Sometimes, not often enough, we reflect upon the good things
And our thoughts always center around those we love.
And I think about the people who mean so much to me
And for so many years have made me so very happy.
And I count the times I have forgotten to say “thank you”
And just how much I love them.

I sing this song in my mind, and I think about how important it is to express my love and my gratitude to those I care for deeply. I feel the need to express myself in varying modes. Sometimes, I write a love note; sometimes I express my thanks by a telephone call. I use whatever vehicle strikes my mood and circumstances at the moment (though my father-in-law always preferred the written word so that he could read it again and again). Sometimes I share my love and thanks by a glance, a hug, or through singing to those I love. What about you?

I have found that when I decide to share love with others, I find myriad opportunities to do so! Will you join me? Will you decide to make a concerted effort to express love and thanks to each member of your family during each week? And, what will you do to share your love with others this week? Expressing love and gratitude increases our love for each other.

1.  What kind of time have you spent considering what is written on your heart?    a.  Days      b. Minutes    c. Hours    d. Seconds    e. Not even a moment

Okay, what was your answer?  (This question is meant to be part of the discussion and not part of the quiz, mind you!)  And I’m not talking about flippant desires, either, such as, “I want a Like It with sweet cream ice cream with Reese’s mixed in from Coldstone!” or “I’d like to have a housekeeper & chef to take care of my house & meals so I can spend more time enjoying my children/hobbies/connections/fill-in-the-blank…!”

Do you know what is written on your heart? Life is full of surprises–and yet, we can still keep our eyes on goals which lead us to the desires of our hearts.

When I was in college, a friend asked me about some goals I wanted to accomplish. I numbered several writing endeavors on the fingers of my hand as we sat among art projects, and then we went back to work.  That moment has replayed in my mind on several occasions since.  I feel driven to do the work that I discussed with her that day.  Since that day, too, I have married an amazing husband, given life to a handful-plus of amazing children, and fulfilled some of the other work that has been written on my heart for as long as I can remember.

Still, I reflect on the writing projects.  I work on them (though not at the expense of my family…and dishes…and laundry….and cooking–those items can’t wait until we get that housekeeper/chef!).  And I have picked up a few more projects since then that are written on my heart–such as supporting women and marriages and families through MPower Generations.  This project, too, is written on my heart.

So, what about you?  Will you take a few moments to reflect on the wonderful accomplishments you have achieved thusfar which have been a part of you and welcome the new opportunities before you to discover the language written on your heart?  You’ll be happy you did…

I have known many wonderful fathers in my life.  My own father was always a loving and calming influence in my life.  My favorite story to illustrate this point comes from my teenage years when I was a new driver.  Our family car was a station wagon.  We lived in a house with a double carport with a pole between the two car parking places.  I was coming home and I misjudged the distance.  You guessed it, I hit the pole and scraped the side of the car.  I was so scared that my dad would be mad.  It was silly of me to worry because my dad was always so kind to everyone.  (One of the things I am trying to learn from him.) 

True to my father, his reaction when my mother told him of my mistake, was:  “That pole was always too close anyway.”  I was safe, I was loved, I was okay.

I have also observed first hand the father of my children.  I have watched as he has cared for our children.  During my last preganancy, sixteen years ago, there were many complications and so for many of the last fifteen years, he has been both father and mother to our childen as I have not been well enough to attend performances or programs.  He is the one who was always there to see their special moments.  I  would go when I could.  He was always there.  His devotion to me and to our family has never wavered.  I don’t know how we would have survived without him.  He has taught our children well.  He has loved us.  He has cared for us. 

I have also been privileged to observe how my sons are great fathers too.  I watch as they nuture their children.  I see them assist their beautiful wives.  I see them speak with loving voices to correct.  I hear the love that they have for each child in their voices and I can feel how each of then cares for their children and wife.  My favorite times are as all of our family is gathered together to sing, to play, to love, to pray.  How blessed we are with good fathers!

“A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.”  ~Author Unknown

There are so many fathers who fit this description.  To all the fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers, uncles, etc.   Happy Father’s Day!

