone, must stay at that way. I found peace at the close of day. If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembering joy. A friendship, shared a laugh, a kiss, ah, yes, these things too, I will miss. Be not burdened with time of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life's been full, I've savored much. Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me. God wanted me now, He set me free."

Patriotic thought from an unknown source, commonly used during the Vietnam era: "You haven't lived until you've almost died for those who have fought for it, freedom has a favor that the protected will never know." May you have many Memorial Day memories!

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, May 28th, 1998.

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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

During the month of May, many states host an annual event on the governor's conference on "Aging." At these conferences, older Americans may learn new ways for healthy living and lifelong learning. Some time ago, my friend Mary shared an article entitled, "Nostalgia," which I feel may be interesting to our readers as they review the changes of the century.

"Over the last 50 to 60 years, we have been witnesses to many changes in our lives...Here are just a few of them: We were born before cordless phones, fax machines and ice makers. Who ever heard of organ transplants or root canals? Horsepower was something to do with a horse. Callers rang the doorbell instead of blowing their horn. The fallout problem was something kept under your hat, and when folks sat down to dinner, they counted their blessings instead of calories. Guided missiles were rolling pins and frying pans. A babysitter was called a mother. A child had more brothers and sisters than fathers, and a car didn't wear out before it was paid for. A housewife canned food instead of taking it out of cans. Being a parent required more patience than money. Baths were taken once a week, and religion every day, and the only red menace was long winter underwear. $5 worth of groceries filled two bags, and when we were in school, the hard stuff meant algebra. We did without disposable diapers, velcro and scotch tape. Instead of the internet and the information superhighway, we had the party line. In our day, television was truly a luxury, and a black and white luxury at that. Tape meant to reel to reel, not cassettes or videos... and CDs were certificates of deposits, not compact discs, and owning a "hi-fi" was all the rage, and who could forget driving a Packard or a Nash? The only millionaires in baseball were the owners. Bunnies were small rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagens. Cars in our time met running boards, cranks, Model A Roadsters and rumble seats. A mouse was a furry little creature, not part of a computer, and the only babes politicians kissed were those in their mother's arms. We were before Hawaii and Alaska became states, Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer, Snoopy, DDT, interstate highways, Holiday Inns, air conditioned cars and decaffeinated anything. We came from a time when we left our front door open. College kids swallowed goldfish, not alcohol, and in our day, songs had a tune and the words made sense. "Hippie" meant big in the hips. A trip meant travel. Bread came from bakeries, not the min. We were before microwave popcorn, child proof medicine bottles, and cars with cruise control. Streaking was what happened when you washed windows. Holidays were for getting together, not for getting away. And remember when a chick was a chicken, not the girl down the street? Tennis shoes were only worn in PE class. Bathing suits would cover your knees. And when you said, "I don't have anything to do," your parents said, "Find something to do!" In our day, we would swing and sway with Sammy K, waltz with Wayne King, dance to Guy Lombardo, and polka with Leo Greco. We have survived all of these changes and many more. What an exciting time to have lived."

Warm Thought: Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80, anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. Henry Ford. May you have many warm thoughts!

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 May 21st, 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

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 in 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 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 my mind. He did, however, give us a clue, a rule to live by: we must find love 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 hope for the future be with our graduates in their journey through life. Congratulations to the graduates!

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 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

When you read this Warm Thoughts column, it will be just a couple of 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 share it with my readers.

Dear daughter,

Although you are only four-years-old and will not understand what I am saying, I feel the need to write this letter and put it away for you to read many years from now. When you were an infant and the newness of being a mother wore off, I couldn't wait until you grew up. At first, I found myself wishing, "if only she would start walking," and then, "if only she would start talking." One day, I suddenly realized that you were out of diapers. You were indeed walking and talking, and pretty soon you would be going off to school. I remember the morning your father and I brought your baby sister home from the hospital. You and I had been apart six days. When the door opened, I saw you standing there with your angel smile. You seemed so big compared to the baby I was holding in my arms, it was hard to imagine you were once that small. I suddenly realized how much of your babyhood I have wished away. Being a mother is demanding. It robs you of so many freedoms, and I resented the fact that I had so many added responsibilities. And then I looked down at your soft curls and your trusting eyes suddenly, I felt ashamed. My heart almost broke. I cannot relive those first four years, but I have been trying to make them up to you and to myself. I hope and pray that when your first child is born, you will be wiser and more mature than I was. I hope you will enjoy every phase of your child's growing up and not wish they would hurry and pass so you could be free of the burdens of motherhood. You and I will have our share of heated words and angry battles in the years to come. There will be days when we will find it impossible to please each other. I will secretly wish that you would hurry and graduate from high school so I could send you off to college and be rid of you. Life rushes by all too quickly, my darling daughter, especially the lovely days and the beautiful times. Be smarter than your mother was. Don't let a single moment slip away unsavored or unappreciated, these days are priceless, and afford you the greatest opportunities for fulfillment. Never again will your heart be so full.

