Warm Thoughts

Trina Harger

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Personal Journals
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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.

2 days ago

Episode 310: Today & Yesterday

My friend is celebrating another birthday and she wrote me and remembered that she too is having another birthday. She also wrote in detail about her senior moments. Our friendship has endured many years of joys and challenges. As time is fleeting so rapidly, each day is very precious, and I am reminded that today is the first day of the rest of my life. An unknown author helps us to be aware how special is today. Celebrate and enjoy today. Today is here. I will begin with a smile and resolve to be agreeable. I will not criticize. I refuse to waste the valuable time God has given me. Today has one thing in which I know I am equal with others…time. All of us draw the same salary in seconds, minutes, and hours. Today, I will not waste time because the minutes I wasted yesterday are lost as a vanished thought. Today, I refuse to spend time worrying about what might happen. I'm going to spend my time making things happen. Today, I am determined to study and improve myself. For tomorrow, I may be needed, and I must not be found lacking. Today, I begin by doing and not wasting my time. In one week, I will be miles beyond the person I am today. Today, I will not imagine what I would do if things were different. I will make a success with what material I have. Today I will stop saying, “if I find time,” or “if I had time,” for I will never find time for anything. If I want time, I must make it. Today, I will act toward other people as though this will be my last day on earth. I will not wait for tomorrow, tomorrow never comes. As we celebrate our birthdays each year, may we realize something important? The roses bloom and we don't want to miss them blooming. The birds sing, and we need to take time to listen. The sun is shining and we need to take the time to sit down and let it warm us. The world is rushing by, and we need to take the time to enjoy today. Thank you, Bertha, for sending me the thoughts about yesterday. My heartfelt thanks to all the readers of this Warm Thoughts column who share their bits of wisdom. Bless you. Yesterday. Put yesterday behind you. It's gone and won't come back. And we cannot see ahead, far down tomorrow's track. Enjoy the fleeting moments that come just for today. The sweet song of a bluebird, the morning sun's first ray. A warm and loving hand clasp, warm letters in the mail, a bunch of fragrant violets, rain splashing in a pail. Each day has something special, some joy or souvenir. It might be gone tomorrow, so enjoy it while it's here. Have a great day today. 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, August 1st, 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
21 Jul

Episode 309: Arizona & the Snowbirds

New billboards are getting attention in Arizona. Some folks have reported seeing one or two messages. The newspapers listed all of them. Here is a list of variations of the Godspeaks billboards. The billboards are a simple black background with white text. I have a dear friend who has retired to Arizona, and I wonder if she has seen a few of the messages. Tell the kids I love them. Let's meet at my house Sunday before the game. Come on over and bring the kids. What part of thou shalt not, didn't you understand? We need to talk. Loved the wedding, invite me to the marriage. That love thy neighbor thing? I meant it. I love you, and you, and you, and you, and…Will the road you're getting on get you to my place? Follow me. Need directions? You think it's hot here? Do you have any idea where you're going? God. The snowbirds who will be driving to Arizona to spend their winters may see some of these billboards. Families will be taking a trip before school and classes begin. Enjoy the summer with all the family activities. A Summer Thought: Summer is when the children slammed the doors they left open all winter. Author unknown. 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, July 25th, 2002. 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
14 Jul

Episode 308: Happy Birthday Luetta

A real faithful reader of this Warm Thoughts column sent some real gems of thought which I used in a recent column. It was like a Christmas or birthday present to receive them. Today is my birthday, and I decided I would share with you some more of the thoughts she sent me. Thank you for the birthday gift. And the Christmas gift too, as it is Christmas in the summer at the little home on the prairie. A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he knows something. Common sense is not so common. A gentle word like summer rain may soothe some heart and banish pain. What joy or sadness often springs from just the simple little things? Courage is resistance to fear mastery of fear, not absence of fear. Mark Twain. Form good habits. They are as hard to break as bad ones. Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties. Spurgeon. The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it. Moliere. Not the cry, but the fight of the wild duck leads the flock to fly and follow. Chinese proverb. What we hope to do with ease, we must first do with diligence, Samuel Johnson. It isn't that they can't see the solution. It is that they can't see the problem. G.K. Chesterton. Responsibility educates. Wendell Phillips. If A equals success, then the formula is A equals x plus Y and Z, keeping your mouth shut. Albert Einstein. Anger does as much damage to the vessel in which it is stored as it does to anything upon which it is poured. No person, even the humblest sort, can be strong, gentle, pure, and good without the world being made better by the existence of that goodness. To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved. Do not keep the alabaster boxes of your love and tenderness sealed up until your friends are dead. Fill their lives with sweetness. Speak approving, cheering words, while their ears can hear them, and while their hearts can be thrilled and made happier by them. Good ideas need landing gear as well as wings. In the warmth of this summer, may you have many warm thoughts. 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, July 18th, 2002. 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
7 Jul

