Warm Thoughts

Trina Harger

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Warm Thoughts is a podcast embracing nostalgia, self-reflection, and legacy. Join Dr. Luetta G. Werner (b. 1926-2016) as we revisit her weekly column written for her small town newspaper. Narrated by her granddaughter, Trina Harger, curator of visualbenedictions.com.

3 DAYS AGO

Episode 293: Generations

Recently, I attended a retreat at Cedar Shore in Chamberlain, South Dakota. It was a women's retreat, and all generations were present from the great grandmothers to the young mother with her baby daughter. It was a learning experience about the different generations which I would like to share with you this week and during family month. 1900 to 1925: The missionary generation, the happiest, most satisfied generation, this generation values family, God, and church. 99 Nobel Peace Prizes have been won by this generation. 1926 to 1945 is the sandwich generation. 50000000 in the US. They are sandwiched between boomerang children and aging parents. Family, school, church are important. This generation also believes in hard work, frugality, loyalty. Early retiring husbands are in this generation. This sandwich generation is eager to reach out to other cultures. Some joined the Peace Corps. 1946 to 1964: Our baby boomers. There are 76000000 in the US. They make up 45% of the adult population. Twice as many went to college as their parents. They are against sexism. They want help with their children and parents. They are the first generation to have television. 70% of boomer women work outside the home. They waited until their 30s to have their babies. Two out of three boomer women have been divorced. They like quality projects and want lots of choices and options. They long for traditional values in raising children. 1965 to 1976 are the baby busters. There are 40 million in the US. They are also called the 13th generation - generation Y. They were born during the era of cable TV, fluctuating economy, and desert storm. They are high tech, high touch, low self-esteem. They do not like planning and preparation. They are accustomed to divorce, they are survivors, and are expected to become more conservative during midlife crisis. They want connection and diversity. 1977 to 1995 are the baby boomlets, also known as the millennial generation. This generation is less materialistic and more social conscious. They are highly informed. They believe religion and what parents believe is not so important. They are interested in community projects and mission endeavors. Will they become a missionary generation like their forefathers and foremothers? They may, if there are enough left in that generation to mentor them. As we reflect on the past century, it is interesting that it is the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize. We even have a stamp to remind us about this anniversary. Mother Teresa was one of the recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. When she was asked, how can we bring peace to the world? she answered, “Just go home and love your family.” We are not meant to do great things for God, but small things, with great love. - Mother Teresa. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. Werner Published in the Marion Record, March 17th, 2001. Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past. Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table. I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it. Till next time, Trina

4 min
3 MAR

Episode 292: St. Pat's Day

Right after St. Valentine's Day was history, I immediately saw St. Patrick's Day cards and decorations in the stores. There may be signs of winter and white snow around us, but the shamrock decorations of green are symbolic of life, and soon we'll have St. Pat's Day and Spring. I have always been curious about Bishop Patrick and why people considered him a saint in their lives. In my research, I read about the legend of the shamrock, and will share these thoughts with you. Long ago, when Ireland was the land of druids, there was a great bishop, Patrick by name, who came to teach the word of God throughout the country. This saint, for he was indeed a saint, was well loved everywhere he went. One day, however, a group of his followers came to him and admitted that it was difficult for them to believe in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. St. Patrick reflected a moment, and then, stooping down, he plucked a leaf from the shamrock and held it before them, bidding them to behold the living example of the three in one. The simple beauty of this explanation convinced these skeptics, and from that day the shamrock has been revered throughout Ireland. Throughout the years, I have always been so inspired by the wit and humor of my Irish friends. They have blessed my life and given me an appreciation of their culture and their appreciation of family and friends. This Irish saying could be for us all, even though we may now be able to say we have a bit of Irish. Family and Friends: The two things we're most grateful for are our family and our friends. The care they have provided, the love so strong and true, the thoughtfulness that's spoken, in words and actions too. Our grandmas and our grandpas, our mothers and our dads, our brothers and our sisters, are there through good and bad. They're special friends to share with, Our smiles, our hopes, our fears, When counting all God's blessings, Gifts of love that never end, We could count on friends and family, And our family, as true friends. Irish Grerand Butler. More Irish thoughts: May the raindrops fall by lightly on your brow. May the soft winds freshen your spirit. May the sunshine brighten your heart. May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you, and may God enfold you in the mantle of His love. Have a special day on St. Patrick's Day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. Werner Published in the Marion Record, March 12th, 1998. Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past. Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table. I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it. Till next time, Trina

