Month: December 2023

Be Like Mary: Welcome Everyone

by stephsimply, posted in Simple Observations and Musings

“There is little in life so reassuring as a genuine welcome.”–Robin Hobb

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Country Roads ⛰️

The sun was sighing its light in surrender to the day as our vehicle threaded through the twists and turns of the mountainous route of US 219 beyond the town of Marlinton, WV.  John, my husband, and I were heading home after attending a beautiful wedding in St. Bernard’s Chapel on top of a mountain in Snowshoe Mountain Resort.  The road was mostly abandoned and the scenery was miles of iconic rural farm pastures framed by ancient mountains.

Bales of hay were in the fields. Abandoned homesteads that whispered of once large families were slouching in the stiff breeze here and there.  Cows of fading earth tones grazed about pastures nonplussed as we passed by.  Deer dotted the brown fields foraging for food, but no signs of human life along this section of rural road.  

As we rounded a sharp bend of yet more pasture, there stood a church on the left side of the road.  It was an aging one-level, white-wash wooden church with two entry doors, reflecting that practice of men sitting on one side with women and children entering and sitting on the other.  In front of the church, clearly visible for cars passing by to read, was a white sign for which you could attach and rearrange black letters.  The top line read, “Mary’s Church,” and the bottom line stated, “Everyone is welcome.”

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Mary’s Church: Everyone is Welcome ⛪️

There was no obvious community near this church, and yet, it stood by the road as a welcome to “everyone.” The thin winter sunset bathed the church in a peachy-pink glow, giving it an ethereal, but inviting look. Had it been earlier in the day, it would have been one of those places I might have asked John to pull off the road, so I could walk around it and take pictures.  Unfortunately, time and daylight was not on my side, yet the image of that church left an impression–especially the line “Everyone is welcome.”

I began to contemplate the church and its sign within the context of the Biblical story of Mary, mother of Jesus. I began to ponder the words, “Everyone is welcome,” within the circumstances of being a mother.  And that is when it hit me:  Welcoming all with a mother’s love.

For the sake of my point, I am focusing on the concept of mother at its most ideal state.  As a mom, I have certainly made hundreds, if not thousands, of mistakes and errors in parenting, but at my heart, at my highest self, I unequivocally love my child.  And, that is the love for which I am writing.

A Mother’s Love 👩‍🍼

As a general practice, a mother will wash, feed, clothe, and comfort a child in need. Mothers celebrate their child’s joys, and cry with their child at their sorrows.  When a mother sees a child enter her home, she smiles and welcomes them in an embrace.  If a child calls, a mother answers the call. 

A mother is willing to meet her child where they are, provide a loving space for that child to express their individuality, but she will also gently nudge and nurture her child along an honorable path of living. A mother will pray and hope for the best for her child, but love the child no matter what.  Even if there are times in the relationship when a mother may not agree with the child’s choices, the mother looks beyond that choice, sees the child inside, and still loves the child. 

Mary’s Church.  Everyone is welcome.  As the Christmas story goes, at the birth of Christ, Mary had to accept many challenging realities with regards to her child.  Within the first year of her son’s birth, Mary had to welcome foreign men who traveled from another country.  These men probably spoke a different language, dressed and looked differently, and may have even had different faith backgrounds than Mary and her husband, Joseph. Nonetheless, Mary welcomed them.

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A Mother’s Concern 😧

Later, Mary had to accept her son’s precocious nature as he wandered away from his parents in order to hang out with the teachers of the temple.  Can you imagine her worry during those three days?  God gave her one job.  Raise a kid to bring good news to the world, and she lost him?  Imagine how relieved she must have been to find him, even if he didn’t stay close to his parents as he was most likely directed to do. She had to love him enough to welcome his behavior as part of the process of his development.

Consider her anxiety, when years later, rumors and gossip circulated about her son losing his temper–as young men often do–at temple.  She must have felt a knot in her stomach as gossip focused solely on Jesus’ actions–publically shouting and up-turning tables of money changers.  As I put myself in her mom’s shoes, I would have been thinking such thoughts as: He could have been hurt.  Worse yet, he could have been killed.  What was he thinking?  Nonetheless, for better or worse, Mary still loved him. 