Episode 307: The Most Creative Job in the World

Have you read about the most creative job in the world? Let me tell you about it. Perhaps you have even lived it. This most creative job in the world involves taste, fashion, decorating, recreation, education, transportation, psychology, romance, cuisine, designing, literature, medicine, handicraft, art, horticulture, economics, government, community relations, pediatrics, geriatrics, entertainment, maintenance, purchasing, direct mail, law, accounting, religion, energy, and management. Now, just what are you thinking? Just who would want this creative job? You may be thinking that anyone who can handle all those creative jobs just has to be very special. Yes, she is. She is a homemaker. Have you been able to do some summer reading? I am always interested in the new books that have just been published. A new book that is being published is about our president's wife and is entitled Laura, America's first lady, first mother. The author is biographer, Antonia Felix. The author has created a revealing, intimate portrait of the soft-spoken down to earth woman who made people magazine's list of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. At a time when our country needed the calming warmth of a mother's touch, Laura Bush stepped forward to offer just that. America's first lady transcended party politics and national tragedy to become America's first mother. We'll appreciate hearing from you about some summer reading that you have especially enjoyed reading about. Thanks for sharing your warm thoughts. 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, July 11th, 2002. 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
30 Jun

Episode 306: Still She Waves

Today we celebrate Independence Day. It is a day of celebration for parades and families, and we see our nation's flag flying in the breeze. As a mother and grandmother, I save precious thoughts that my children and grandchildren have written. Recently, I ran across an essay that my daughter Kathy wrote when she was 13 years old and in 8th grade. On this Independence day, you too may appreciate these thoughts written by a teenager. Still She Waves. Our nation's flag is a moving observance of the honor accredited to our forefathers. The men and women who made possible for us a life of liberty and justice in this great land of ours. Our flag has stirred many a patriotic citizen like Patrick Henry, who forcefully stated, “Give me liberty or give me death!” And John Paul Jones, who boldly proclaimed, “I have not yet begun to fight. To sacrifice himself for the cause of freedom and the blessings of liberty.” The colors chosen for our beautiful flag bring out the ideals and opinions of the colonists towards obtaining and keeping a more perfect union. Red is for hardiness and courage. White represented purity and innocence, and blue stands for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. We surely must admit that our forefathers use careful thought in choosing such unusually good colors to be displayed on our flag. Our nation's flag became significant in battles for several reasons. Soldiers would proudly hold aloft their flag to show members of their regiment where they were located. Other brave men would carry the flag through each war that was fought, and would suffer all, even death, rather than to give up the flag, since permitting the enemy to capture the flag meant a joyous victory for the opposing side. Old Glory deserves the respect of our nation's people. It is not a mere length of material, but in it we discover the representation of the people who have made America what it is today. People from England pioneered this country and brought about the democratic government which we now live and enjoy. These people fought and killed their fellow Englishmen and sacrificed themselves so that their families, and those that followed, might have this freedom. Often we take such noble acts for granted, though we should be ever so thankful for their unselfishness and concern. Our flag stands for people who came from Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, and many other countries, who brought their abiding faith, their talents and ambitions, their delicious styles of cooking and preparing food. Their leadership qualities and their ideas of setting up a decent republic. Yes, our flag represents all this. Throughout the years, it has become a symbol of what a country can do when it uses Christian principles in government. We can rightly be proud of our nation, for it is one that is not a shame to place the words, “In God we Trust” on their coins. May we lend our country support in joyously singing, “God bless America.” This essay was written 41 years ago and daughter Kathy is now a grandmother - a teenager and Golden ager. She has just published a book entitled “From Hilltop to Hilltop: A Pioneer Spirit Endures.” It is a story of a people of God who have retained that pioneer spirit of courage, risk taking perseverance, generosity, hard work, and care for the community throughout the 150 year history of the oldest Lutheran Church in Texas, where her husband is the senior pastor. Thank you, Kathy, for allowing us to share your essay with the readers of this Warm Thoughts column. I will send you the original manuscript. I'm glad I saved that one! Happy Independence 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, July 4th, 2002. 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
23 Jun

Episode 305: Gems of Thought

It seems that the readers of the Warm Thoughts column appreciate thoughts that may sometimes jog their minds. They also tell me they like essays and poetry. I really appreciate it when they share their thoughts. This column came from a very faithful reader of this column who apparently collects gems of thought. Thanks for sharing these thoughts. Let the words I speak today be soft and tender, for tomorrow I may have to eat them. Well done is better than well said. Ben Franklin. When someone does you wrong, don't do what comes naturally, do what comes supernaturally. Love God. Among the few things more expensive than an education these days is the lack of it. A real leader faces the music even when he doesn't like the tune. A good leader inspires men to have confidence in him, a great leader inspires them to have confidence in themselves. Our words may hide our thoughts, but our actions will reveal them. No person who is occupied in doing a very difficult thing, and doing it very well, ever loses his self respect. George Bernard Shaw. Education is not received, It is achieved. A friend will strengthen you with her prayers, bless you with her love, and encourage you with her hope. The roots of education are sometimes bitter, but the fruits are sweet. Education is not received. It is achieved. Do not let any kindness go unappreciated. Pray for a good harvest, but keep on hoeing. When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a manner that when you die, the world cries, and you rejoice. An Indian proverb. Four things to learn in life: to think clearly without hurry or confusion, to love everybody sincerely, to act in everything with the highest motives, to trust God unhesitatingly. Helen Keller. To God, thy country, and thy friend be true. A child is the root of the heart. Give your troubles to God. He will be up all night anyway. A man who falls in love with himself has no rivals. One must never be in haste to end a day. There are too few of them in a lifetime. Have a great day and have many warm thoughts. 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, June 27th, 2002. 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
16 Jun