Sometimes, endings are difficult. Sometimes, we pass right through an ending without even thinking about it. I think that the hardest and most rewarding endings and beginnings are when a child leaves home.

Last Sunday, we had all our family together to celebrate the birthday of two of our family members. It was great! We spent the whole day together. We had a fabulous lunch prepared by my wonderful husband, and we just loved each other and loved being together. We talked about the past and we talked about the future. We laughed and we played and we sang. Then, when it was time to go home, some of our family members went different directions.

I watch our married children as they take care of their families. I see them teach their children the same virtues we taught our children. I watch each child grow from year to year, and I understand that as each season brings an ending, it also brings a beginning. My job is to encourage the growth of my family and my friends as they meander this journey we call life.

Encouraging does not mean to push or decide for another person. Encouragement is to give support as our family members and friends travel through their endings and beginnings. Encouragement says “I believe in you.” Much of the time, encouragement and support is all that is needed to help another person go through the the multitude of endings and beginnings in a given lifetime. Encouragement and support are true hallmarks of friendship and love.

Who has encouraged you as you travelled through an ending or beginning? How did they help you?

It took us about 40 minutes to arrive at the blueberry fields. Futch Family Farms are in central Florida. (Take I-4 to exit 48, go north; the farm is a few miles north of the interstate.) The berries were big, beautiful and delicious. I am not a blueberry fan, but I have eaten my share.

After we arrived, we met our friends, the Grays, also picking blueberries. We met the owner’s son, Ben, and off we went. We made some mistakes, though. I wore capris and flip flops. There were yellow flies and beautiful yellow spiders among the bushes of blueberries. Ben helped us pick. When the Grays had the amount of blueberries they came for, they helped us pick. How blessed I felt to have such good friends.

Even our little ones were in the fields helping us pick blueberries. I kept thinking, “My father would love this!” All my life, he has loved picking produce and our putting it up to store for he winter. He always hated to stop and leave more ripe fruit (or vegetables) on the vine or bush. I had some of those feelings as I picked blueberries. How many will we need? Who needs a lift and would love for us to share our blueberries? I wonder if we can bottle blueberries and blueberry pie filling?

We talked about this among those of us who came to pick blueberries. One of the ladies was making blueberry syrup, one knew that you could put up the pie filling. Ben told us not to wash the blueberries before freezing, but to pull out of the bag what we needed and wash them before eating or cooking. We stopped for water and juice boxes.

As we left the field that day, I felt empowered. I had been able to physically go and pick blueberries. I shared the love of my family, friends and even strangers as we picked our blueberries together. I was working with my family members. I was putting up in store to help care for my family. I was outside, enjoying nature. I wanted to come back again.

My children and grandchildren did return. I want to go this week. My son found a recipe for blueberry syrup and 2 batches will make just enough…

How will you empower yourself this week?

We haven’t known each other for a long time, yet I am connected with her and her family. Connection is not something I do easily, so it has been amazing to love and cherish her family so quickly.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the lessons Geri has taught me. She has been in the hospital for about 6 weeks and most of that time I have visited or someone from my family has visited almost every day. We have laughed, we have cried, we have held each other’s hands and we have talked and talked and talked.

How I love our talks. We talk about our children. We talk about lives. We talk about her death and passing on to the other side. We talk about our dreams. We talk about our disappointments. We talk about God. We talk about peace. We talk about how we wish that we had done differently. We talk about our experiences with long term illness. We talk about life.

Geri has been a true friend. When I leave the hospital, I am a better person. I have learned about patience. I have learned about long-suffering. Mostly, I have learned about love.

I am so grateful for the gift of love given to me and my family from Geri, Warren, Robyn, Susie, Linda and Cheri. They are and forever be an integral part of our lives. I want to be a better person just by knowing them. Thank you my friends.

How have you expressed your love today?

Among the most famous mothers in history was the mother of President Abraham Lincoln. He is know to have said, “All I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.” He also said, “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” Now, I am not a president, nor ever wish to be, but I have appreciated the prayers of my mother.

