After talking with my family, the story flowed. In fact, it was too long, so I had to edit it. The shorter version follows:

Maeja, the Medicine Woman, came from a long line of healers. Her mother, her sisters, her daughters all had healing powers within them. Maeja travelled from village to village, now that her children were grown and helped the mothers prepare for the birth of her babies. All around the villages, people sent word to make sure that Maeja would be able to help them prepare a ward, inviting place for their babies as they entered the world.

Those who visited in Maeja’s home always felt loved and invited. She brought with her a spirit of acceptance and peace. Maeja loved the idea of new life. She surrounded her home with the most beautiful flowers, orchids, calla lilies, iris, roses, sunflowers, carnations and daisies. She loved the color and feel of the earth and showed this is the furnishings in her home. She felt that the most important gift to give is oneself.

For years and years, Maeja travelled to help the new mothers with their babies. She brought cool water for them to sip as they labored to bring a new life into the world. She always brought a homemade blanket for the new one. She would choose red and oranges, vibrant and bright to celebrate the birth. As the baby was born, Maeja lovingly wrapped the baby in a warm blanket.

Maeja knew that the gods watched over her. They helped her as she helped the mothers bring their babies into the world. They saw the loving care she brought. They also saw the conviction within her to make sure that the world welcomed the new child. As Maeja breathed her last breath, the gods made her the fire goddess so that she could bring warmth into the world.

Now, Maeja travels the world over. She sends hot lava like fireworks spewing in colors of red and orange to celebrate new life. This is why a volcano erupts.

It was so fun to work together! It was interesting to hear each person’s contribution. In the end, it was my story inspired by my family.

What a blessing to have families. Perhaps, you can write a short story or poem, or song or paint a picture or another creative project with your family this week.

The power of story is strong. The power of family is strong. The power of unity and support are strong. Empower yourself by empowering your family members.

I had another of those “aha” moments this week. We have adopted a friend whose husband passed away and her family lives far away, so she needed to have a family here. We became that family. She called me Monday morning to ask me to take her to the doctor. I live an hour away from her, but the timing of her appointment was such that I could go to her house and get her to the doctor on time.

After the doctor appointment, it is our custom to go to lunch. She always takes home the extra to eat for dinner. This way, she has two meals that she doesn’t have to prepare when she is not feeling well. We did this on Monday.

As we were driving home, she apologized for “bothering me.” I assured her that she didn’t bother me and then the absolute truth poured out, “I just love you.” She knew it was true. I knew it was true. It was an empowering moment.

There is a song which speaks about remembering a moment in our life. This was one of those moments that I will remember and treasure.

Love is empowering. As we share our love and give our time and attention to others, they are empowered. Who will you empower today just by showing love?

Spending 2 days without power is an adventure. Spending 2 days without power in a new place is an additional adventure. But, fate smiled on her…

And she met a stranger, a young woman living in the apartment upstairs. This person, filled with compassion, allowed my daughter to sleep in her apartment. A new friendship is born because of the “kindness of a stranger.”

She actually has met many people who have been kind to her as she adjusts to a new life. Her advisor has helped put her schedule in order, the bookstore allowed her to return books she didn’t need and she has been blessed by the kindness of many strangers.

I, too, have been blessed by the kindness of strangers. I will never forget when I had a flat tire. I was on my way to take my oldest two children to school. We drove 45 minutes each way so that they could attend a Montessori school. One day, I was driving and my tire went flat. I had dropped off something at my Grandma’s house, so we were not on the interstate. I pulled into the parking lot of a shopping center.

Empower someone that you don’t know well.  Perhaps, someone in the grocery store, the library, the doctor’s office as you wait.  Talk to the person.  Encouragement and support always are valuable gifts.  Maybe you can be the memory 28 years later…

My own mother, my grandmothers, my husband’s mother and grandmothers, my sisters and sisters-in-law (who I count as my sisters) and my friends and neighbors (who I also number as my sisters) have made my life possible.  They have strengthened me when I felt I had no strength to move.  They have shared perspectives that have broadened my view of the work I do everyday.  They have increased my desire to work toward my goals and keep going in the midst of great adversity or challenges.  They have offered physical nourishment, emotional support, and laughter through tears.

Recently, I have had great changes in my life; still, these women have stood beside me as I’ve cried some tears, mourned previous experiences, and have helped me find the blessings that are all around if I will just lift my eyes.  I had dinner with one of these women lately.  She loves my children as I love them, looks at others with a non-judgemental eye, and stands with strength even when she doesn’t want to keep going.  She is amazing.  She fed my body, but more importantly, she nourished my spirit.

