See if this makes you smile!

The Cowans knew nothing about Youtube when this video was made; they don't even own a computer. They were simply providing some entertainment.

Now they are famous! These life-long musicians have since been hearing from friends all over the country -- who have seen them on YouTube.

They feel God has given them a special gift in their love of music, and they feel compelled to share.




For more about this delightful couple, as written in the Des Moines Register of May 10, CLICK HERE

Twinkies and a generous heart

Someone sent this email story. It's a simple reminder that God can enter our lives in many ways when we are willing.

Although this encounter was clearly written about an earlier era when parents would not be alarmed if their children spent a day in the park with a stranger, the message is timeless. An honest act of generosity and acceptance can fill another's whole day with joy. And the blessing can, and should, be mutual.

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and he started his journey.

Three blocks away, he met an old man sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He noticed the old man looking hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie. He gratefully accepted and smiled at the boy.

His smile so lit up his face that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, the man smiled and the boy was delighted. They sat most of the day, smiling and eating, and never saying a word.

As the shadows lengthened, the boy realized it was getting late, and he needed to go home, so he got up to leave. But before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around and ran back to give the old man a hug. It was then that he received the biggest smile ever and felt the strongest, gentlest hug he'd ever received.

As he entered his home his mother asked, "What did you do today that makes you so happy? You're simply beaming!"

"I had lunch with God. You know what? He has the most beautiful smile I ever saw!"

Meanwhile, the old man was returning to his shelter, radiant with joy. Staffers noticed the look of peace and contentment on his face. "Where have you been; what have you done?" they asked.

And his answer was, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God. You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Self-worth

Self-worth

Vern looked into the mirror and saw four-day’s growth of stubbly whiskers, and he didn’t care. We met at the mailboxes later that day. I asked if he was sporting the movie-star look.

“No,” he confessed, “too lazy to shave.” I guess my eyebrows shot up. Now even though Vern is well into his 90s, it is unusual for him to not look sharp in every detail. He paused, passed his hand across his bristly chin. “Well,” he said with a smile, “I didn’t think anyone would notice. But if you noticed, I’ll take care of it.”

I like Vern’s spirit – that he agreed not to be stuck in indifference; that someone's smallest caring was enough to boost his morale. Sometimes life is about living in the moment. Sometimes we don’t have plans. When the busyness of family, school, or work – around which we have patterned our lives, perhaps for decades – is not there anymore, then what?

I’m learning to focus my own prayers more consistently around a very simple, “Dear Father-Mother, how can I best praise you today?” And then I try to follow those answers from moment to moment. It might be writing an article or an email, praying for someone or for the world, making a phone call or a visit. I try to be more attentive to the little intuitions that make the difference in following through on my prayers.

I believe that in our little interchange Vern glimpsed something more of his genuine worth, his present purpose, that how he sees himself is important and makes a difference for good.

I love this promise:

“Man, governed by immortal Mind,
is always beautiful and grand.
Each succeeding year unfolds
wisdom, beauty, and holiness.”
Mary Baker Eddy

Appreciating men AND women

First it was Polish jokes. When poking fun at cultures became politically incorrect, blonds picked up the brunt of appearing empty-headed. Close after came humor bashing men. Lawyer-knocking jokes still make the rounds. Wit making seniors look foolish enjoys popularity as well.

While I confess to having chuckled at the novelty of each appearing joke group, it dawned on me that bashing people groups isn’t friendly. And, even though some of the jokes are really funny, I don't want to be part of putting others down.

This is because I tremendously value what the women in my life (Polish, blond, and otherwise) share – empathy, concern, wisdom, joy, encouragement, nurturing, honesty, helpfulness, flexibility.

And I love what men bring to the mix – breadth of vision, spontaneity, adventure, quirkiness, humor, dependability, respect, thoughtfulness, generosity.

I have a dear lawyer relative, and his stability, kindness, caring and goodness mean all the world to me.

And seniors -- those gentle, wise, active folks who have been around the block a few times, are always there with help and advice. Even the curmudgeons have marshmallow hearts.

For that matter, I treasure my Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, Christian Science, Baptist, agnostic, and other friends whose worship I may not know, for the honesty, cheer, and daily dedication they bring to our relationships.

Since I credit God as the source of all that's good in life, I thank Him/Her for this wonderful variety of people who so enrich my days and years.

I take heart in the diversity with which God expresses His love and comfort for letting us help each other. This world isn’t always an easy one, and we need one another to strengthen our journeys with hope, courage, joy, and the confidence that we each have something worthwhile to contribute.

-----------------------------------------------

Keep out of debt altogether,

except that personal debt of love

which we owe one another.

If you love your fellow man

you have carried out all your obligations.

Paul to his Roman friends

-----------------------------------------------

Advancing years can be productive

Those senior jokes aren't always so funny. I rebel against an underlying negativity that anticipates decay and decline as inevitable. The joke can become a vehicle for passive acceptance.


Years have nothing to do with usefulness and productivity.

Grandma Moses began painting in her 70s.

Pablo Casals, the famed cellist,

was performing in his 90s.

Mary Baker Eddy, American religious leader, author, business woman, founded The Christian Science Monitor daily newspaper in her 88th year.

Love for mankind, and the conviction that one has something to contribute, however small, finds its expression. A volunteer in California at 104, shows up at her job as a hospital receptionist every day. When asked why, she replies, “What else would I do? Sit around and play cards?”

Asked for her advice on longevity, she counsels, “First of all, keep breathing! Then, help others, and stop thinking about yourself.”

Expecting decline and decay needs to be revised. It's healthy and satisfying to turn thought into more productive channels.

----------------------------------------------------------

“Except for the error of measuring and limiting
all that is good and beautiful,
man would enjoy more than threescore years and ten
and still maintain his vigor, freshness, and promise.”

“Life and goodness are immortal.

Let us then shape our views of existence

into loveliness, freshness, and continuity,

rather than into age and blight.”

“Each succeeding year unfolds

wisdom, beauty, and holiness.”

Mary Baker Eddy

----------------------------------------------------------

Riper years, and what's next?

In the early days of TV, there was a great program called, “Life begins at Eighty!” Each week wonderful men and women in their 80s would share insights into their hobbies, activities, and busy lives. Oddly enough, you didn’t hear these folks discussing diseases or diagnoses. They were too busy living life.

Decay and decline are not laws. Someone wisely observed, “You don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.” The women in my family are incredible. And they do laugh a lot. See laughter blog.

An amazing octogenarian aunt has just begun going to college for the first time in her life. She is loving her teachers, her classes, her classmates. She’s working hard and earning some of the best grades in the class. And her dear husband is cheering her on.

Tired of the low activity level retirement was providing, something in her intuitively rebelled against the world’s “over the hill” attitude. Auntie is living this sentiment by Mary Baker Eddy who thought a lot about what advancing years should bring. Eddy wrote, “Men and women of riper years and larger lessons ought to ripen into health and immortality, instead of lapsing into darkness or gloom.”

And, “Let us then shape our views of existence into loveliness, freshness, and continuity, rather than into age and blight.”

Would you believe, as this column was being written, a friend emailed the following link. It’s a great video example of women of riper years having a ball!