A Day of Remembrance

This Memorial Day is a quiet one for us. The weather has been very rainy and family members are traveling, so our cabin picnic plans have been cancelled. I am going to spend the day planting flowers and weeding the backyard; hoping for a few glimmers of sun this afternoon to warm our rain-weary Rochester hearts. We'll do some backyard relaxing later on and fire up the grill for some healthy nitrate-free hot dogs and baked beans.

As I was reflecting on this special day, I thought it might be interesting to look into the history of Memorial Day a bit. Most of us think of it as a picnic day that kick-starts the summer, but it has historical roots that go way back to the Civil War.

Here is a look at the holiday and how it has evolved, according to US News and World Report:

Memorial Day is a U.S. holiday that is officially about mourning the nation's fallen service members, but it has come to signal the unofficial start of summer and a long weekend for picnics, travel and gardening. 

•  It falls on the last Monday of May. This year, it is May 25.

•  It’s a day of reflection and remembrance of those who died while serving in the U.S. military, according to the Congressional Research Service.

• The holiday is observed in part by the National Moment of Remembrance, which encourages all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. for a moment of silence.

What are the origins of Memorial Day?

•  The holiday's origins can be traced to the American Civil War, which killed more than 600,000 service members, Union and Confederate, between 1861 and 1865.

•  The first national observance of what was then called Decoration Day occurred May 30, 1868, after an organization of Union veterans called for decorating war graves with flowers that were in bloom.

•  In 1971, Congress changed Memorial Day from every May 30 to the last Monday in May.  The creation of the three-day weekend recognized that Memorial Day had been transformed into a more generic remembrance of the dead, as well as a day of leisure.

•  A year later, Time Magazine wrote that the holiday had become “a three-day nationwide hootenanny that seems to have lost much of its original purpose.”

It is interesting to think about the history and significance of the holiday to give us a full understanding of the costs of war. As we honor those who have given their lives in service to our country, may we also pray that war never be entered into lightly, without deep regard for the lives that will most certainly be lost and the many others who will be impacted by the actions taken by our government. 

Today, let us pray for world peace.

Flowers Make My Heart Sing

 One of the greatest gifts of spring is a flower, or more precisely, many flowers. A constant parade of loveliness: Crocuses, tulips, daffodils, flowering trees, lilacs, irises and peonies fill our world with beauty and color, so welcome after the gray cold of winter.

This morning, I was out walking in my neighborhood and was "surprised by joy" (to quote Wordsworth and C.S. Lewis) at the sight of my neighbor's colorful tulip bed glistening in the morning sun. I felt a familiar leap of joy in my heart that I've come to think of as inner singing.

 Flowers have always made my heart sing; from the time I was a small girl and my Swiss grandmother took me by the hand as we strolled through her backyard garden. She pointed out each flower by name and seemed to be as fascinated by their beauty as I was. I felt a connection to each one as warmth and happiness filled me.

I believe that flowers remind us that our Creator loves beauty and desires to share this joy with us. Blossoms are intricately designed and perfectly crafted, each one with a unique blueprint.  Aside from the loveliness they bless us with, they are essential to life on this planet. Flowers provide nectar and pollen for the bees, which in turn makes it possible for our crops to grow.

In essence, they feed our spirits and bodies as well as demonstrate to us the cycle of life.  A flower plant grows from seed, blooms and provides beauty and nectar, then withers and dies, becoming part of the soil that nourishes new plants.

They inspire our art and design, our music and poetry and most importantly, remind us that we are deeply cherished Divine beings, worthy of such beautiful gifts.

All Kinds of Moms

On this morning after Mother's Day, I am saying a prayer of gratitude, not only for my mom, who has passed on, but for all the women (aunts, mother-n-law, grandma) who have been like second mothers to me throughout my life. They all shared their love and wisdom when it was needed most and for that, I am eternally thankful. 

As well, there have been spiritual mentors whose wise, motherly advice helped me at different points: women who prayed with and for me at the most difficult points of my life. Many of them have moved on, as we all do, in and out of the lives of others, lending a hand when needed and then being drawn away by the circumstances of life.

I think of them all now, with a lump in my throat and a tug in my heart. So many have passed on to that other realm, and it makes me sad, but also happy to visualize them in a better place.

"Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of motherhood. Today, we celebrate the loving sacrifice of mothers, both biological and spiritual, who nurture and guide us in Your ways. Bless them with joy, strength, and love to continue their selfless devotion. May they feel deeply appreciated and honored not just today, but every day. Amen."  

*Christianity.com

Self-Care is not Selfish

In recent months, my Higher Self reminded me that I had been neglecting my mental, physical and spiritual health. I had gotten so busy and distracted teaching full-time and focusing on family needs that there was no time left for me. So, I scheduled a physical and some preventive health care screenings. I also started what I like to think of as "self-care Saturdays". On this day, I sleep a little later, have a leisurely breakfast, do some physical pampering like an enzyme facial mask, go for a hike in the woods, read a good book, or whatever feels right.

 I guess this is just taking biblical advice and having a day of rest, but foolish me has for years believed doing it just for me was selfish. It's not selfish at all, I have come to realize. It's essential to love ourselves and be good to ourselves. In fact, it's a commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself". As they say on the airplane, "put your own oxygen mask on first, before helping others."

The special day doesn't have to be Saturday, of course. Any day will do, so long as we make a commitment to devote the day to self-care and say no to outside distractions (unless they're self-pampering!)

So today, on this lovely Monday in Spring, I challenge you to prayerfully consider what you could do on your own self-care day. Whatever it is that makes you feel peaceful and pampered is a start. And, as I listen to the birds singing outside my window I think, do whatever makes your heart sing!