As a child and as an adult, I would ask for my mother’s prayers because my mother’s prayers were “magic.” I believed that she had direct access to God, for when she prayed, things happened. I don’t remember the words she spoke in prayer, but I do remember finding her praying in her bedroom. I quietly closed the door and left because prayers are meant to be between you and Heavenly Father.

I remember when we needed extra help, gathering together in family prayer. Or when the car wouldn’t start, praying for it to start, or when something was lost, or when a big project was due, all these things were reasons in our home for extra prayers.

My mother was also a project manager. She would stay up late into the night typing papers which were due the next day or helping put together a model for a school project or numerous other things. She was my biggest helper. She spent time with us. She spent time with us. She spent time with us.

I think that the love of music my mother gave to us is a precious gift. She listened as each of us labored to learn the piano. She listened through voice-lesson practicing. She was our cheerleader. And even though I wanted to end piano lessons years earlier than she would let me, I am now grateful to sit at the piano (although my piano skills are not the best) and play. It brings peace to my life.

So, thank you, Mother, for all the things you did for me. I love mothers. I love being a mother. I love the mothers of my grandchildren, and I watch as their precious children grow and learn and one day can write a blog to thank their mother.

How will you thank a mother today?

On the days when being a mother is hard, I try to remember the times when we connected perfectly. Sometimes, often times, when being a mother is hard, I pray. I pray for courage to take the action needed to cement our relationship; I pray for strength to stand up to the challenge. I pray for the love I feel for my child to shine through as we work through whatever the trouble is.

Being a mother is hard when I have to watch my child suffer because of illness or surgery or the hurts caused by another person. During these times, I seek understanding to acknowledge the difficulty, I do my best to help ease the pain and not add to it…all the time wishing that I could take the pain and spare my child. I know that this is not possible, but it is my greatest desire at that time.

Being a mother is hard when I have to say goodbye to my child. I miss my child, yet know that growing up and living a productive, independent life is exactly what I want for my child.

When my children grow up is also when it is easy to be a mother. I marvel and am impressed by the excellent choices they make. I sit back and watch my children teach their children to be valuable citizens, to respect other people; to excel in school, scouts, arts, encouraging his or her own talents. I love to watch as each of my children become a parent. I see how they each care for the child they decided to bring to life. I watch as they read and nurture and teach each child born to them.

Being a mother is easy as I watch my child achieve a goal. It’s easy to watch as he or she perfects a presentation, learns something new, shares moments from his or her life. Being a mother is easy as we talk about dreams, read books together, share poetry, writings, drawings, music, etc. Being a mother is easy as I get to be a cheerleader for my son or daughter.

On the days when being a mother is easy, I sit back and am grateful that we are in harmony. I enjoy talking with my children (and now my grandchildren). I use moments to remember the happy times together. I acknowledge the goodness of my child. I thank my child for helping. I thank my child for being a part of our family.

On the days when being a mother is easy, I pray. I pray with gratitude, I pray for guidance, I pray to be the best mother I can be. Being a mother is easy when my child is healthy and happy and strong. Being a mother is easy as we enjoy the beauties of nature, as we walk, as we talk, as we sing, as we pray.

Being a mother is the most rewarding opportunity in the world–the adventure of a lifetime, with never a dull moment. I wouldn’t trade one second of it for anything in the world!
What will you do today to empower yourself as a mother or to empower the mothers in your life?

So, I began to think about how I feel when I eat these wonderful “sweet” things…delighted, filled, happy…and how I would want to share those feelings with the people I love most.

In this man’s dream, though, some of the people he loved most got distracted and allowed themselves to wander from their goal–the sweet fruit.

What distracts you?  Go ahead, take a moment to answer that question.  I will wait.  In fact, I have all day…and tomorrow, too…!  I have several distractions on my list.  Some for me are surface, like spending my time in media (movies, iPhone, FB, computer, games, etc.), while others are a little deeper (anger, frustration, lack of faith).  Whatever the distraction, though, I know I am giving into something that is not the best use of my time and energy–something that will not yield fruit.

So, I’m going to give one up.  Today.  I am going to give up one of my distractions in order to focus on and pluck the fruit.  Then next week, another.  And another.  Are you with me?  There may be some fruit in it for both of us…or at least some fudge truffle cheesecake…!