Later, as his reputation grew, I can envision the suggestive stories Mary had to hear, full of implications and imputations, that her son was hanging out with a wide-array of so-called “low-lifes.” Still, I am certain that Mary’s love never waivered.  She would have always welcomed her son, along with any of his new acquaintances–no matter their background–into her home because that is what mothers do. 

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A Mother’s Welcome 🫂

As Jesus continued his travels between Galilee and Judea, continuing to mix with people from all walks of life, Mary, I am confident, still loved and accepted him.  If Jesus, or anyone with him, was dirty, poorly clothed, hungry, or wearing sandals worn thin from the road, I also believe as a mother, she would have welcomed him and any traveling companions into her home, offering what comforts she could provide.

Mary must have marveled at her son’s charismatic ability to interact with people of all walks of life. She loved her son through it all–even watching him die a cruel, inhumane death. Mary accepted and fulfilled her role as Christ’s mother, and loved him fiercely. This familial love (including Joseph), provided a solid foundation for Jesus’ role as an evangelizer of hope and love to “everyone”.

“Everyone’s welcome. Nobody’s perfect. Anything’s possible.” This popular quote best sums up not only how I view the role of Mary as a mother, but also the impression I had driving past “Mary’s Church” where “Everyone is welcome.”  

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All are WElcome ♥️

In a world full of discord, dissension, and division, it is worth remembering Mary’s love and Christ’s example.  Everyone should be welcome.  None of us are perfect, but anything is possible through listening and love.  Yes, I am writing in the ideal, and yes, I took imaginative liberties in my writing, but isn’t that what the stories of the New Testament are trying to teach us-–All are welcome.  

Be a mother: Meet people where they are. Listen. Learn. Love.  

Cranberry Smoothie: Say “Cheers” to your health

Featured by stephsimply, posted in Recipes

“Packed with antioxidants, this fruit can help keep your teeth, heart, and gut healthy.”—clevelandclinic.org

What a Saucy Idea💡

Over Thanksgiving week, I purchased fresh cranberries with the intention of cooking up some homemade cranberry sauce.  However, I never got around to making it, and I wondered if I could, instead, add them to a smoothie.  Turns out, not only could I add them to my morning smoothie, but by adding them, I could amp up my own nutrition! 

Okay, so I tried to eat them raw, and they are really tart, like suck-the-saliva-out-of-my-mouth-tart! Nonetheless, I wasn’t deterred, especially once I read numerous current articles about all their healthful benefits. In fact, cranberries are often classified as a superfood due to their high nutritional value and antioxidants properties. 

Are Cranberries a Berry?🍓🫐

Cranberries are related to blueberries, but grow on vine-like plants similar to strawberries. Like blueberries, cranberries, by definition, are not true berries.  Instead, they are what scientists call a “false berry” because their fruits grow below the flower.  Nonetheless, it appears that the food industry still tends to classify cranberries (and blueberries) in the same categories as other berries.  As a group, according to nutritionfacts.org, berries “average ten times more antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable.” Specifically, cranberries have “the highest fresh weight concentration of polyphenols (a strong antioxidant that complements and adds to the function of antioxidants) among commonly consumed fruit in the U.S.,” according to The National Library of Medicine.

This concentration of polyphenols may be why cranberries possess beneficial properties unique to them.  Research  has shown that cranberries lower the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs).  This may be due to their high levels of proanthocyanidins (PACs), which prevents certain types of bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract.  These same PACs may protect against a type of bacteria that causes tooth decay. Additionally, cranberries have been linked to reducing risk for certain types of cancer.  They are also known to boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and improve blood pressure.  

Given these facts, it is clear to see why cranberries should be incorporated as part of a healthy diet.  This brings me full circle to my motivation for now incorporating them as part of the regular rotation of a variety of whole food ingredients I incorporate into my daily smoothies.  When using cranberries, I have learned to blend their tangy taste with other flavor profiles to round out their taste and also gain the most nutritional bang for the buck.   

