Ezine-Premier Issue

Greetings! You've received this ezine because you
subscribed to it at my website. If you wish to be
removed from my mailing list, please see the
instructions at the end of this email. I don't
share my subscriber list with anyone. We respect
your privacy and value your subscription.

===============================
Contents
===============================
1. Introduction
2. Just for Fun
3. News from TheLillyPond.com
4. See My Eyes
5. What's Your Story
6. Reach Out

===============================
1. Introduction
===============================

Thank you for subscribing to my ezine. We're all
working to improve our relationships with our
mothers and daughters and the other important
women in our families.

I've found strength and direction when I remember
lessons and stories from my mother. These are two
of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them and look
forward to reading stories from you.

===============================
2. Just for fun
===============================

When I was 19 my dad called me one afternoon to
say that he was at the hospital emergency room. He
hastened to tell me that he and mother were ok,
but that they had been in a car wreck and that
mother was hurt. I jumped in my car and rushed to
the hospital. Mother was lying on the gurney with
a nurse holding a compress on her forehead. She
had gone through the windshield and had cut an
artery in her face. She looked terrible with blood
everywhere, but she seemed okay otherwise.

She looked at me and seemed to need my reassurance
and suddenly I knew exactly what to do. I leaned
close to her ear and whispered, "Do you have on
clean underwear?"

Mother started laughing. She laughed at me and she
laughed at herself. So many times when I was
leaving the house, she would ask, "Do you have on
clean underwear? If you're in an accident and have
to go to the Emergency Room, you'll be embarrassed
if you don't have on clean underwear."

There in the hospital emergency room I held her
hand and had a moment together. Because she had
taught me that it was important to be able to
laugh at any circumstance and at myself. A of
course, to always wear clean underwear!

She squeezed my hand and rested. Everything was
going to be alright. After all, she knew she had
on clean underwear.

### Lillian Hinds ###

===============================
3. News from thelillypond.com
===============================

The website awaits you. And the Chat Room is
ready.

Go to www.thelillypond.com and look around.

We'll be posting serious information and tips for
working through your relationships with your
mother, your daughters, your grandmother, your
granddaughters, your step-mother, and on and on.

And we'll have some fun.

===============================
4. See My Eyes?
===============================

As I mentioned above, my mother was lots of fun
and often teased and played with my brothers and
me. And there were times when we weren't quite
sure whether she was just teasing or really
serious.

When she would give us "the look" and say, "See my
eyes?" then we would know she was serious!

Mother played the organ at church and the three of
us kids sat on the front row. Since Daddy was
preaching, he could not discipline us or really
pay attention to us during the service. But like
most women, my mother could do several things at
one time, especially when it came to her children.

She would glance at us there on the front row, and
if we were not behaving in church, we would get
that "See my eyes?" look and know that this matter
would be taken care of when we got home. I
immediately straightened up!

No matter what was going on during the service--
whether I was listening or singing, shaking hands
or passing the offering plate--my eyes often
wandered back to my mother to see if everything
was okay.

And it so happens that this is all that God wants
from us. To keep our eyes on him.

"But my eyes are fixed on you
O sovereign Lord, in you I
take refuge." Psalm 141:8

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of our
faith...consider him who endured
such opposition from sinful men
so that you will not grow weary
and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

Over my lifetime, like most everyone, I've had
hard times, frustrating times, times when I had no
idea what to do next. What to say, how to act,
where to turn. Sometimes I didn't even know what
to pray.

My mother taught me that If I kept my eyes on her,
I wouldn't get in trouble in church. And she also
taught me that if I kept my eyes on Jesus, he
would be my refuge so that I wouldn't "grow weary
or lose heart."

No matter what else is going on around
you...whether you're in the middle of a terrible
storm or everything is running smoothly...whether
you are sitting or standing, singing or listening,
crying or laughing...fix your eyes on Jesus so you
will not grow weary or lose heart.

Always be where you can "see His eyes."

### Lillian Hinds ###

===============================
5. What's your story?
===============================

One of the most valuable resources that we have in
this world is each other. I'm hopeful that stories
and lessons my mother taught me will be a blessing
to you. Perhaps you have a lesson your mother
taught you or a story that lifts you up and would
be of help to someone else.

Maybe you learned to deal with the loss of your
mother or have a tip to help mothers survive their
teenagers. Maybe you have a story that's just
plain funny. Whatever it is, I would be delighted
if you'd send it to me for sharing here in this
ezine. Include your name, city and state and tell
me whether you want us to publish your full name,
or just initials, or your location only.

Just send your story by email to
stories@thelillypond.com

===============================
6. Reach out
===============================

If you know someone who would enjoy having The
Lilly Pond ezine, please feel free to forward this
email in its entirety to them.

If you received this ezine from a friend and you
would like to subscribe and receive your own copy
of The Lilly Pond, click here to send an email to
us with "SUBSCRIBE" in the Subject Line.

===============================
7. Contact me
===============================

Your comments are welcome at
lil@thelillypond.com

Thanks for reading!

With all my heart,
Lillian

===============================