Ungrateful. Unsettled. Unexcited. I’m sorry to admit that was the state of my heart when I first contemplated Thanksgiving this year. My gratitude journal reflected numerous blessings, but the thought of another holiday without my mother saddened me. Mama was the heart of festivities for every holiday gathering. She created traditions that made Thanksgiving my favorite day of the year–decorations and flower arrangements, prayer in a circle with family holding hands, croquet games after lunch, Monopoly after supper. What I miss most is being loved by her and hugging her. Oh, the Thanksgiving meal– the world’s best dressing, steamed cauliflower…
Tag: encouragement
Be Encouraged to Encourage
by Evelyn Wells I’m happy to introduce my first guest blogger! Evelyn Wells is my sweet cousin who recently won an award for her writing. I’m so proud of her and thankful she agreed to share encouragement with us. Her bio follows the post. Here’s her post: “You did a great job with your presentation.” “How beautiful your house is, all decorated for Christmas!” “Wow! Dinner is delicious. You’re a great cook.” “Thank you so much for your visit. It brightened my day.” Don’t we all love to be appreciated? Kind words encourage us, and can make our day; we…
The Bossy Wren
Incessant chirping signaled the urgent need for food. The infant bobble-head birds were crying for Mrs. Wren’s beak-to-beak deposits. They were desperate. Mother Bird was perfectly willing and able to provide for her babies. She flew with winged efficiency from the nearest “supermarket” to her nest inside her birdhouse. (Ahem . . . OUR birdhouse) The only hindrance was me! I was sitting at the deck table, minding my own business, when she started fussing at me. (Warning: I like to put words in the mouths, I mean beaks, of our feathered friends.) “Get off of this deck and go…
Be the “Sunflower” in Someone’s Day
Sunflowers make me smile. They just look sunny with their petals extending like rays of sunshine. These stunning beauties stand in contrast to the sky and nearby vegetation, punctuating the landscape with brilliant color. These flowers intrigue me for several reasons. Vincent van Gogh, working in southern France, selected sunflowers out of all of God’s creation as the subjects of five paintings in 1888 and 1889. Maybe the artist chose them because they naturally draw the eye or maybe the sunflowers he saw brightened his day. Sunflowers remind me of cheerful people who brighten the day wherever they are. Does…