The word FAMILY has many meetings. I’ve heard people define it as just those with whom they share a blood line.  For others it is expanded to include people in their church, community and work, who are not blood kin.  Others define family as a select group of people, not related by blood, that form a heart connection and commitment, and who mean more to them than any blood relationship. A friend of mine calls this – “A family of your choosing!”  Last week on Oprah, a guest was talking about family.  The following is a quote from that program ——– “Who loves you when you need them, that’s your family.” Read more »

Mary Jo nurtures everyone.  Whenever a member of the family has a problem, they call Mary Jo.  The family includes children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and even members of the church family.  With each call, she gives wise and sage advice and solves or fixes the problem.  People wander in and out of the house just to talk to Mary Jo about a family or work problem. The phone often rings off the hook with people calling to share a concern.  Mary Jo has been doing this all her life.  She is perceived as calm and logical. In her eyes, this is a service that she can give to those she cares about.  She gives and gives and gives – putting her own needs aside to be there for others. Read more »

It is February 15, the day after Valentines Day. Did you make your Valentines Day resolutions for the coming year? If not, I.M. Heart has a few suggestions.  Since Valentines Day is all about celebrating loving relationships, let’s base our resolutions on building relationships.  Then everyone who this year had a lonely Valentines Day can build relationships so that next year will be different.  Valentines Day will be a day to share with loved ones.  How do we do this?  Consider the following suggestions. Read more »

“I am finally one of the luckiest girls in the world. I have somebody to love me.”  I just heard these words from a person who has felt alone all her life.  Her family history is not of loving, doting parents and there have been few close relationships in her life.  She finally has someone who loves her – happy or sad, silly or grumpy, through thick and thin.  She says having love in her life is like sprouting wings. “You fly in ways you have never flow.  It sets you free, shines light into scary places, opens doors, changes who you and who you can become. It’s amazing how something so cool can be so scary!” Read more »

“You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.” This quote is from Henry Drummond.  Since this is February, the month of Valentines Day, it is a time to reflect on the spirit of loving. Read more »

I think we often overlook the significance of simple, loving support in times of family crisis, or any of any other kind of stressful situations. Many of us consider ourselves strong, self-sufficient and resilient.  We can handle whatever comes our way – alone. Yet the toll emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually is great. Until you have been through these things with all the weight on only your shoulders, you may not understand the tremendous relief of someone to watch over you. Read more »

I recently joined a study group. It is one in which we are going to explore spiritual principles.  The first week we talked about this journey as being full of possibilities.  So, we were at the POSSIBILITY JUNCTION.  As days passed, this kept rolling around in my head and took on a life of its own.  There are so many possibilities – if we can only be open to them. Read more »

We’ve all heard the expression, “We are all more alike than different.” There are many ways in which we are alike.  Physically, our bodies function much the same. Mentally, we process information and manage our lives. We all have emotions that impact our choices and decisions.  Yet, we often think that we are the only person in the entire world who could have these crazy feelings, thoughts or beliefs. If we were only brave enough to talk, we would discover that everyone goes through the same struggles and challenges in life. Just by sharing it would help all to know that we are not alone, that others are just like us. Read more »

In 2010, I.M. presents you with a challenge.  Let’s be brave enough to reach out and care about other people.  Let’s get out of the “it’s all about me and everyone wants to hear how important I am” mode of operation.  Instead, let’s ask about others and really listen to what they might have to say.  We might find we can make some fascinating new friends. It is also possible that we might make a significant difference in someone else’s life simply by caring about them. Read more »

This is my WISH for you:  COMFORT on difficult days; SMILES when sadness intrudes; RAINBOWS to follow the clouds; LAUGHTER to kiss your lips; HUGS when spirits sag; SUNSETS to warm your heart; FRIENDSHIPS to brighten your being; BEAUTY for your eyes to see; FAITH so that you can believe; CONFIDENCE for when you doubt; COURAGE to know yourself; PATIENCE to accept the truth; LOVE to complete your life. (anonymous) Read more »

So, this is Christmas — a time to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus in the manger.  All across the world this birth is celebrated.  In songs, services, prayer and scripture there is rejoicing for the gift of love this birth has brought to us.  Whatever our tradition of celebrations, the central focus this time is acceptance of this gift – or is it? Read more »

