Mother’s Healing Garden
I have found a wonderful place to pray and think that I would like to tell you about. A few years ago, a group of mothers created a beautiful garden in memory of the children they lost. It is located in Dell Rapids, SD and open to the public. The garden has a open air chapel and a Labyrinth which was constructed to be used for meditation and prayer.
These wonderful women had a vision of a quiet place for people, especially mothers, to go to -- reflect, think, and pray as they grieve the loss of a loved one. I had only visited the Mother’s Healing garden a few times, until this year. This summer the garden in it’s full beauty and I have found the garden to be a wonderful place to think and pray. It is not that I am grieving the loss of a loved one, but sometimes mom’s just need some alone time with God. I can definitely feel God’s presence in the garden.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
July 10 - Dad's birthday
This is a very emotional Blessings for me. I am challenging myself to be open about a part of my life that I choose not to talk about much. Today is my dad’s birthday. I am not sure what the best gift he has ever received. I know the best gift that he gave me.
My dad is a recovered alcoholic. I believe that the alcoholism began in my teen years and it continued into my early thirties. The best gift I received from my dad was the day he decided to become a recovering alcoholic. There were a lot of challenging times over all the years that he drank. He was a happy drunk and he could be the life a party, but he became dependant on it to open up and to be happy. Isn’t it funny, he was dependant on a depressant to be happy?
For many years, I wanted nothing more than for him to go through treatment. Then the day finally came, he admitted himself to treatment. I was so happy, yet scared. The hardest day of his treatment was the day that I came to see him and he demanded that I take him home. I refused. He was so anger at me and he told me, out of rage, that I was no longer his daughter. I knew that he did not mean it, and that he probably would not remember saying it. It was hard to leave that day knowing how upset he was at me.
He completed his treatment and attended AA meetings on a regular basis. The first year was a challenge. I was invited to his one year anniversary party with his AA group. At that meeting my dad got up and talked about the challenges of the year and gave me another gift. He came over to me, hugged me (remember old Dutch men are generally not huggers) and thanked me for having the courage to leave him in treatment, instead of taking him home.
My dad has been free from alcohol since October 1999. I am so grateful that my kids will never remember their grandfather was an alcoholic.
Blessings
Robin
My dad is a recovered alcoholic. I believe that the alcoholism began in my teen years and it continued into my early thirties. The best gift I received from my dad was the day he decided to become a recovering alcoholic. There were a lot of challenging times over all the years that he drank. He was a happy drunk and he could be the life a party, but he became dependant on it to open up and to be happy. Isn’t it funny, he was dependant on a depressant to be happy?
For many years, I wanted nothing more than for him to go through treatment. Then the day finally came, he admitted himself to treatment. I was so happy, yet scared. The hardest day of his treatment was the day that I came to see him and he demanded that I take him home. I refused. He was so anger at me and he told me, out of rage, that I was no longer his daughter. I knew that he did not mean it, and that he probably would not remember saying it. It was hard to leave that day knowing how upset he was at me.
He completed his treatment and attended AA meetings on a regular basis. The first year was a challenge. I was invited to his one year anniversary party with his AA group. At that meeting my dad got up and talked about the challenges of the year and gave me another gift. He came over to me, hugged me (remember old Dutch men are generally not huggers) and thanked me for having the courage to leave him in treatment, instead of taking him home.
My dad has been free from alcohol since October 1999. I am so grateful that my kids will never remember their grandfather was an alcoholic.
Blessings
Robin
July 9 - Actions speak louder than words
I am honored to include writings from a couple close friends in “Blessings”. Today’s Blessing comes from Karla Peter. Karla and I grew up in the same small church in Harrison, SD. When you talk to Karla about us growing up together, she is quick to let everyone know that I am older! I hope you enjoy Karla’s writings as much as I do.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
“Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” Matthew 23:3.