Episode 304: Time with Family

The month of June brings families together. There are still graduations, showers, weddings, birthday celebrations, wedding anniversaries, and it is the month for Father's Day. Togetherness can strengthen the family ties. The summer is a time to do some summer reading as a family. Perhaps at the dinner table, read something out loud to your family. Tomorrow night, another member of the family can read something. A news story, a poem, history or humor, anything really. Each night, a different family member can read a selection or share something they have read. Imagine the wide range of subjects your family would read in the 365 days of the year. It is an enriching experience and it doesn't cost a dime. It is predicted that more families will be traveling by car this summer rather than fly. Have you ever been to the little town on the prairie at DeSmet, South Dakota? Last year, I was privileged to attend the Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant in the Natural Prairie Stage setting. It is a great family experience. I understand the theme this year is Prairie Patchwork. People from all over America and even other countries attend the pageant and all the activities one will experience. The outdoor drama is based on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose writings provided the inspiration for TV's Little House on the Prairie. The Wilder pageant is a family oriented outdoor drama. It is a live performance with all characters from the DeSmet area. Laura narrates the story reflecting on her life at DeSmet, South Dakota in the 1800s. After attending the pageant, I personally felt a deeper appreciation of the joys and hardships that challenged our ancestors when settling in the prairie. This year, the dates for the pageant are June 28, 29th, and 30th, and in July, they are July 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, and 14th. The gates open at 7 p.m. You will want to go sooner so you will see the schoolhouse where Laura taught and other buildings and enjoy some rides. A real fun family experience. From a friend in Florida came these thoughts: “Where there is love, the heart is light, where there is love, there is a song. To help when things are going wrong, where there is love, there is a smile, to make all things seem more worthwhile. Where there is love, there is a quiet peace, a tranquil place, where turmoils cease.” Thought for the day: When someone can't smile, give them yours. 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, June 20th, 2002. 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
9 Jun

Episode 303: How Father's Day Began

It is interesting to know that Father's Day, which this year will be celebrated on June 16th, was, ironically, inspired by a Mother's Day sermon. Mrs. John Bruce Dodd, a Spokane Washington artist, is credited with fostering Father's Day. She got the idea while listening to her minister deliver an impassioned sermon on motherhood. Mrs. Dodd's mother had died young, so her father had to raise 6 children alone. As she listened to the minister, praise mothers for the hardship they endured in raising their children and tending to all the family needs. She reflected on her father's sacrifices, and speculated that there must be other fathers whose similar sacrifices went unrecognized. In a letter to the president of the Spokane Ministerial Association, Mrs. Dodd proposed a day to honor fathers. She suggested June 5th, her father's birthday, the association approved the idea, and the Spokane YMCA publicized it. However, the suggested date didn't allow the ministers enough time to prepare sermons, so the celebrated was scheduled for the 3rd Sunday in June. Thursday on June 19th, 1910. Spokane became the 1st city to honor fathers with a special day. A strong push for the National Father's Day came from Harry C. Meek, a president of the Uptown Lions Club of Chicago. Through the lions, or though the lions crowned him the originator of Father's Day, Meek admitted that the idea 1st occurred to him in 1915. 5 years after Mrs. Dodd's suggestion. He suggested it in speeches before several Lions Clubs, and the idea caught on. The following year, President Wilson's participation in Father's Day ceremony by pressing the button in the nation's capital which unfurled the flag in Spokane. Despite this national gesture, many sections of the country did not take part. President Coolidge also showed interest in creating a national day to establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children while in office. And in 1936, the National Father's Day committee was formed in New York City to promote the celebration actively on the national level. It was in 1957 that Senator Margaret Chase Smith stated that the official recognition of Mother's Day required that Father's Day receive the same honor. She stated that, “Congress has been guilty now for 40 years of the worst possible oversight, to say the least, perpetuated against the gallant of fathers, young and old of our land,” she said in her proposal. It was in 1972, the long wait for a national recognition came to an end when President Nixon signed the congressional resolution giving Father's Day the same status as Mother's Day. And so, now we know the rest of the story about Father's Day. Celebrate Father's Day, 2002. 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, June 13th, 2002.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

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