Sippin’ up the goodness🥤

Below is a recipe I now blend up repeatedly as part of my weekly smoothie rotation–usually twice per week. It incorporates other berries too since, as a whole, berries are a solid nutritional choice.  My recipe  also incorporates the creamier and sweeter tastes of mango and banana–both of which are nutritious in their own right. I also like to add vanilla protein powder to not only round out the flavor, but to also boost my protein intake–an important consideration at my age. There are further ingredients–mostly spices–that I use for their unique and beneficial properties, but they are optional as they don’t enhance or detract from the overall taste.

Remember, most nutritionists encourage us to eat the rainbow when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Cranberries, with their dark red color, can definitely be one of those colorful choices.  Furthermore, smoothies are one easy way to contribute to your overall daily intake of that rainbow-array of fruits and vegetables as part of a well-rounded diet.  They can be made ahead of time, if desired, and refrigerated for up to three days, or frozen in tightly sealed containers for up to three months.

Manifest Good Health✨

Smoothies, like this one, are my own private health manifestation.  While I know they are not the end-all, be-all when it comes to nutrition, I do know the whole food, plant based ingredients that I put in mine are high in quality nutrition and not full of artificial ingredients or sweeteners.  They are also full of fiber to keep the digestive system operating, well, “smoothly.” Plus, they are an easy way to get a serving of both vegetables and fruit in one tasty, fell swoop.  

From my home to yours, I toast my smoothie glass to yours and wish you much health and happiness this holiday season. 

Drinking up the goodness!

The Recipe📝

Cranberry Smoothie

1 cup frozen riced cauliflower (You won’t taste it!)

1 cup frozen strawberry, mango, blueberry mix (or any other berry mix)

1 whole banana, can be frozen

½ fresh cranberries

1 whole medjool date, or other natural sweetener 

½ teaspoon cinnamon

2 scoops vanilla protein powder

2 cups water

Optional anti-inflammatory and immunity add-ins:

2 teaspoons black elderberry syrup

½  teaspoon ground ginger

½  teaspoon ground turmeric

⅛  teaspoon black pepper (only if adding tumeric)

Put everything in a high powered blender in the order listed.

Blend for one minute.

Serves 2

How to capture those perfect holiday images and still remember the event

Featured by stephsimply, posted in Simple Observations and Musings

“Taking photos can help us remember certain things, but if we are completely reliant upon them, it can also impair and spoil our memories.”–Susan Blackmore for BBC Science Focus

Oh Those Annual HOliday Pics 🎞️

As the holiday season is now upon us, I am reminded of those annual childhood photographs my parents, like many, used to take of us.  There was always one of my three siblings and me holding our empty Christmas stockings on Christmas Eve.  Snapshots of us dressed up before some sort of Christmas performance, and pictures of us in our pajamas, rubbing the sleep out of our eyes before we opened our presents were also part of the mix.  Throw in a few more shots of Christmas brunch, one of us opening a “big” present, or another one riding a new bike, and it is clear that my family took pictures to memorialize special holiday moments.

I grew up in the era of cameras with film, now referred to as “vintage”. Film was not cheap, nor was the price to pay for developing it, which often required the film to be mailed away in a special envelope to a developing center with a one to two week wait period before the pictures arrived back to you.  As a result, it seemed to me that photography was more precious because the act of taking pictures was mostly saved for special occasions, such as birthdays, graduations, vacations, holidays, and so forth.  Plus, by the time an entire roll of film was used, sent off to the developers, and returned, it often made for a great surprise to see the time-line range of images on one roll of film.

How and Why We Now Take Photos 📸

Photo by Nicole Michalou on Pexels.com

All of that has changed in the current era of digital photography.  According to a 2022 BBC article , many older adults like me, still tend to use photos to commemorate special events and document special family/friend events.  However, younger generations tend to take many more photos and use them as a way to “communicate with peers, form identity, and bolster social bonds.” 

Additionally, the article added that many young people snap pictures to make a statement about how they are feeling at the moment.  However, I would argue that given the age of social media, people of all ages take more pictures than ever for the explicit purpose of instantly sharing a moment on various platforms. Therefore, taking photos is more than a tool of memorialization of events.

