Memories of my mom

Today I am especially remembering my mom because it was 13 years ago that she left us. Some times it seems like yesterday and other times like forever since I last saw her. She was healthy and functioning up until the day she got ill so there really wasn't much time for understanding that our time together was done.

My mom was always a hard worker who believed in doing things right. She was generally quiet and went about her business without much ado. When her first marriage ended in the 1950s, and she came back home with three children, I can't even imagine how difficult that must have been for her. She cared about what others thought so to face the stigma of divorce at at time when that was rare must have been horrific for her. However, she stuck to it and got a good job and took care of her children. She ultimately remarried (which is how I came about), continued her job for 25 years before retiring and thoroughly enjoyed her new home and farm life. The influence she had on my children can't be described, and I am so thankful for that.

It wasn't until after she was gone that I realized what a simple person she was and just how much she did for all of us. Often on Sundays I can almost smell the roast beef dinner and just feel what it was to spend an afternoon at home. Sure wish I would have helped more and given her more hugs.

Here's to the memory of a wonderful lady.

Thought for the day: To live in hearts we leave behind

Is not to die......Thomas Campbell

I've Been Thinking

I do quite a bit of thinking which can be dangerous. However, I spent the weekend in Brainerd and got to hold my 4 month old granddaughter a whole lot (which makes me very happy). As I was looking at her and pondering what her daily life entails, the words of Jesus came to me: Unless you become like a little child, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven; The kingdom of heaven is within you.

So I was thinking that just maybe he meant that unless we retain our innocence and sense of wonder and awe at just about every thing, we cannot attain heaven. And maybe he meant that unless we live deliberately (as much as possible as adults), we cannot reach heaven. Imagine if instead of rapidly walking through the yard, we stopped to look at each grass blade, or instead of hurrying by each tree, we stopped to feel the bark and touch the leaves. What if we ate when hungry and slept when tired. I know this is my most spiritual type of day; the kind where it just unfolds. What if we stopped rushing to and fro trying to get as much done as possible and tried to just be.

I do believe that we can achieve heaven on earth if we just take the time to be in awe.

Thought for the day: Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; and only he who sees takes off his shoes; the rest sit round it and pluck blackberries. Elizabeth Barrett Browning