Right There Before You

My mom passed away Christmas night. She was 97. For as long as I can remember everytime we'd part she'd hug me and say, "God is right there before you." She taught us to be more understanding of people and ideas unfamiliar to us. She taught us to look upon every day as a gift to be cherished and not wasted. To my mother a blizzard was a beautiful white, fluffy blessing created to remind us of the power of things beyond our comprehension.

Every day mom read her bible and copy of Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy. Through her life she believed she was a spiritual being living in a human body and that allowed her to face life and death with no fear.

Her faith served her well when my sister died in 1956 and again when my dad passed away in 1998. She faced every day with a positive outlook and always found something good to say about every place she ever visited, every person she ever met, every situation she ever faced.

As recently as two weeks before her passing she sang Christmas carols and played cards. Every time I showed up at her house or the nursing home where she spent her final months she would say the same thing. "Oh my son, I love you, I love." Then as we parted she would remind me, "God is right there before you."

Today God is right there before her and she couln't happier with the company.

A Little Gratitude

Thanks to everyone who came to see the Evergreen Family theatre production of A Christmas Carol. This timeless story is so much in line with the events of the past year or so. Too many people are looking at the holiday with an attitude of want rather than appreciation. I believe the more you think about what you do not have the more you will not have. As difficult as it is to do, it's a good idea to make a list of what's good in your life. As you think about it the list will grow longer.

Another holiday favorite of mine and many others is "It's a Wonderful Life," in which George Bailey discovers exactly how important his life really is and how many people it touches.

So take a minute today to express gratitude for the many blessings in this world. Doing that doesn't mean you should ignore the bad news or the great needs of others but before you help someone else you must get your house in order. A great writer named Dr. Wayne Dyer says in his book, "The Power of Intention," you cannot make yourself poor enough to help someone else who is poor. Do not fret over the situation of a person in need, just help them in any way you can.

Merry Christmas to my friends who celebrate Christmas and to those who don't, may you be blessed with wisdom , gratitude, health and happiness.