3 min
24 FEB

Episode 291: All About Attitude

Recently, I attended a couple of exciting basketball games while visiting my family in Nebraska. My granddaughter performed as a cheerleader, and the folder that listed the names and pictures of the players and cheerleaders was also the top 10 reasons to sport a winning attitude. I was impressed, and since many of the readers of this Warm Thoughts column attend the sports activities, I thought I would like to share these 10 reasons. 10. Because taunting, trash talk, and intimidating behavior have no place in high school sports or any other level of sports. 9. Your admission allows you to watch these performances of highly impressionable 15 to 18 year old kids. Not a license to abuse coaches, officials, players, and other spectators. 8. You want others to treat you the way you want to be treated. And how many of us want to be treated with disrespect. 7. We need positive role models. 6. People don't always remember the final score, but they do remember the fans in section 3 who made fools of themselves. 5. Because coaches and officials who are also teachers in what they do. Why would you harass them in their classrooms? 4. A national survey indicates kids play high school sports to have fun. 3. It's how you play the game that counts. 2. It's simply the right thing to do. 1. Because sportsmanship begins with you. So here are the 10 reasons about attitudes and sports, whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game and your attitude is important! Of all the Warm Thoughts columns, I have written it in over 400 columns…The thoughts on attitude have received the most comments. I was pleased to see these 10 reasons to sport a winning attitude. You are in good company when you have a good attitude. You may want to call it the zeitgeist of the new millennium. Attitude has become the spirit of the age. “I am so thankful for people with good attitudes. I feel so uplifted by wonderful folks who have life affirming attitudes of gratitude.” Victor Frankel. Once stated, everything can be taken from a man but one thing, the last of the human freedoms, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances. Andrew Scott Hamilton stated that the only disability in life is a bad attitude. More Warm Thoughts: The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life, attitude to me is more important than facts. Charles Swindle. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. Werner Published in the Marion Record, February 22nd, 2001. Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past. Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table. I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it. Till next time, Trina

3 min
17 FEB

Episode 290: Something to Remember

President's Day is Monday, February 19th. We now celebrate all former presidents. We originally honored only George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, both whom had birthdays during the month of February, February 22nd and 12th, respectively. George Washington was the 1st and only president to be elected unanimously by the electoral college. He received all 69 of the votes. He was a first president with false teeth, and the first to appear on a postage stamp. He was our country's 1st president and was known as the father of our country. Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican President and the first President to be assassinated. He was the first to support women's right to vote. There are four U.S. state capitals that are named after presidents. The president who have state capitals named after them are Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. Who is your hero president? Abraham Lincoln has been my presidential hero of faith since the days that I attended the one room country school. As I studied the lives of our presidents, it was Lincoln who became my hero president, a man of great faith, courage, and compassion, and a man of prayer. Who can forget that Gettysburg address of 286 words? Today, students and dignitaries still are able to recite that famous speech. His writings and speeches are often quoted to this day. Lincoln was a 16th president of the United States. Throughout the years, I have been inspired by his thoughts, which are biblical. He learned to read from the Bible. Something to remember…”You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help little men by tearing down big men. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln. It was in 1863 that Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. Many churches throughout the land may observe a day of prayer on President's Day, at which time they pray for the leaders of our country. Praying for our nation and for our leaders is no new thought. Instead, it has been encouraged throughout the ages. C. H. Spurgeon stated, “Whenever God determines to do a great work, he first sets his people to pray.” Pray for the leaders of our nation. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie, Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. Werner, Published in the Marion Record, February 15, 2001. Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past. Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table. I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it. Till next time, Trina

