The Snowflake Chronicles

May Spiritual Newsletter (deadline May 6, 2019)

Editor's Picks

1. Acts of Love
2. Motherhood
3. Letter for My Mom
4. Mother's Day Card, 1999
5. Mirror Image of you.
6.
7.
8.
9. Bi-Weekly Oriental Poetry Contest

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Learning to Pray

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My mother taught me how to pray.

Hook

Mom taught me never to lose my faith.

About This Newsletter

“The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.”
James E. Faust

"For mothers are the first educators, the first mentors; and truly it is the mothers who determine the happiness, the future greatness, the courteous ways and learning and judgment, the understanding and the faith of their little ones."

'Abdu'l-Baha

"A mother is a woman who shows you the light when you just see the dark."
Grimaldos Robin

Letter From the Editor

My mother taught me how to pray,
"Now I lay me down to sleep,"
Each night she listened to the prayer I would say,
"I pray the Lord my soul to keep."

Prayer wasn't the only thing Mom taught me, but it was the most important. It as a lesson she continued to teach until her last breath. My mother died of Alzheimer's disease November 29, 2012. She forgot a lot of things, such as divorcing my father and the death of her parents. The one thing she didn't forget was prayer, and her prayer beads.

Mom declared her belief in Bha'u'llah when she was around fifty years of age. She received the string of ninety-five prayer beads from the Local Spiritual Assembly one year at Ayyam-i-Ha. From the very first she was able to pronounce “Alláh-u-Abhá”, which means “God the All-Glorious." Every morning, from the time she got the prayer beads, she would chant the the Greatest Name ninety-five times.

I remember watching Mom, after the Alzheimer's got worse. She would hold the string of prayer bead in her hands while she chanted. She didn't count the beads, she just held them in her hands while she was chanting. Another thing I noticed, she would chant the Greatest Name without holding the prayer beads, this usually occurred when I took her to see a doctor.

Mom lost a lot of memories in her final years of life, but she never lost her faith. This proves to me that while her brain didn't function any more, her soul did. I have her prayer beads now. I use Mom's prayer beads when I chant the Greatest Name instead of my own set.

Editors Picks

Acts of Love  (E) Reaching out to the world shows that you love - yourself, me, and everyone. #1215710 by Kenzie

Excerpt: Show me real love.
         Don't bring me flowers;
         Instead, take daisies
         To a shut-in.
         Make someone else smile,
         And so will I.

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Excerpt: I have to thank my mother for who I am~
         Afterall, she developed me.

Letter for my Mom  (E) Letter for mothers day #420221 by ~Enigma~

Excerpt: I know it isn’t, much but I’ve decided to write you a little letter to tell you everything you mean to me.

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Excerpt: Survive the workday.
         Get the groceries.
         Gas the car.
         Haul the kids.
         Cook the meals.
         Wipe up spills.
         Wash the dishes.
         Put the dishes away.
         Do it again

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Excerpt: Every so often words come to mind,
         How do I celebrate you? My Mother,
         how do I give thanks for all you have
         done, most times those words escape
         me promptly as they come.

Activities, Groups, and Contests

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Feedback "Spiritual Newsletter (April 10, 2019)" 

Quick-Quill writes: I'm familiar with the Jewish Passover and its connection to Easter for Christians. While both have special meaning, what fascinates me is the correlation between the Passover Sader tradition and the fulfillment of what happened to Christ. Everything is in the plan.

queenkissy writes: Thank you for including my article in this issue!

Prosperous Snow celebrating You're welcome.

Kåre เลียม Enga writes: Thank-you for including my poem. I thought of it when I saw the title of this newsletter but wouldn't have found it on my own (I forget titles and it's been some time). I remember that moment though! Even remember where I was sitting. It's a snapshot of the First Day of Ridvan... 12 years ago.

Prosperous Snow celebrating You're welcome.