Candles are often lit during the Christmas season, both in our homes and churches. The warm flicker of the flame is fascinating to watch. Many people describe a sense of peace, calm or sanctuary in watching candle light. The light also gives us a sense of connection to each other and to spirit.  Christmas Eve is often a time for candle light services in which every person in the audience holds a lit candle when singing Silent Night. There is a hush as if the world stands still in reverence for just a few moments.  If you watch this audience, some people will be totally absorbed in the wonder of these moments and you may even see tears.  Others will be singing a song, oblivious of the sacred significance of the candle light and its connection to the flame that yearns to burn in their own hearts. Read more »

Songs tell us that this is the most wonderful time of the year. However, the holidays are often a time of great joys, sorrows and anxiety. There are so many expectations of love and joy in this season.  The expectations are often marred by strained relationships, losses or loneliness that are magnified as media, culture and religions organizations emphasize the messages of loving families gathered together around the fireplace and  tree. Add to this the stress of the focus on buying, and then buying more presents. It is cause for some to say, “Bah Humbug!” Read more »

FAITH!  Why is faith important?  I.M. Heart, let me tell you why.  Faith changes our outlook on life. We often live with concerns, worries and anxieties that just won’t go away.  Most often they are things that we cannot change, haven’t happened, and may never happen. Yet they are always swimming around right in front of us. They blur our vision of what is good or wonderful in our life and we take our blessings for granted. The fear from them consumes us and stops us from reaching forward for our goals or dreams. Read more »

Twelve letters, two little words — thanks and giving. Put those together and it’s Thanksgiving! A time when we pause to give thanks!  Traditionally it was a time to give thanks for the harvest.  It was a time to celebrate the abundance stored for the winter season as well as to share the fruits of those labors with others. These traditions still occur as many of us cook bountiful meals to share with family and friends.  As we gather we often circle the table answering the question “What are you thankful for?”  Some people choke on a response to that and others readily have an answer. Read more »

I was reminded by a wise friend that there is an important lesson we can learn from the leaves.  It is the time of year when many trees let them go. They release them to fall on the ground. This means the trees can grow brand new leaves in the spring. This feat of nature is repeated over and over again. In the spring new leaves sprout forth – clinging to the tree limbs and swinging from the branches all spring and summer. As the weather begins to change in the fall, it’s as if they uncurl their fingers and let go of the limb they were hanging onto. Some fall early and quickly and some linger until the first frost or a windy, rain storm forces them off. Read more »

On a level road, a car rolls along at a steady speed. We may have it in cruise and it shifts automatically as we travel up and down hills.  If we prefer to manually control our speed, we adjust the pressure on the gas pedal as the terrain and road conditions or situations change.  Driving also requires that we occasionally have to put on the brakes.  Stopping, slowing down, speeding up and cruising are constant shifts as we travel. Read more »

The poem included in this blog was written by a friend. It speaks about the songs that play in the hearts of each of us.  The heart is a huge space, full of feelings.  They range from loving, compassionate, or joyful – to – fearful, angry, and judgmental – as well as everything in between. There are many, many different kinds of feelings.  Our hearts will always have a whole range of loving and fearful feelings. Read more »

I recently attended a brunch at the local community volunteer organization. It is called RSVP.  The event was heart- warming as the room filled with seniors who had worked thousands of hours volunteering in various capacities in the city. In the RSVP organization, four hundred people had worked a total of 67,000 hours volunteering in various capacities.  The intent of the event was to thank these people for their service. The program included awards for specific volunteers and one in particular brought tears to the eyes of many people in the room. Read more »

This is the first morning we have seen sunshine for several days. I looked for Miss Molly and found her stretched out full-cat length on the bed in the sunshine. As I rubbed her back she rolled and purred as she stretched more.  This was one happy cat enjoying the warmth and light of the sun.  It was also one happy human loving her pet and sharing the   time with her. I could have hurried on to my meeting, but stopping to share this unplanned and spontaneous moment with her is a true pleasure for both of us. It was a red string moment of connection. Read more »