3 min
10 FEB

Episode 289: What is Love? by a teenager

Since February is National Children's Month, I thought about writing an essay on what my grandchildren have taught me. They are now in school with children of other cultures, and although they may have graduated from Crayola college, they are color blind and love their friends from other cultures. Recently, my grandson Trevor was teaching me to count to five in the Japanese language and even write the numbers. Since we will be celebrating Valentine's day next week, I have researched how to say I love you in 15 languages: German, French, Swedish, Polish, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Greenlandish, Finnish, Russian, Filipino, Korean, and Hawaiian. My deepest apologies if I mispronounced any of those. What is Love? By a teenager. "Love is an attitude. Love is a prayer for someone in sorrow, a heart in despair. Love extends good wishes for the gain of another. Love suffers long with the fault of a brother. Love gives water to a cup that's run dry. Love reaches low, love reaches high. Love seeks not his own at the expense of another. Love reaches God when it reaches a brother." This poem, What is Love, has a special place in my heart. I first heard that poem read by a young woman who is blind and read the poem with her fingers. A former student of mine from Florida sent me this poem - one of her favorites by Emily Matthews. A Poem for You: "A lifetime of love and a hug and a smile, a reason to visit and stay for a while. The strength of a bond that's destined to last, the joys of the present and the warmth of the past. These are the treasures a fortunate few are lucky to cherish all their lives through. These are the blessings on which we depend for these are the gifts of a very best friend.” Happy Valentine's Day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr Luetta G Werner Published in the Marion Record on February 8th, 2001 Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past. Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table. I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it. Till next time, Trina

3 min
3 FEB

Episode 288: Pearls of Wisdom from the Children

The year 2001 is the Year of the Books, and January was National Book Month. The year 2001 is also the Year of the Child, and the month of February, Heart Month, is also National Children's month. Children can come up with pearls of wisdom that simply seem so amazing. I will share with you the wisdom of children who were asked by a teacher to write advice to their parents on how to raise children. 1. Don't give me everything I ask for. Sometimes I am just testing you to see how much I can get. 2. Don't always be giving orders. If you suggest something instead of giving a command, I will do it faster. 3. Don't keep changing your mind about what you want me to do. Make up your mind and stick to it. 4. Keep promises, both good and bad. If you promise a reward, make sure you give it to me. If you promise a punishment, make sure I get that too. 5. Don't compare me with anybody else, especially if the comparison will hurt somebody's feelings. I don't want to be considered smarter than anybody else, because it will hurt that person's feelings. If you make me out to be dumber than somebody else, then it will hurt my feelings. 6. Let me do as much for myself as I can. That's how I learn. If you do everything for me, I will never be able to do anything for myself. 7. Don't correct my mistakes in front of other people. Tell me how to improve when nobody is around. 8. Don't scream at me. It makes me scream back, and I don't want to be a screamer. Screamers sound awful. 9. Don't tell lies in front of me, or ask me to tell lies to help you out. It makes me think less of you and less of myself, even if I am supposed to be doing you a favor. 10. When I do something wrong, don't try to get me to tell you why I did it. Sometimes I don't know why myself. 11. Don't pay too much attention to me when I say I have a stomach ache. Playing sick can be a good way to get out of doing things I don't want to do, or going places I don't want to go. Make sure it's real. 12. When you are wrong about something, admit it. It won't hurt my opinion of you. It will make it easier for me to admit it when I'm wrong 13. Treat me like you would treat a friend. Then I will be your friend and you w be mine. Just because people are related does not mean they can't be polite and nice to each other. Can you guess how old these students were who wrote these 13 commandments? (not just 10!) They were in the fourth grade and ages 8 and 9 years old. What can I say? The children have given us their pearls of wisdom on how to raise children. All I can say is thanks to the children who made this first column in Heart Month so special. "The price of greatness is responsibility." Winston Churchill Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G Werner Published in the Marion Record February 1st, 2001. Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past. Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table. I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it. Till next time, Trina