I am happy to say that I could not survive happily without these superb women in my life.  If you are reading this, you are probably one of those women, and I would like to say, “thank you.”  I do not want to live without you, and I am so grateful for you!!!!

So, here are some questions to ponder as you walk through this happy Monday:  Who mothers you?  And, who do you mother?  You are much more important that you can imagine!

During this time, there have been other friends I have visited in the hospital.  I see family members with them and I see them alone.  As I walk past the different rooms, I notice if a patient is there or not.  I notice if the bed is made and waiting to help a new person or if it is messy from a patient leaving for a procedure and waiting for them to return for rest and more care. 

As I have gone to the hospital frequently, I have learned some life lessons too.  I have learned to smile and laugh amid adversity.  I have learned that we can “find the silver lining” in the struggles of our life.  I have learned that sleep can help you feel better.  I have learned that friends make your burdens easier to bear.

Mostly, though, my experience has taught me, once again, the enormous value of friendship.  It seems that there are people we are meant to have as our friends.  Friendship connects us like families.  We learn together.  We grow together and we help each other.  The other day, I shared with my friend who is sick how she has helped me.  She was unaware of the strength and support I feel from visiting with her and her family. 

Friends see the best in us.  They help us with our struggles and trials.  We help our friends through their struggles and trials.  I like to think that a friend is our cheerleader:  the person who constantly believes in us and that we can make it.  And even when we fail, our friend helps us to succeed again with encouragement and love.  A friend sees past the exterior and looks deep within our hearts and understands what we feel.  A friend asks how he or she can help and doesn’t assume that they know what is best for us.  A friend is a precious gift.

So, I watch my friend’s daughters as they stroke the hand of their mother, as they rub lotion on her arms and shoulders, and as they look at her with love.  What an honor it is to share these moments, as well as the moments when she lights up as her husband enters the room.  How grateful I am for this gift called friendship.

How will you strengthen a friend today?

The many acts of love and service surrounding me really hit home last week when I took three of my little ones to the store to pick up a few items.  We found a cart that would hold two children, as the store I went to only houses one cart that would carry three children.  I figured it was being used, so we continued on as I pushed two and carried one child on my hip to the front of the store.  As I headed down the first aisle, a young mother offered me her cart–the one that held three children.  “Would you like me to switch carts with you?”

I refused, not wanting to inconvenience her.  Her cart had several items already settled inside, and I did not want to disturb her shopping.  Yet, she insisted, and I finally agreed.  She joyfully placed her child and items in my cart as I strapped my three in the cart that would hold them.  I had been soooo tired that day, and she was an angel to me.  I really appreciated that she would help me–someone she didn’t know.  I almost wanted to cry; her consideration meant so much to me.  I want to be like her.

Sometimes I feel so caught up in my own issues that I feel numb or unaware of those around me.  I am working to switch from feelings of self-centeredness to supporting those around me.  Seeing others around me reach out to me, and feeling what it feels to be loved by others, reminds me and encourages me to reach out, as well.  I want others to feel like I felt when a young lady offered her cart to me. 

Our twins wanted to go to Disney. We thought about going to celebrate their birthday. I had heard about giving a day of service and getting a day to go to Disney. What a wonderful program! (They are definitely getting a thank you note.) I felt that giving service was a great idea and I wanted our family to be a part of this experience. We can give something to help someone, and, in the process, we get to celebrate as a family.

So, my son did some research, and we went through the list of possible service opportunities. My daughter is recovering from surgery, so we needed an opportunity to serve while being at home. Conkerr Cancer had the opportunity to serve by making pillowcases for smiles. We purchased bright colored fabric, followed the directions for making the pillowcases and set out to make pillowcases for children who need to have good things in their lives.

This opportunity for service also appealed to me because our family has been through a difficult experience with a sick child last summer. Daily trips to the hospital over an hour away from home, caring for the older siblings of the sick child, just not knowing what was going on, and wanting more than anything to be able to do something to help (yet feeling the hopelessness of not being able to help), and remembering this experience all made us want to help other families with children struggling with serious diseases.

I approached my family. Everyone was in agreement. A Saturday would not work for us, so we have spent this week making pillowcases. We have learned a system, and each person in our family contributes what they can. Even the children too young to participate and get the Disney prize have been involved in our family service project. The members of our family serve as they can–before or after work, after school; they come and they go, and we work together. We have made several trips to the fabric stores and have perfected a process of cutting and sewing. Our smaller children turn and fold the pillowcases; our older children pin and cut the fabric. We had a little resistance which had to be overcome, but we have been so blessed by this project.

One of the highlights of the week was when one of my grandsons asked if we can keep making pillowcases even after we are finished with our Disney pillowcases. I had already decided that this was a cause we could keep serving. My daughter shared that we could ask the women at church to set aside a night to sew pillowcases and make a project of helping each other.

