My
dear friend, Beverly sent this one in.
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Mother’s Day For
Peace, by Anne Chan, M.S., MFT.
The greeting cards are flying out.
Restaurants are poised for one of the busiest dining days of the year. Florists
are ready with bright bouquets. Even phone companies are bracing for the surge
of calls. Mother’s Day is here this month and people all over are making
special efforts to celebrate and honor their mothers.
Interestingly, the origins of Mother’s
Day have nothing to do with greeting cards, flowers or restaurant meals. One of the earliest pushes for Mother’s Day in the United States
was generated by Julia Ward Howe in 1870. Howe wanted women to unite for
peace against the violence of the Civil War. Her extraordinary “Mother’s Day
Proclamation” calls for women to unite and rally for peace. She certainly did
not intend for Mother’s Day to be a materialistic occasion.
During these difficult times when our
country is at war and our economy appears to be going through a rough patch, it
may be worthwhile for us to return to the roots of Mother’s Day -- to Howe’s
call for peace and unity.
I’m all for small actions that make a difference. When I think of creating peace, I think of tiny steps that I can take
to create peace in my home and life so that my positive actions ripple outward
to my extended family, to my community, and beyond.
I’d like you to consider the question: “How can I bring peace to my
family and home this Mother’s Day?” I’d like to
challenge children as well as parents to consider this question. Going with
Howe’s original intent, I encourage all of you (mothers
and children alike) to think of ways of creating peace through individual and
collective efforts.
Here are some no-cost suggestions that
will create a memorable Mother’s Day and bring peace and unity to your family:
+ Write a letter telling your Mom all
the things you appreciate about her.
+ Thank your Mom for the things she does
every day that you’ve taken for granted.
+ Say “I’m sorry” when you hurt someone. Tell them you are making an
effort for peace on Mother’s Day.
+ Give the gift of helping someone feel heard. Listen to your partner and children without
interrupting. Be genuinely interested in what they have to say.
+ Mend fences with someone with whom you’ve had a falling-out.
+ Plan a family activity that involves a
good cause, e.g. helping someone in need, cleaning the environment.
+ Do a family activity that can benefit
everyone in the family. This may take some thinking, creativity, and collaboration,
but it will be worth it. One such group activity could be planting flowers and
vegetables that everyone can enjoy. Or baking bread together.
Or making a meal together.
Howe wrote in her “Mother’s Day
Proclamation” for us to consider “the means whereby the great human family can
live in peace.” I encourage you to consider small and
creative ways to think of ways to make peace in your own great family.
We can all be creators of peace, whether
we are biological mothers or not. To all of you out there, have a wonderful and
peaceful Mother’s Day!
Please pass this along to others who may
appreciate it!
From: relationships@couplesinstitute.com
Here's a special one from my dear Sister!
I hope you
enjoy the beautiful thoughts expressed, below. Golly, YOU are worth so much
more; precious, invaluable, and divine one. I am glad,
thankful and delighted that we are in relationship for the long or short haul.
Subject:
Friends...
The Purple Hat
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IF
I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck |
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(Written after she found out she was dying
from cancer). |
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I would have gone to bed when I was sick
instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. |
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I
would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in
storage. |
I
would have talked less and listened more. |
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I
would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or
the sofa faded. |
I
would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less
about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. |
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I
would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
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I
would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. |
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I
would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day
because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. |
I
would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains. |
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I
would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while
watching life. |
I would never have bought anything just
because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was
guaranteed to last a lifetime. |
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Instead of wishing away nine months of
pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and
realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to
assist God in a miracle. |
When my kids kissed
me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for
dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you!;
more 'I'm sorry... |
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But
mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it
and really see it... live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL
STUFF!!! Don't worry about
who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. |
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Instead; let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do
love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us
with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally,
physically, and emotionally. I hope you have a
blessed day! |
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Friends are quiet angels who lift us to our
feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly. |
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Luvshugskisses_blahblahblah!!!
Charmaigne Scott,
President
Charmaigne Scott Music
Publishing Company (CSMPC)
831.440.8781 Skype
831.915.8187 cell
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