However, this comes with a bit of downside.  According to a 2021 NPR article, research as early as 2014 and conducted again in 2022 , has firmly established that “snapping too many pictures can actually harm the brain’s ability to retain memories.” Thus, while you instantly have access and the ability to share all the photos we want, the downside is loss of memory of the actual event.

Offloading our recollections?

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

It seems as if our brain will either offload the responsibility of remembering the moment because we are taking the photo, or we are so distracted by the process of taking and/or posting photos that we aren’t soaking up the moment in order to form or retain memories.  Therefore, this is a bit of a cautionary tale as we approach annual traditional gatherings of which many of us participate in one form or another.  

If we spend most of an event photographing and posting on social media, our brains are not cognitively engaged in gathering information about the event–the sounds, the sights, the textures, and so forth.  Despite the fact we might have scores of pictures from the occurrence, it turns out that we will not remember many of the details.  This is because those cognitive skills typically used for storage of memories were disengaged from the actual event and surroundings in order to focus on the photos and the media posts.

However, all is not lost. A 2017 study indicated that while the act of taking pictures is distracting to the brain, the preparation of the photo, framing the picture, zooming in and out on details, can sometimes enhance memory.  By contrast, according to a 2022 article published by the British Psychology Society, taking too many pictures impairs the memory due to attentional disengagement.  The trick, it seems, is to find the middle ground.

Photo by Any Lane on Pexels.com

How to Prevent memory Offload 🧠

For the sake of our memories, I’ve gathered a few helpful tips for navigating those holiday gatherings of family and friends in which you may want to balance the art of taking pictures and still recall the event while also capturing the perfect post for social media. 

  • If possible, have someone take the photos for you, allowing you to be more immersed in the moment, such as a designated friend or spouse.
  • If it’s not possible for someone else to take the photos, then take a few key photos, and put your phone away.  For example, take pictures at the beginning of the gathering and/or at the end, focusing the majority of your time enjoying the moment.
  • Additionally, be deliberate about what and when you take photos.  For example, think about the key moments ahead of time, to the degree possible, that you plan to photograph, and stick to your plan.
  • Focus on details when photographing a scene, instead of randomly snapping shots.  Research indicates that when you take time to focus and frame to capture the moment, you help the brain remember events better.
  • Wait until the event is over before you post. This serves two purposes.  First, it allows you to be more present during the actual gathering, soaking up the details that form memories.  Secondly, the act of closely examining and selecting photos to post AFTER the event will further strengthen your memory 

Photographic memory 📷

In the end, we all want nice photos we can look back on with fondness, commemorating those special moments.  However, we also need to spend time engaged and immersed in the gathering around us in order to establish those memories in the first place.

Therefore, make this a holiday season of “presence” and not just presents and photos.  Consider taking a few key pictures to preserve these special times, but then challenge yourself to put down the phones and feel the pleasure of full immersion and connection with those around you. After all, it’s time you may never again get.

Saint Nicholas of Myra, a story of service and generosity

Featured by stephsimply, posted in Simple Observations and Musings

“The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic His giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.”–St. Nicholas of Myra

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Heart-warming Stories . . . 📖

I have always appreciated heart-warming stories–you know the type.  The wronged protagonist, our underdog hero, faces one insurmountable challenge after another.  Just when you think the bad guys are truly going to get him or her, the protagonist finds a way to persevere, inspiring mere-mortals that we too can be like the protagonist.  

Those comforting stories are like cotton-candy, light, sweet, and sticky. Instead of needing to clean your hands, it’s the story that sticks around in your mind, inspiring you to perhaps make a change in your own life.  That sums up the legend of Saint Nicholas of Myra.

My interest in the story of Saint Nicholas was piqued when our school pastor, Rev. Monsignor Dean G. Borgmeyer, spoke of the upcoming Feast of Saint Nicholas at a school church service.  I wanted to learn a bit more about him and conducted a brief search. From Britannica to Farmer’s Almanac and from the Cincinnati Enquirer to National Today and a few others, my gleanings yielded a variety of lore associated with St. Nicholas.

