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The Lilly Pond |
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April
23, 2002 |
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Greetings and thanks for subscribing to TheLillyPond.com ezine! I'm Lillian Hinds and this ezine is dedicated to all mothers, daughters and the other important women in their families. Because we respect your privacy and value your subscription, we don't share your email address with anyone. If you'd like to be removed from our mailing list, please see instructions at the end of this
ezine. ================================= Volume 2 Issue 12: In the Pond This Week ================================= 1. Note to My Readers: Pond Talk 2. A Poem to My Daughter by Janice Kathleen 3. No Regrets 4. The Commercial 5. Share The Lilly Pond 6. Contact Me ================================= 1. Note to My Readers: Pond Talk ================================= Dear Lilly Ponder: We continue this week with our celebration of our First Anniversary and continue our preparation for Mother's Day. In addition to one of our favorite poems this week by Janice Kathleen, I have included an excerpt from my book "Always Wear Clean Underwear." Our Mother's Day article will be very special. I'm going to introduce you to the grandmother I never knew, Lillian. Can we be significant? Can we make a difference? How can we know we are doing the right thing by our children? Perhaps your inbox is filled up and you need to unsubscribe to some of your mail. But you'll want to wait until after Mother's Day. You really don't want to miss this article. Don't forget to check the web site for information on our "Share the Pond" contest. Help us spread the word about The Lilly Pond and win a free copy of the New Testament as an eBook that you can put on your computer. From now until Mother's Day, you can get free shipping on my book "Always Wear Clean Underwear" (U.S. and Canadian addresses). In addition, with each book, you'll receive a free greeting card with a "flowers" design similar to the book cover. Look at the bottom of the home page of www.thelillypond.com for a picture of this beautiful card, perfect for Mother's Day. Also, you can find a list of gift shops in Texas and Colorado that are carrying the book. And you can also find a schedule of my speaking engagements during the month of May. If one is close to you, I would love to meet you. As always, I hope you find something here that you need or something that will touch your heart. With all my heart, Lillian Hinds ================================= 2. From Reader Janice Kathleen ================================= Dear Lillian: I stumbled across your website the other day and enjoyed it so much. I thought I would send you a poem I wrote to my daughter Heather 7 years ago when she moved into her own apartment. When we first met you were a baby, a tiny bundle of joy. I blinked and turned around and you were running after your toy. When I glanced up you were ready for school my little girl dressed in ribbons and bows. When I looked again you were in high school; how it happened God only knows. I turned my head and there you were on the stage in a graduation gown. I looked over my shoulder as you said "Hey mom" and felt my smile turn into a frown. "Hey mom, I'm ready to move out. so please be happy for me. I can't wait to be out on my own. I'll be fine, just wait and see." I always knew if I did my job too well this phase of our life would end. But in its place I have something much better.... I've raised my very best friend! Thanks for reading this, Sincerely, Janice Kathleen in Ohio ================================= 3. "No Regrets" by Lillian Hinds ================================= One autumn day when I was a young adult, Mother and I were driving by a large cemetery about a mile from our home in the Missouri Ozarks. The grounds were thick with beautiful trees and their changing leaves presented a breathtaking display of color. We talked about the bouquets on the graves and how sad it was that the person who died didn't even know that someone had given them flowers. "Well, I want my flowers while I'm alive to enjoy them," Mother said. We laughed and continued on our way. A few days later I had the opportunity to give Mother some flowers. I don't remember the occasion. I don't even think there was one. Something just told me to do it. I put a little note on the flowers that said, "While you're alive to enjoy them!" And she immediately knew they were from me. Over the years, and wherever we lived, Mother and I would give each other flowers from time to time. No special occasion required. Sometimes I'd come home from work to find roses or gardenias from her garden on my kitchen table. Always there was a note that said, "While we are alive to enjoy them." And I'd always know they were from her. The rest of the family didn't know this was going on. We didn't make that big of a deal of it. This was just something fun that we shared from time to time. When Mother died we buried her in a cemetery not far from my present home. Daddy and I were looking at gravestones and trying to decide if we wanted one with a vase in it. This particular cemetery has stones that are flush with the ground and if you want to place flowers, you have to use a vase that's part of the headstone. Suddenly, through all my grief, I remembered what mother and I had done for so many years with flowers. You have to know that my relationship with Mother had not been perfect. There were many "rough spots;" some anger and hurt that we eventually worked through. But at that moment I had a distinct sense of relief. I had already given mother my flowers. And I realized that while our relationship had not been perfect, it was okay. I had taken the opportunity to express my love to her while I had the chance. I had given her flowers and received her flowers just for fun and because I loved her. When I think back to the day that we drove by that cemetery, I had no thought that I would ever have to bury my mother. And like most young people, I was certain of my own "immortality." Death would never knock at my door. My family put flowers on mother's casket, and at her burial. When the stone was laid, we gathered again and put flowers there again. And I realized that the flowers were for us. And how we needed that. I have friends and relatives who decorate the graves of their loved ones on a regular basis. And there's nothing wrong with that. Death is a bitter enemy and I think we should use anything and everything to cope with the ugly swath it cuts through our lives. Right after mother died, I visited her grave often. It just didn't seem real that she was gone. But gradually I came to understand the true reality. She wasn't there. There was no comfort for me at the cemetery. I go by her grave occasionally to check the area and to see that it's maintained. But my comfort comes from knowing that she is with her Lord. And from knowing that I gave her my flowers while she was alive to enjoy them. If you have lost your mother, be careful not to dwell on the negative aspects of your relationship with her. Remember the positive things, even if it was something as small as putting some flowers in a vase for her kitchen table. If you have not lost your mother, honor her while you still can. Then when you do have to face that awful day, you will be able to do so with God's grace and with no regrets. Psalm 103:15-16 "As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone." With all my heart, Lillian ================================= 4. The Commercial ================================= Ok, the web site is ready to announce our Mother's Day special gift offer. With each purchase of my book "Always Wear Clean Underwear" you'll also get a free "flowers" greeting card. You can see the design on the web site. It's really beautiful and the design compliments the cover design on the book. This will make the perfect gift for your mother, daughter, grandmother, step-mother, mother-in-law and every other special woman in your life. Believe me, they haven't gotten something like this for Mother's Day before. Because this is the first Mother's Day that my book AND these wonderful greeting cards have been out! And as another gift from The Lilly Pond, we're going to offer FREE shipping by Priority Mail to U.S. and Canadian addresses between now and Mother's Day. Don't put it off. Go to the www.thelillypond.com and get your books on order now. With all my heart, Lillian ================================= 5. Share The Lilly Pond ================================= If you know someone who would enjoy having The Lilly Pond ezine, please feel free to forward this issue to them. If you received this ezine from a friend and you'd like to subscribe, you can go to www.TheLillyPond.com and subscribe for free or just click here to send an email to us with "SUBSCRIBE" in the Subject line. Thanks. ================================= 6. Contact Me ================================= Your comments are welcome. Click here to email me. Thanks for reading! With all my heart, Lillian ================================= |
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