The greatest loss of wonder comes between a man and woman in marriage. My favorite preacher and I fight a lot. We fight together to keep a sense of wonder in our marriage. Now, we lose some battles every once in a while, but we have never lost the war. What's our secret? I'm not sure he wants me to tell you, but if you promise not to tell... We always:
Try to fuss over each other.
Remember to laugh and keep a good sense of humor.
Forget to nag each other.
Brag on each other's appearance and effort.
Permit no one to know that we may be going through a "dry spell".
Never speak these words: "None of your business."
-Excerpt from "Put Some Good On My Life".
Great mothers...Jewell and Kristi
To My Daughters-in-Law
I must admit to you that I still get nervous about being a new mother-in-law. Reading Ann Landers lately hasn't helped either; nor does it help that all the bad mother-in-law jokes involve mothers who have sons and not daughters. That means I could mess up twice!
Maybe we need to start with a new set of Ten Commandments. From Moses to this day they have been given. Let's call this set A Mother-in-law's Ten Commandments:
Thou shalt make thy daughter-in-law special.
Thou shalt be supportive.
Thou shalt ask no questions.
Thou shalt plan the right amount of love.
Thou shalt limit thyself.
Thou shalt avoid advice.
Thou shalt not be overly sensitive.
Thou shalt not be too talkative.
Thou shalt not be domineering.
Thou shalt keep thy arms open and thy mouth closed.
-Excerpt from "Put Some Good On My Life".
Our Sons...Steve and Stan
On Our Sons' Wedding Days
"Please remember this:
When she is scared, be her strength.
When she is sad, be her joy.
When she is tired, be her energy.
When she is lonely, be her friend.
When she is happy, be her laughter.
When she is lost, be her light.
When she is proud, be her applauding audience.
When she is playful, be her playmate.
When she is a mother, be her helpmate.
And finally, when she is old, be her lover."
Love, Mother.
-Excerpt from "Put Some Good On My Life".
Book's Forward
This book was written one column at a time, week by week by week. I never once locked myself in an Ivory Tower and meditated over it.
Please don't look for organization because there is none. It was written from the heart and I ask you, "How can you organize your heart?"
The idea for the title came from a sixth grade student named Danny. He told me one day not to put a check mark on his paper but to write the word "good" on his paper with a smiling face.
His exact words were "Put some good on my paper, Mrs. Buckley."
Now that is a high calling and it is exactly why I write...to help you see the good all around you in your relationship with yourself, with others and with God.
To those who looked and could find no good in my life, I say thank yor for not writing, "That's bad."
I am grateful you wrote, "Let's work on it together and try to fix it."
It is to all of you who will read my book and share its message I write, "Thank you for putting some good on my life!"
