Laughter, Joy, and Gratitude

Courtesy Close In

Backstory – Courtesy

In our adult, two-person family, kind words are natural and spoken often. I wondered how good we were about being kind to each other as the kids were growing up. I remember one request for politeness that worked. I asked one day that everyone ask, “May I be excused?” before leaving the dinner table. It stuck, and from then on, they did. Go figure!

Consider This Show – Courtesy

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I was coming around the corner in the grocery store. So was he. Whew . . . close call with our carts. “Excuse me,” he smiled. “No problem,” I replied with a smile as generous as his. We were so kind and polite to each other, we two strangers. I was proud of us both.

But sometimes we forget to be equally polite to the people we love and who mean something to us. A child approaching while you’re fixing dinner may hear, “Watch out; get out of the way.” A wife reaching for a kiss during the football game may be waved off. A teenager arriving home with the groceries may be greeted with, “It’s about time you got back” Instead of “Thanks for making that trip.”

We expect that those close to us will accept this kind of behavior. After all, we can’t go around the house muttering “Please, thank you, excuse me” – all day long. Can we? Why not?

Why treat strangers in a kinder and more polite way than those we love?
Practice thinking and saying those special words around the house. Practice courtesy towards those you love!

Please . . . thank you . . . excuse me. It will be such a joy when the new kinder gentler you takes hold.

And when you find the words being used by children and grandchildren too . . . well, that’s when you know you’ve made your corner of the world a slightly little better place.

[Show #336]

Mother’s Day Magic

What magic is given to mothers that they have such an ability to soothe? Antibiotics may cure the illness, but it’s a mother’s hands that soothe the pain, calm the fears and provide the reassurance.

Your hand in your mom’s can fix things, at any age. She always seems to know how you feel, what you need and what might be worrying you. She’s someone you can talk to, turn to, confess to.

What a wonderful gift she is. Her smile can remind you of the best in yourself. Her encouragement can convince you that you CAN get it done. When she doesn’t agree with you, she just may give you the cause to pause that results in making a better decision.

On Mother’s Day and year-round, give thanks that God made mothers. Something to consider.

[Show #137]

Surprise Party

How do you get 90 people to keep from giving away the secret, when you plan a surprise birthday party? That’s what I’m still trying to figure out.

My fiancé Bill and I entered a catering hall where I expected to attend a local fund raiser. SURPRISE – came the ear-shattering greeting, as we entered. Everyone was so excited . . . . and I was so confused. What were all these people doing here? It took moments for me to realize, it was a birthday party – for me! Good heavens!

My sister Karyn had worked on plans for months, in cahoots with my kids and her kids and local friends. Sixty-two people filled the hall and were suddenly all pressing forward for a hug or at least recognition of their presence. I was in a daze!

My kids were all there – from New Jersey and Michigan, most of the grand-kids and my precious great grandson. Seems that nearly a hundred people were in on the surprise. And not a single one gave it away. Not deliberately or by mistake. I was just amazed.

Also amazed by the love and affection it represented. It was humbling and heartwarming. Friends came to Virginia from as far away as Texas. I was so moved and excited and just wished we all had more hours, or even days, to spend together.

I don’t know how YOU feel about surprise parties, but this one was delightful, entertaining and memorable. Thank you so much.

[Show #602]

Courtesy Close In

We expect that those close to us will accept this kind of behavior. After all, we can’t go around the house muttering “Please, thank you, excuse me” – all day long. Can we?
Why not?

Why treat strangers in a kinder and more polite way than those we love?
Practice thinking and saying those special words around the house. Practice courtesy towards those you love!

Please . . . thank you . . . excuse me. It will be such a joy when the new kinder gentler you takes hold.

And when you find the words being used by children and grandchildren too . . . well, that’s when you know you’ve made your corner of the world a slightly little better place.

[#336]

Sending Cards

You can tweet up to 140 words on Twitter. You can share your latest hairstyle with the world on Facebook or send your message the old fashioned way – by email. But I still enjoy using the totally antiquated form – a personal note through the US mail. Emotions conveyed through your own handwriting seem to have such a special effect.

Have you ever FOUND an ancient hand-written note; something tucked away in a trunk or a drawer because it was too precious to be discarded? Maybe a love letter sent from granddad to grandma while they were courting . . . a letter sent from a battlefield to a loved one at home or a picture drawn with love and crayons by a child for a parent.

The note you send to a friend or loved one today may be kept with the same kind of loyalty and become a treasure to be shared, years from now. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know who kept a hand written note that you sent?

You might be surprised to hear how many of your notes and letters are carefully stashed in someone’s special place. It’s a place where spelling and grammar don’t count and sentiment does. It’s like a peek into a person’s soul.

Love seems to come through so much better, when it’s hand written.

[Show #325]

Fantasy Decorating

Some years ago, we bought an old, tumble-down farmhouse out here in the country as a week-end home. We could not afford to furnish it and my mom pitched in with extra pieces of furniture stored for years in her basement.

We bargain hunted at yard sales, estate sales and auctions and in a few months, the place was habitable. Some might call it shabby chic. Others might not be as kind. In any case, it was fun.

But perhaps the most fun was my mother’s nightly fantasy decorating for the house. She said she went to sleep many a night, mentally moving this painting to that wall . . . then this wall . . . then moving the couch in front of the window . . . trying it next to the fireplace. What pleasure she took in her decorating dreams.

I invited her to come out and help us turn it into reality. For all the years she was my mom, I think those first few years in the old farmhouse were our happiest together.

We laughed and shared and put up with the inconveniences that seemed endemic to country living. We got up early to hear the birds and stayed up late to see the stars and marvel at the quiet. We watched the deer at twilight.

Such happy times to remember doing not much of anything exciting or expensive – just joyful and memorable creating a country nest full of love.

[Show #302]

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