I have met Carol, the local coordinator for this project. We had a lovely phone call where we became acquainted, and now I have a new friend. I am so excited to meet her in person as I drop off the pillowcases. I have thoroughly enjoyed this experience. I will not tell you that it has been easy. It has not. We have had many problems arise, not from sewing pillowcases, but from life. Carol has been encouraging and accommodating to help us reach our goal. I discovered that a group of ladies will be meeting this Saturday to make pillowcases at a local fabric store. How blessed we are to live in a community where service is important!

All of these blessings have come to us because we said “yes” to the opportunity to serve. It started out as a way to “earn” a day at Disney, but it became a bigger, more important cause to us. I think we will even discuss it as we take our children to Disney. How grateful I am that our children and grandchildren have seen the higher purpose and want to help others. I recommend this cause to everyone. The website is www.conkerrcancer.org. Explore the site. Watch the powerpoint and see if you can help.

I encourage you to find a way to serve. It is the most rewarding experience we can have, to give back. I have wondered how the children who receive the pillowcases will feel. I hope that they understand the loving care that we have given and that they feel that someone somewhere out there is praying for them and hoping that their day is a little brighter because of a pillowcase.

How have you served someone today?

As I am thinking of February, I am pondering the ways I can show love to those who mean so much to me by scattering some sunshine. Yesterday, I took a meal to a dear person whom I love. She has done much for me over the years, and, though I didn’t see her when I delivered a meal for her family, I felt blessed to return some of the sunshine she has scattered in my life.

Sometimes, I feel sunshine scattered into my life through a kind word, a gentle touch, or a sweet smile. I hope that, in the moments I spend with others, I am scattering sunshine as I read a story, share a treat, or laugh with a loved one till my cheeks hurt!!

In this month of hearts of pink and crimson, take a moment to scatter some bright yellow sunshine along your area of the world. You never know what may happen when you blend your red hearts with golden sunshine–you just might glow till March!!!

All day long I thought about this little act of kindness which changed how I felt. I wasn’t sad, but all of a sudden, my heart felt a little lighter. I felt more confident, more empowered. I have been pondering how I can express my love more often. And do I tell people I know, not members of my family, that I love them often enough? Do I just assume that they know that I love them? And if we all express our love for each other more often, how will that change the world?

I think that the most important thing I learned, after knowing that my Heavenly Father loved me and I should obey the commandments, was that, as a family, we take care of each other. Whenever one of us was in a jam or needed help, we all pitched in until whatever was completed. My mom would stay up late typing my papers. I remember one time, especially. We were up working on a plantation for a history project. We glued felt to milk cartons for the buildings. We put green on the ground for grass and set it all up on a board so that I can turn it in the next morning. Mom stuck right with me.

I learned to take care of other people. We always had a houseful of people. My mom and sometimes my dad would cook fabulous breakfasts and huge dinners to feed all of the people they invited to join us. Our friends were always welcome. During High School, we attended a class at church before school. Then, we would bring a group of friends home and my mother would have grits (I am from the South), eggs (made the way you liked them), bacon or ham, fried sweet potatoes or French fries and her specialty, biscuits. We would have juice and milk and chocolate milk to drink. I didn’t appreciate the work she went to then (breakfast was not a meal I ate) but my siblings and our friends enjoyed it.

I learned to be kind, helpful and to keep confidences. My father had his own construction company and was a leader in the church. There were meetings at our house and we learned to never say anything about who came or went from our home. I learned early in life that it is important to keep to myself the things people said to me. I was an adult before I figured out what an important lesson this was.

I learned that love was the key to open the heart of a person. I learned to really care about the people I knew. Sometimes, it was hard to open my heart, because to open your heart, you might get hurt. But, I learned that a heart full of love mends when it is broken and beats to help another person again.

I learned to stay in love with my husband. My mother took care of my father, every little need. Now, my father takes care of my mother, every little need. Over the years, I have learned more from my own marriage about caring and nurturing that most important relationship.

I learned that parents make mistakes. As a parent, I have made mistakes and I recognize them and try to correct them.

I learned to laugh. My mother would get “tickled” at the littlest thing. I remember many times that family prayer was delayed until my mother could quit giggling. And as you know, giggling is contagious, so she was not the only one who had to settle down. But, it was that giggling that helped me learn to laugh at myself and at the negative or ridiculous situations of life.

I learned that at the end of the day, family matters. We love each other, we enjoy being together and we take care of each other. We arrange our schedule to attend the activities of our siblings. At this holiday season, may we love each other, nurture each other and empower one another to reach for the stars.

What about you? How will you empower your family today?