Dandelions           by Shauna Brown 

          

        I love Dandelions! It’s not just because they are sunny yellow, they are packed full of sweet memories.  I love the way, Henry Ward Beecher, once shared concerning them:    

                 “. . . the radiant dandelion, shining in the grass,  

                                like a spark dropped from the sun.”  

          

        From my earliest memories I remember how Mama made me feel, as I entered the house with my little dandelion bouquet, picked with uneven stems. Just her smile let me know it seemed to be as sweet and appreciated as a dozen long stemmed red roses. I can see her now going to the kitchen cupboard to get a glass, filling it with cold water, and placing my gift within.  “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” she would say.  As if she didn’t know, I took her by the hand and showed her where I picked them. It was then she gently introduced me to a bigger surprise. She carefully pulled up a white silky, seeded, pom pom in her hand. I didn’t realize they were same, only time had revealed it’s eternal purpose. 

               “I’ll make a wish,” she said, after which she blew a few seeds into the sky. “Again, this time you make wish.” I wished, and then I took a deep breathe and blew with all my might, and watched as nearly every seed was scattered. I watched them drift and dance. It was a glorious moment. I’m sure my eyes were wide open as it seemed so wonderful, exciting as they merged, lifted up, up, and away. Little white helicopters hovering in every direction , till I saw them disappeared.    I thought it magical and wanted to delight within it more. I rushed around the yard and picked and pulled every dandy pom pom and blew ‘till they were naked bare. 

                I smile as I still pluck silk pom poms from their stems and make wishes, and blow them into heaven. I watch as they float upward, holding my promises and prayers. You see, I believe that in that simple thought and gesture God is very aware of our hearts, the intentions of our soul, and the desires we focus upon.   

                   Oh, I don’t worry about having “dandelion weeds”  growing in my yard, I welcome them. I embrace their creation and marvel at all their worth. You see to me, the dandelion is an emblem, a symbol, of possibilities.   

        Henry David Thoreau, looked upon nature as a teacher while he lived at Walden Pond. Within his two years, two months and two days he wrote and recorded his thoughts.  Perhaps he too plucked a dandelion and blew it’s tasseled wonders into the sky. Then he wrote within his journal, perhaps even sketched a few seeds. 

  “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are  

        tiny matters compared to what lives within us.”   Henry David Thoreau 

  

               God has planted seeds, people, within our lives, all shapes and varieties. They may only last a brief moment and then continue and drift upon their venture. While others become deeply rooted, nurturing and enriching our lives, as if a ‘spark dropped from the SON.’ They have gifted us of their divine purpose, time, and worth.   

  Imagine a silk dandelion if your will ..... 

          “Thee lift me and I’ll lift thee and we’ll ascend together.” Quaker Proverb

        So, take a deep breath, and toss a wish unto the heavens, blowing gently to give each little seed an opportunity to rise higher, understanding all the while that every wish is a prayer.  

        Dance on I cry -  

        Blowing 

        Fairy moons into heaven’s sky.  

Enjoy Your Sabbath  - to every season . 

Love Always 

Shauna 

                            Prayer  Ritual?

by Shauna Brown 

         I have thought often about the rituals that were woven into my life.  Reflecting upon them, there were many. But for this morning I will focus upon one of them.

Prayer.  When I think of prayer I am grateful for parents who taught me how to pray, why we pray, to whom we pray. Pretty much my life was filled with stepping stones of prayers.  Some of them seemed so common, so everyday, especially blessings upon the food. More meaningful to me were our Family prayers.  Morning and night my parents would have us all gather together in a circle upon our knees, in our living room.  After prayer there were hugs and kisses extended. I truly felt the feeling of ‘heaven on earth.’ 

Then at night was the ritual question mother asked, “Have you said your prayers?”  Sad to say I once told her, “One should not have to be prompted to pray.” But, now looking back my mother was merely trying to instill within me the deep dependance upon relying on God. At different stages throughout my life there were pleading prayers, beseetching prayers asking the Lord for guidance, direction and assistance. Numerous prayers were offered in behalf of family and friends facing cancer, troubled marriages, trauma, sickness, lonliness, spiritual darkness, just to address a few. 

     One prayer I shall never forget, was a prayer I heard my Mother offer.  I was almost twelve at the time. She was in her bedroom, kneeling by her bed. The door was open just a crack.  Gratefully it wasn’t an unusual site to see her praying, but as I walked past the doorway I heard her speak my name aloud. Of course I was drawn immediately to listen. As she spoke to God about me it became so personal, so sweet and purposeful. I could feel of her love, genuine concern and desires in raising me. There was something so strong within her words that I knew she was seeking the maker of my soul.  Now mind you, little did I give my parents any reason to worry. But that day will long be cherished, as I listened  to my mother’s side of the conversation with God. It was crystal clear that she knew she couldn’t raise me without His help. That moment was a marking point within my soul, and became a repeated experience with my own children. I have been humbled at times to the core, wondering, worrying, heart sick and often could only find peace and confidence upon my knees.  