All my love,

Mother

Warm Thought: Cherish each moment with your children and your grandchildren. Happy Mother's 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 May 7th, 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

As I write these lines, my thoughts are still centered on a hill outside Jerusalem. It is so overwhelming to realize God's love in our lives. Reflecting on Easter memories shared with family and friends, one finds in life meaning, purpose, hope, and love. Easter is the greatest celebration of the year, and should be celebrated every day. It is a joyous celebration of victory. The whole world becomes more beautiful at Easter time. For Easter ushers in spring, when all nature seemed as dead, there suddenly is life from brown branches and small twigs and stems tender green leaves come forth. The whole world is a veritable garden making a beautiful Easter offering.

Have you ever wondered why the beautiful Lily is called the Easter Lily? The lily has been used to decorate churches on Easter ever since Civil War times. The desire of churches to bring consolation to those who lost loved ones in war made it natural to choose Easter, which is the promise of the victory of life over death, as the occasion for special services. The lily, because it is symbolic of purity and new life, was so widely used that it became known as the Easter Lily. April showers bring May flowers. The song tells us the showers will bring many blessings among them, the flower gardens of spring.

Warm Thoughts: God never sends the winter without the joy of spring. God Almighty first planted a garden, and indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. Francis Bacon, "And of Gardens." This wish for Easter blessings is especially for you. So it's to be expected, warm thoughts go with it. May you have many Easter blessings!

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 April 3rd, 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

As families throughout the world look forward to celebrating the Easter season, I'm 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 relived that experience of walking the Via Dolorosa, "the way of sorrows" when I was there on my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We all are pilgrims.

And an unknown author wrote the following prayerful thoughts: A Pilgrims Prayer. "Lord Jesus Christ, you were once a pilgrim in the Holy Land. We too have come as pilgrims to journey with you into the desert to listen to the powerful word of the God of Israel spoken in our own deserts. We follow you into Galilee to understand and experience your ministry of presence and healing. We come up to Jerusalem to join the great crowd that came to meet you crying Hosanna. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We walk with you on the road to Golgotha and share in your passion seeing you nailed to the cross. We bow down before your suffering and dying. We journey with you on the road to Emmaus and discover you in the breaking and sharing of the word and the bread. Show us the glory of your resurrection. Open our eyes, our hearts and our minds, so that we may find you not only in ancient stones, but in the midst of your holy people and among all those who thirst for you wherever they may be. Write your gospel upon our hearts, send us forth, carrying the good news, continue to lead us and guide us on our pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem."

More Thoughts to Ponder: A Simple Path by Mother Teresa. "The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace." May you have a joyful Easter season!

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 April 2nd, 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

When many of you read this column, it will be National Day of Prayer, and large and small groups throughout our nation will be praying for the future of our world. In America, these groups are found in homes, churches, offices, factories, schools and in state and national capitals. These groups believe that positive prayer is power, and that behind all leaders of church and state, there must be prayer.

Many years ago, I read some thoughts from Dr. Frank Laubach's illuminating book, "Prayer: the Mightiest Force in the World." He states, "We do not persuade God to try harder when we pray, it is our world leaders, our statesmen and churchmen, whom we persuade to try harder. When great numbers of us pray for leaders, a mightily, visible, spiritual force lifts its minds and eyes towards God. If they listen to our suggestions, we would probably be more or less wrong. But what God tells them when they listen to him, it is infinitely better for 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 one Father. Everyone who prays can be a builder of the future.

Prayer Thoughts: "Prayer can change lives and it can change nations. A rich harvest is fulfilled by the seeds of prayer. Through prayer, we become richer in our hearts and warmer in our love." J. Carrie Sexton. "Prayer is the bridge that we throw across the space between our weakness and God's strength, a bridge over which he can walk into the hearts of men." Helen Smith Shoemaker. Pray for our country and our leaders!

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

Published in the Marion Record April 1st, 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

I've had many warm thoughts this past week, as I have been given cards, well wishes, flowers, thoughts and prayers. It has been uplifting to receive them while I'm recuperating in the hospital. On the day of my accident, the birds were flying high in the sky.