3 min
27 JAN

Episode 287: Fulfilling Forgotten Dreams

Among the many Christmas epistles received during the Christmas season was a letter from a dear old friend in Ohio. Olga has been a real inspiration to me. For many years, she has been a lifelong learner and a pioneer in the work of missions and ministry. Her letter arrived on the 12th day of December, as she had a busy Christmas season. She was born on December 24 and last year, celebrated her 100th birthday on Christmas Eve. I am really looking forward to her next letter filled with her many exciting experiences. She is living every minute of the rest of her life and enjoying the learning process. Whatever our calling in life may be, we can never stop learning. I need to keep on learning if I want to keep up with life and all its changes. We remember John Glenn's recent trip into space at 77 years of age. It reminds us that in today's world, many senior citizens are fulfilling dreams that were forgotten. Perhaps they had to put their dreams on hold because of circumstances in their lives. We may not be able to orbit hundreds of miles or above the earth like John Glenn did this past year. However, with determination and a lot of creativity, we can be a vital part of our community at any age. I was recently informed that people who are involved in volunteer services live longer and have rich and productive lives. Tom Brokaw, NBC anchor, has recently written the book entitled "The Greatest Generation." If you were born in the second half of this century, you owe your freedom, your prosperity, and perhaps your life, to the selfless teens and 20 somethings who fought in World War II. Their courage followed by their sense of vision in the post war years changed the world. He calls this generation "the greatest generation" that ever lived. They are the generation that survived the misery of the depression to gear up to fight in World War Two. Adversity led to their great maturity. They were 21 years old and faced life with many challenges. Now, many are senior citizens and dying at the rate of 100 a day. We need to listen to them. They were the heroes of World War II. They are an inspiration to us and have so much to share with us. Brokaw and his new book The Greatest Generation, argues that these men and women overshadow even the founding fathers in Abraham Lincoln's generation. He states, they stepped up and saved the world. Younger people will be astonished. They'll look at their grandparents in a different way. A New Year Thought: The author of this quote is unknown. It was quoted by England's King George the fifth when he gave the New Year's greeting to the world, he stated, "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he replied, "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God that shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way." Live every moment of the rest of your life! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G Werner Published in the Marion Record January 21st, 1999. Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past. Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table. I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it. Till next time, Trina

4 min
20 JAN

Episode 286: Life at 90

The following column appeared on January 29th, 1998. It was a favorite column among the readers, and maybe again, for those who are celebrating birthdays this month. After I delivered last week's Warm Thoughts column, I walked to the post office. At the counter stood someone receiving a parcel. It was her 90th birthday that day. I stood there in amazement and deep in thought as she drove away alone on the streets that were glazed with ice. I just thought, "Here is a lady who understands what celebrating life each day really means. She really lives every day of her life." In my mail that day came a letter from a longtime friend and reader of Warm Thoughts. She related about how her friends and family gave her a warm reception on her 80th birthday. She shared with me one of the readings her daughter read, and I feel you too, will enjoy these Warm Thoughts today. "Dear Lord, I'm 80 and there's much I haven't done. I hope, dear Lord, you'll let me live until I'm 81. But then, if I haven't finished all I want to do, would you let me stay a while until I'm 82? So many places I want to go, so very much to see. Do you think that you could manage to make it 83? The world is changing very fast, there's so much more in store. I'd like it very much to live until I'm 84. And if by then, I'm still alive, I'd like to stay till 85! More planes will be up in the air, so I'd really like a stick and see what happens to the world when I turn 86. I know, dear Lord, it's much to ask, and it must be nice in heaven. But I'd really like to stay until I'm 87! I know by then I won't be fast and sometimes I will be late, but I would be so pleased to be around at 88. I will have seen so many things and had a wonderful time. So I'm sure that I'll be willing to leave at the age of 89. Maybe, just one more thing I'd like to say, "Dear Lord, I thank you kindly. But if it's okay with you, I'd love to live past 90!" More Warm Thoughts: Life is a gift. Life is what we make it. Always has been, always will be. Grandma Moses. Celebrate each day of your life! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G Werner Published in the Marion Record January 15th, 2004. Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past. Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table. I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it. Till next time, Trina

3 min

Warm Thoughts is a podcast embracing nostalgia, self-reflection, and legacy. Join Dr. Luetta G. Werner (b. 1926-2016) as we revisit her weekly column written for her small town newspaper. Narrated by her granddaughter, Trina Harger, curator of visualbenedictions.com.

Creator

Trina Harger
Years Active

2018 - 2026
Episodes

99
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Visual Benedictions
Show Website

Warm Thoughts