As Rick and I were driving one day we saw a sign on the side of a church,  it read, “Drive Through Prayer.”  I shook my head in wonder and admitedly jested, “What will they come up next with?” We turned our car around and followed the arrows that led to where a prayer would be extended in our behalf. I mused inwardly ‘ how can one truly think that a drive through prayer will make a difference?’  

A kind and welcoming woman walked up to our car. We shared our interest in the sign.   It was most apparent she had heard comments of similiar interest. 

“We just ask what you’re in need of, offer a prayer in your behalf, and send you off with God’s blessing.”  

Now I’m not going to question the intensions of the Drive Through Prayer. It was evident of  her devotion and interest in those who chose to drive through.  Perhaps to some it’s the only indication that they have time to give to the Lord.  

I know prayers have been answered in my behalf. I have recieved answers, tender mercies and miracles. Peace has flooded my heart when I have taken the time to petition and converse with the Lord. What a blessing it is to believe ‘that with God - nothing is impossible.’ 

        “Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one’s weakness. 

It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” 

~ Mahatma Gandhi

“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change

 the nature of the one who prays.”  ~ Søren Kierkegaard

“The best way to obtain truth and wisdom is not to ask from books, 

but to go to God in prayer, and obtain divine teaching.”  ~ Joseph Smith Jr.

“Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but

 cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him.” 

~ Gordon B. Hinckley

“Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and 

listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” ~ Mother Teresa

“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming 

conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that

of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

“You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray 

also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.” ~ Khalil Gibran

      “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” 

~ Corrie ten Boom

  I will be forever grateful for those ritual words my mother would ask each and every night, “Have you said your prayers?” 

May we all pause for a moment this day and ponder upon our own personal meaning of prayer.  Might we reflect upon how, through kind and tender mercies , they have been answered. 

    Enjoy this Sabbath Day 

Love Always,

Shauna 

                                 Such a Gift

by Shauna Brown 

I remember with great clarity the day when my first born was laid within my arms. It had been a long, long  day of labor, sucking on ice chips, watching monitors, observing  the hands on the clock slowly pace the long anticipated entrance of our little one. 

Finally, with well assisted forcepts,  my little baby girl was turned, pulled and “at last” she too, cried for equally anticipated relief. 

          From that moment on I felt an enhanced definement of the meaning of the word “Mother”.  

I was ever so grateful to hear her first strong cry. I scanned her little red face - so perfect. Her little pink features made me smile. Yes, I counted every toe and finger. I kissed her on her neck, just where my mother loved to kiss tiny babies. I caressed and hugged her, marveled for hours, days, months after to mark the moment forever upon my heart. I had received a ‘miracle’ to hold and embrace for an eternity. 

Time and time again I thought frequently of my mother and her cherished feeling of motherhood. I saw more clearly, as  I felt more appreciation grow and humbled with the responsibility. 

I recall that several years later, and several more babies,  I was seated in a Sunday School class. There were about fifteen in attendance. The teacher shared an audio of a couple having their first child. We listened intently and it was clear others could identify with a similiar experience. When the little baby cried we all smiled, nodded our heads and reflected upon those sweet moments when we reached into heaven and welcomed our children.

   However, it was clear that one of the women in the class had been overwhelmed with the presentation held within the audio. She wept and cried aloud.  The teacher, being sensitive to her,  invited her to share her feelings. It was apparent she was stirred by it. I will never forget her answer, as she wiped away the tears:  “I have never been blessed to have had that moment in my life. I never heard my children’s first cry. Never waited nine months, never felt any pain. You can’t imagine how it felt to sence what it was like. To hear them cry with happiness, to hear the baby cry. To hear the father, his excitement.  Just hearing what it was like in the delivery room  -- was such a gift.”  ( The young couple had adopted two children from Korea.) 

  I have thought upon that day in the classroom, many times. Clearly it was a tender lesson within a lesson. After her sharing I have counted the incredible blessing of becoming a mother as a focal part of my life and purpose.  Motherhood is a gift, a gift from loving heavenly parents. Parenthood is the classroom of life wherein we learn from those placed within our hearts.  Lessons metered  individually with the growing seasons.  

I smile now, much like my mother did as she recalled her own experiences, as history repeated itself.  I hear my own children announce with frustration, “He drew all over the walls and couch.”  “She used fingernail polish!”  “She scribbled,”  “He broke. . .”     

I guess that’s why I wrote the verse....

Crayon marks will disappear, the scratches they will heal

Stories told to sweet ones, the closeness that they feel.

Tomorrow is coming I see my life in a special way . . . 

Thinking of my own mother I close my eyes and blow a kiss to heaven--so thankful that to her it was Mother’s Day everyday!  She recognized the incredible blessing it was to welcome children into her life.

Oh, how I long for her hugs and her soothing words of assurance.  “You can do it!” 

Enjoy your sabbath. 

Enjoy your Mother’s Day!

Just make sure you get your share of those hugs!

Love Always,

Shauna