We have probably all heard the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words”. Those of us with growing, maturing children in our lives are perhaps reminded quite frequently of this popular saying. How easy it is to verbally communicate to our children what appropriate behavior is along with our expectations for them; however, providing them with a consistent, positive example that measures up to all that we have outlined through our speech is not nearly so simple. Then, if inconsistencies exist between what we have said and what we have done, they generally will not hesitate to point them out to us.
In today’s Bible passage, we see that the Scribes and Pharisees were using Scripture to condemn other people for doing the same evil that they were doing. Jesus is angry at the hypocrisy that he sees among these Scribes and Pharisees. Unfortunately, that is a sin that we can so easily fall prey to, as well.
Instead, Christ has called us to be His servants sent into the world as ambassadors of His kingdom. It seems like one of the most effective ways of carrying this mission out is not through our grand and glorious words or any false fronts we may attempt to portray but, instead, our humble, consistent actions. In attempting to maintain a positive, Christ-like example, we may be able to lighten the burdens on others shoulders while helping fellow followers along the journey of faith.
I encourage you to take time for soul-searching and reflection, to focus on your individual relationship with Christ looking for ways to ‘lead by example’ for those around you. May He find us to be faithful, humble servants for Him.
God of Humility, Openness and Compassion,
Our Teacher and Perfect Example,
Help Us To Live Out Your Purpose For Our Lives,
Through Your Son, Who Taught Us How To Live, Amen.
Karla R. Peter
Blessings
Robin
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
“Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” Matthew 23:3.
We have probably all heard the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words”. Those of us with growing, maturing children in our lives are perhaps reminded quite frequently of this popular saying. How easy it is to verbally communicate to our children what appropriate behavior is along with our expectations for them; however, providing them with a consistent, positive example that measures up to all that we have outlined through our speech is not nearly so simple. Then, if inconsistencies exist between what we have said and what we have done, they generally will not hesitate to point them out to us.
In today’s Bible passage, we see that the Scribes and Pharisees were using Scripture to condemn other people for doing the same evil that they were doing. Jesus is angry at the hypocrisy that he sees among these Scribes and Pharisees. Unfortunately, that is a sin that we can so easily fall prey to, as well.
Instead, Christ has called us to be His servants sent into the world as ambassadors of His kingdom. It seems like one of the most effective ways of carrying this mission out is not through our grand and glorious words or any false fronts we may attempt to portray but, instead, our humble, consistent actions. In attempting to maintain a positive, Christ-like example, we may be able to lighten the burdens on others shoulders while helping fellow followers along the journey of faith.
I encourage you to take time for soul-searching and reflection, to focus on your individual relationship with Christ looking for ways to ‘lead by example’ for those around you. May He find us to be faithful, humble servants for Him.
God of Humility, Openness and Compassion,
Our Teacher and Perfect Example,
Help Us To Live Out Your Purpose For Our Lives,
Through Your Son, Who Taught Us How To Live, Amen.
Karla R. Peter
Blessings
Robin
July 8 - Tire Swing
Tire Swing
Recently, we were watching a movie and the boy in the movie was playing on an old fashion tire swing. This brought back memories for me. My brother and I loved to go to my Great Uncle Jake and Aunt Pearle’s house to visit on Sunday afternoon. It was not because we liked visiting with the old people, but we loved the old tire swing they had hanging from a big oak tree near the driveway. We could swing on that tire for hours. It was so different and much more exciting than our metal swing set. We could get the swing to go high and we loved to jump off at the highest point to see who could fly without getting hurt.
Since we watched that movie, I have been looking for an old tire swing to enjoy, like I did when I was a kid.
Recently, we were watching a movie and the boy in the movie was playing on an old fashion tire swing. This brought back memories for me. My brother and I loved to go to my Great Uncle Jake and Aunt Pearle’s house to visit on Sunday afternoon. It was not because we liked visiting with the old people, but we loved the old tire swing they had hanging from a big oak tree near the driveway. We could swing on that tire for hours. It was so different and much more exciting than our metal swing set. We could get the swing to go high and we loved to jump off at the highest point to see who could fly without getting hurt.
Since we watched that movie, I have been looking for an old tire swing to enjoy, like I did when I was a kid.
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