By the time this is published, the Feast of Saint Nicholas will have already occurred in Western Christian countries on December 6, including the United States; however, it won’t occur in the Eastern Christian countries until December 19. Nonetheless, his legend, and all the variations of it, is a heartening story.  In fact, it inspired many of our current traditions and notions centered around the present-day conception of Santa Claus.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

. . . Get Into your Head . . . 🧐

Some sources say that Nicholas was born to wealthy parents in the 3rd or 4th century in the Lycian seaport village of Patra, Turkey. It is believed that he traveled to Egypt and Palestine during his youth.  Tragically, however, according to one account, his parents died when he was quite young due to an epidemic sweeping the area.  This same report added that because he was raised Christian, Nicholas ultimately sold his belongings, dedicated his life to one of service, and then used his inheritance to help others.  At some point during his years of service to the church, he returned to Lycia, and there, he was made Bishop of Myra, one of the youngest men to be named bishop. 

Most sources emphasize his dedication to helping children in particular.  In fact, the one most often repeated stories are variations of how he helped a poor father keep his three daughters from a life of poverty, slavery, or prostitution by providing each of them with a dowry.  One account stated that stockings filled with gold coins were lobbed through a window of the family’s home and landed in shoes near the hearth.  Another account simply stated that gold coins were mysteriously found in their shoes.  In a similar fashion, unrelated to the three daughters, it is also claimed that children would find gold coins in their stockings that were left outside to dry after washing, and it was a widely held belief that this was the work of Bishop Nicholas.  

All sources agree that Nicholas was imprisoned for his good works and probably tortured during the Roman persecutions of Christians. Most likely he was released during the reign of Constantine the Great and continued his life devoted to helping those in need.  He was supposedly declared a saint on the same day he died at an estimated age of 73.

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. . . Melt your heart . . . ♥️

His reputation for kindness and generosity grew because it is believed most of his gifts to others were given anonymously, and as a result, there are many wildly, unbelievable legends and miracles associated with Saint Nicholas. One such miracle was of a crazed butcher who chopped up three young kids and hid them in brine.  Supposedly, Nicholas was able to fully restore the lives of all three children and return them whole and healthy to their parents. Another story tells of a kidnapped son being returned to his family one year later, guided by Bishop Nicholas, years after his death. 

However, for me the greatest takeaway of the story of Saint Nicholas is the idea of practicing generosity and kindness to others, not just through the holiday season, but throughout the year–especially in an anonymous or low-key manner as part of a regular practice. In fact, during the recent funeral of Rosalynn Carter, her pastor talked about the fact that she understood the message of living a life of faith and service intellectually in her head.  That intellectual seed of understanding became planted in her heart, and the desire to share and love others grew from that planted seed of faith.  From her heart, a passion for generosity and service moved to her hands via actions.  Over time, these acts of service and kindness became a regular practice, thus creating a habit.  Head. Heart. Hands. Habit.

The story of St. Nicholas is quite similar, and you don’t have to believe all parts of his legend to get the message.  The protagonist understood at a young age the importance of faith and serving others.  Due to this belief, he soon learned to embrace and embody the idea of service into actions.  Then, the act of kindness and generosity became so ingrained in him that service, kindness, and generosity became the habit of his life–even if it meant facing persecution for it.  Head. Heart. Hands. Habit.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

. . .And move your hands to action 🤝

As 2023 winds down with the holiday season, it is so easy to get wrapped up (honestly, no pun intended, but it does fit) in commercial, marketing hype, which can lead to stress, over-obligating, and overspending–which creates even more stress and anxiety which is self-focused. While I am not saying you should not participate and enjoy the holiday season, rather I encourage all of us to also take time to reflect on our own head, heart, hands, and habits of 2023.  

How can we more often incorporate acts of service? Can we find ways to practice generosity and kindness regularly and/or anonymously? Can we carry that spirit of Saint Nicholas beyond the holiday season and look for ways to continue in 2024.  If we can intellectually convince ourselves of the value of service to others, however small, then maybe our hearts would soften and open to the idea. From that softened heart, we might find the audacity to commit our hands in 2024 to some form of humble service–not because we want others to know, or we want a tax-write off, but because it is simply the right thing to do. Could it, would it, become a habit?  What would happen if there were more people like Mrs. Carter or like the legendary St. Nicholas?