Love and Kindness

Gifts from the Heart

It was the early 1800s and a young couple newly married had lots of love, but very little money. As they face their first Christmas together, he strokes her beautiful, waist length auburn hair and wonders how he can possibly afford a Christmas gift for her that is worthy of all the happiness she has brought him.

As she watches him dress for work, opening his pocket watch to check the time, she is filled with love and wants desperately to show it by getting him a gift for Christmas that he will treasure.

On Christmas eve, he arrives home and she is still hurrying about preparing a special dinner, a scarf covering her head and an apron protecting her dress.

He pulls her to the couch and hands her the gift he chose for her – a beautiful sterling silver hair ornament that he envisioned holding her lovely hair high on her head. She presents her gift to him – a gold watch fob for the pocket watch that he treasures so.

He sheepishly admits he no longer has the watch. He sold it to buy her hair clip. She slowly removes the scarf from her head, revealing short cropped hair. She cut and sold her flowing locks to buy the watch fob.

The physical gifts were now useless to each of them. But the love with which they were acquired will see them through, whatever lies ahead.

May your Christmas be merry and full of love.

[Show #466]

Gratitude

There’s been a lot of talk lately, it seems, about gratitude. There are gratitude journals and gratitude blogs and gratitude books – including a few to teach you how to be grateful.

One item I read said that gratitude is your Magic Wand. “Whatever you point gratitude at increases, expands and escalates.” But, the author warns, “You have to pick up that magic wand and use it.”

Being grateful applies, no matter who you are, no matter where life has taken you, no matter what your circumstances or your desires; wherever you are at this moment, is where you are meant to be.

And there are things for which you can and should be grateful. It may be the lessons you are learning, if things are tight financially. It may be the good health of your children or your parents. It may be your ability to put food on the table and take a shower when you need one and drink fresh water that won’t make you sick.

The only error would be to stop giving thanks – to the people who bring your joy or the Deity who gives you contentment and peace.

Take time every day to write in your gratitude journal, even if it’s just a mental one. Think of all the things for which you are thankful and then go do something for someone else, for which they will be thankful.

[Show #427]

Advice for Adult Children

I look into the face of a middle aged man and it’s hard to believe that I once taught him to walk, to talk; that I helped him take his first step to independence, when I took away his pacifier.

I gaze into the eyes of a thirty something woman and see the same sparkle I so enjoyed when she was just 3 or 4 or 12. How did she manage to grow up so fast? How could it be that she is now the mother to children of these ages?

And what should our relationship be, now that she is on her own? Some parents seem to have trouble accepting their children as adults. They seem to feel that grown children still require their parents’ advice to solve their problems or choose their friends or their lifestyle. Not so.

Oh it is fun when they ASK for advice. But the time when you have the right to imprint your values on their lives is over. Now it’s their turn to live the way they choose. They have to be allowed to mix your values with their own. They have the right to a life of their choosing, not yours.

What a delight it is though when you wind up being friends with the grown up version of those babies you brought into the world. To respect and admire the adults your children have become. Tell them you’re proud of them and what pleasure you take in knowing their lives are full.

What a blessing to have children who grow into friends.

[Show #509]

Made in the USA

What do you think about buying merchandise made in the USA? Probably the first thought that comes to mind is that it’s more expensive. Two points –

Made in the USA may NOT cost more.
Maybe it’s time to consider paying a dollar or two more to buy goods made here at home.

For the last fourth of July, I wanted some new American flags. I found them in one of those dollar stores – yep, for a buck. Made in China. It just did not seem right to show my patriotism by flying my country’s flag – made elsewhere.

Big Lots had flags made in America. They were $2 each. Consider my purchase as my contribution toward a better economy here at home.

Let’s start making an effort to buy – Made in the USA.

Ace Hardware features merchandise and machines made here. Hallmark cards are now made in China. I found lots of cards made in the USA at the Dollar store – fifty cents each. Kitchen Aid is made in the U.S.A. GE light bulbs are now made in Mexico. You can find bulbs made in the USA.

Just like reading labels for nutrients and calories when you buy food, let’s start checking for manufacture origin when we buy anything.

The job you save may be your own or your neighbor’s!

[Show #430]

Save

Staying Cool

Say it’s summertime. You have the choice of being outside in the sun, hot and heavy, or inside in the cool comfort of an air conditioned domicile.

Which would you choose?

I remember a time, not long ago, when that choice did not exist. It would be as hot in the house as it was outside. My grandmother had her summer routine down pat. When to open the door and windows. When to pull the shades and drapes. When to turn on the big fan that did little more than moving around the hot air. When to hurry and get the day’s work done while the heat was still bearable. When to sit as still as possible with a big cloth for wiping the sweat.

City kids remember how they’d open the fire hydrant and everyone would get wet to cool down. In recent power outages, we’ve been reminded of how that felt.

Young folks may never before have had to go days in intense heat with no cooling. How did you and your family handle it? Did you cry and whine, cursing the power company to hurry up and get us back to normal? Did you give prayers of thanks for all the days when we do not have to go without the cooling comfort of our conditioned air? Did you just ride around in your air conditioned vehicle until it was all over?

Air conditioning in hot weather. Yet another thing for which to give thanks here in America.

[Show #431]

Benefits of Age

I was thinking about the benefits of growing old. There’s wisdom and experience, and being able to take it easy. But there are also benefits you might not think of right off hand.

Take kidnapping for instance. Well, kidnappers don’t seem to be very interested in old people. That’s a plus. And if you ever get in a hostage situation, chances are you’ll be released first.

When you get old, no one expects you to run; anywhere. Of course, older person’s stereotypes can be annoying too. People call at 9:00 pm or 9:00 am and ask, “Did I wake you?” Come on…

On the other hand, there’s nothing left to learn the hard way. You can eat supper at 4:00 pm if you want. And pay less too! You can live without sex, but not without your glasses.

You get into heated arguments about pension plans. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.

Your investment in your health insurance is finally paying off. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the National Weather Service. And your secrets are safe with your friends, because they can’t remember them either.

And that’s the way it goes…

[Show #459]

« Previous Page