The White Carnation: A Mother’s Day Remembrance
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What is the greatest lesson you learned from your mother or a mom like figure in your life?
When I was growing up, there were a number of different types of flowers in the yard of our family home. My mother was a wonderful gardener who tended to her pink carnations, red and yellow roses, pink geraniums, camellias, and many other varieties.
So when my fifth grade teacher announced that we would be making a special gift for our mothers — a construction paper greeting card and a carnation fashioned from facial tissue — I knew that I wanted to present my mother with something unique. When faced with a choice between pink or white tissue, I chose white. After all, my mother grew beautiful pink carnations in our backyard, so I thought she would be more impressed by and appreciate receiving something she did not have — a white carnation.
The teacher did not explain to the class at the outset that pink carnations are supposed to be presented to your mother on Mother’s Day, but a white carnation signifies honor paid to a deceased mother. (I had never heard of that tradition before . . . nor have I heard it since.)
So I worked diligently on my card and faux carnation, and was quite pleased with my effort. That is, until my teacher saw that I had chosen white, rather than pink. It was then that she told me about the custom.
And that was when I felt terrible because I would be presenting my mother with an inappropriate gift. It never occurred to me that my mother would not have heard of that social more. After all, at that point in my life, I still believed that my mother knew everything about every conceivable topic.
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Wordless Wednesday
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The Seventh Day “Blogging’s Best” Carnival
On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
Genesis 2:2-3
Welcome to the Seventh Day Blog Carnival — “Blogging’s Best” Edition.
I extend my thanks to all who are participating this week either by submitting their work or visiting the various sites listed and supporting the bloggers represented in this edition. Don’t forget to leave a comment, letting each of them know how much you appreciate their contribution!
Blogging
Albert Decker shares Six Word Memoir published at Resonant Enigma, including some of his links to favorite sites.
Kathleen Gage shares Blogging is so simple virtually anyone can do it published at Street Smarts Marketing & Promotions. She theorizes that “if you can write a shopping list, if you can journal, if you can write a letter to a friend or business associate, you can blog” and shares her opinions on the benefits to be derived from blogging.
Family and Relationships
June Price shares The Purpose of Human Relationships: by Nicholas Powiull published at Conscious Flex.
SeaBird shares Crafts for young children (and Swap!) published at SeaBird Chronicles, offering ideas for activities to keep one and two-year-olds stimulated and intrested. She is also hosting a unique and clever craft idea/supply swap!
Viola Jaynes shares What Of The Children? published at Spiritual Things Matter.
Laura Williams shares Enchilada Casserole published at Laura Williams’ Musings.
Hopeless Romantic shares Dealing With Distance- Building A Solid Long-Distance Relationship published at Quest For The One. Is it really possible to have a successful long-distance relationship?
Home Care
Sarah shares Choosing The Right Grass For Your Local Climate published at Lawn Care Tips. See how much you know about imported specialty grasses and exotic species from around the world.
Amy L. shares Using Fall Leaves To Fertilize And Protect Your Lawn published at Housekeeping Tips. She says that “every year, people spend millions of dollars to purchase commercial fertilizers and mulches for their lawns, while they rake up the fallen leaves from neighboring trees and put them in the trash” when they could be putting them to good use.
Fiction
Jenn shares The Photograph (Part One) published at Mixed Metaphor.net. She has begun another multi-part story filled with romance and mystery: Who is the man in the photograph — which photograph? — and what is his connection to the other main characters?
Art and Pop Culture
Talk Prom Dresses shares What’s Hot - Prom Dress Trends 2008 published at Prom Dresses, discussing the latest fashion trends in prom dresses.
Silveral shares Celebrity Gossip – Be the first to know published at Celebrity News and Gossip.
SeaBird shares From my portfolio: Pear published at SeaBird Chronicles.
Health and Well-Being
Avani shares How do your words make you feel? published at Food For Mind.
Joe Lasiter shares The Aches and Pains of Strains published at Natural Pain Relief. Did you know that you can relieve muscle pain using chamomile essential and carrier oil?
Spirituality/Belief
Alice Dee shares Stay With Me: Padre Pio’s Dedicated Life published at Catholic Me (I am blessed).
Stuart shares This space for rent? and tacky evangelism published at Connected Christianity. Is the sign in question an example of “succinct evangelism or tacky nuisance”?
Dette shares No More Percocet published at Dance of Motherhood. She learned to trust in something more powerful.
JHS shares Surrounded by Angels and the Peace They Bring published at Colloquium. She says, “It is almost Mother’s Day, so I wanted to share this memory of my mother and the example she set for us.”
Allen Scott shares Permanent Records published at Journey Across the Sky.
Finance
Fuel Efficient Driver shares E85 Ethanol Vehicles published at Getting Better Gas Mileage, a discussion of the new E85 ethanol vehicles.
Travel and Activities
Cory shares Bass Fishing Tips, Tricks and Advice published at Bass Fishing Techniques, providing tips to assist night fishers.
Sarah shares Eating Well On Your Budget Vacation published at The Eclectic Female. She explains that it is possible to enjoy economical meals while traveling.
First Lady Of Poker shares Women Are Naturals At Poker published at Shopping and Poker Blog.
Toni shares Mexico FAQ - Tropical Adventures In Mexico published at Tropical Islands, providing answers to common questions asked about traveling in Mexico.
Global Traveler shares Packing For Your Budget Vacation published at Traveling Around The World, explaining how to bring necessities and handy extras on your trip . . . without over-packing.
The next Seventh Day “Blogging’s Best” Carnival will be June 8, 2008, so submit your best post using the submission form!
Past editions of the Carnival are archived here.
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Wordless Wednesday
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What My Neighbor Believes: Jehovah’s Witnesses
By Dan King, Guest Blogger On the Horizon
I have recently had several visits from some very faithful people who came to share the hope of their salvation with me. But as a Ministry Leader, and an Instructor at a small Bible College, why would they be so interested in me? Well, according to them, I’ve got it all wrong! While I read the “same” Bible as them, we have very different interpretations about what we believe.
So I wanted to dig in a little bit and figure out what I should believe. And as a student of the Bible, I wanted to try to stay as objective as I could. I really wanted to discover the truth in the differences between what we believed. What I discovered is something that I hope helps you to understand these differences, but also gives you something practical to take with you when it comes to dealing with these differences.
I also have to say that my views have drawn praise and harsh criticism. But rather than taking my word for it, and judging what I have written, I simply challenge you to take it to the Word yourself. The best way to get to the truth is to find it on your own. Just ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in finding it. Here is a summary of what I learned, with links to the full posts on each of these topics.
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