It was a beautiful sight as they flew in formation, I couldn't help but remember what was written by an unknown author: "Unity: A Lesson from the Geese." As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds a 71% longer flying range than if each bird flew alone. Lesson - people who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they travel on the thrust of one another. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. Lesson - if we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose takes over at the point position. Lesson - it pays to take turns during the hard tasks and sharing leadership, because people like geese are interdependent. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Lesson - we need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging, not something less helpful. When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly again or dies. They then launch out on their own, either with another formation or to catch up with the original flock. Lesson - if we have as much sense as the geese, we'll stand by each other like they do.

Warm Thoughts: Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. Spring is here. Enjoy!

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 March 28th, 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

When you read this column, many of you will be wearing green and celebrating St. Patrick's Day in your own sweet way. It is interesting that this day is a great day, not only for the Irish, but is observed throughout the country. The day is three days before the first day of spring, and wearing green reminds us of the season of spring and is symbolic of life. The wearing of the green on St. Patrick's Day has long been featured in our country.

This little poem says it so well: "St. Patrick, it was who started the style, let's wear a bit of green for the Irish - a cheer; for the Shamrock - a smile. Let's all wear a little bit of green." In my research on St. Patrick's Day, I found that March 17th was the day St. Patrick died in AD 461. He was a Christian missionary to Ireland in the fifth century, and the founder of many schools and churches. St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, is their greatest holiday, as well as holy day, and this day is celebrated by Irish families all over the world. The Shamrock is Ireland's chief emblem. I found it interesting that a town named for it is in the warm sunshine state of Florida. Each year, many persons send letters there to be stand with the Shamrock postmark.

I have always been impressed with the Irish wit and the Blarney of my Irish friends. I love their sense of humor and all those motivational skills they seem to be born with. I had always wished for a bit of Irish ancestry in my heritage, but in my genealogy studies have found none. I have chosen some very special friends who have been blessed with all that Irish wit and wisdom. One of those friends has her birthday the day before St. Patrick's Day, and we have been friends since high school days. We have shared our joys and sorrows, our challenges and our dreams. We shared those on the job training, experiences of parenting and now grandparenting. She is a true friend who revealed to me she has prayed every day for me. No wonder she is my cheerleader. How thankful one needs to be when you have a very special friend. As we see the signs of spring appearing, many warm thoughts fill our hearts and minds. Underneath that blanket of snow, there is life, and the snow birds of Florida and Texas are returning to the north and the heartland of America. May the season of spring have special meaning in our lives.

A bit of Irish wit: "Where beauty has no ebb, decay, no flood, but joy is wisdom, time, and endless song." WB Yeats - "In the Land of Hearts Desire. A Warm Thought for the Week: "It is often just as sacred to laugh as it is to pray." Charles R Swindoll. Have a great week and remember to laugh and pray!

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 March 17th, 1994

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

Over a month ago, I received a telephone call from my sister, who lives in Colorado. She stated that in a few days, a new computer would arrive in her home. She told me the name of her computer, but I just forgot. Since then, I have asked her the computer's name and whether it was a boy or girl. Now this may sound strange to the faithful readers of this warm thoughts column. However, if you remember, even America was referred to as a "she" by former President Reagan, and you are aware that ships have been known as being female. Example, "steady as she goes," and "she's sailing great captain!" I'm not a scientist when it comes to computers, and my grandchildren are far more computer literate than I am.

This is very interesting to me, and I'm sure you will find it interesting too. I was told that a group of computer scientists, of course, these were all males, announced that computers need to be referred to as being female. I really wondered about this, but I just reasoned that this might be because ships are female. However, their reasons for drawing this conclusion is spelled out in the following five reasons. 1. No one but the Creator understands their internal logic. 2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else. 3. The message bad command or file name is about as informative as if you don't know why I'm mad at you, then I'm certainly not going to tell you. 4. Even your smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for later revival. 5. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it. After the men came up with their scientific conclusive evidence, the women had to proclaim their scientific findings too. And so another group of computer scientists, this time, all female, came up with their brilliant thoughts on the matter. They felt they had scientific conclusive evidence that all computers in the future should be called male. They claim they have five good reasons to believe that all computers are male. 1. They have a lot of data, but are still clueless. 2. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they are the problem. 3. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have obtained a better model. 4. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on. 5. Power surges knock them out for the rest of the night.

What are your thoughts on this? Do the scientific findings sound reasonable to you? Yes, what are your thoughts? I treasure the gems of wisdom and humor that the readers of this column give me. I asked my friend, and she just told me to ask my grandchildren. Until I know the answer, I will just keep on typing these columns on my very favorite IBM typewriter. She helps me think the best! More next week. "Never miss the chance to read to a child a story." Max Lucado

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 March 15th, 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