Lessons from the "M"s of March

Last year when March arrived in Irving, Texas, we were amid supporting our oldest daughter through her recovery from back surgery. That consisted of a household of Keith and I, our middle daughter, and her husband and two boys whom we shared our home with, and our oldest daughter and her two young girls (and her husband who came from west Texas when he could). In the middle of the natural chaos of the situation, which included sorting our household possessions shared for ten years and preparing for moves in two directions, Missouri and Alaska, March Madness was a must! Lesson…always make time for fun, and share it with family and friends, those times pass too quickly.

March 2023 is far different! Alaska! What a dream come true! Surrounded by the mountains, covered up by the snow, and getting to know you all is “icing on the cake” as they say! I have not gotten to meet even half of you yet. If you are one that I have not, just know you are on my “hit list!”

On my walk into the office Wednesday morning, I had to disobey the signs and head in through the drive as the moose in this picture was hanging out by the sidewalk enjoying breakfast. Lesson…obstacles will come along but there are ways around them. Keep on walking!

Yesterday afternoon I attended a memorial service for Sadie Huffer. You may have seen the news reporting the roof collapse of Cross Fit gym. I had the privilege of meeting her mother, a Faith Community Nurse. There was calmness and peace in her mother and the rest of the family. I know these are hard days and they will face many questions. I encourage us all to remember them often in thought and prayer. The memory of Sadie will continue in so many as exhibited by the stories shared and tears expressed. The common thread throughout was the idea of Sadie’s natural ability to gift her presence to those she worked with, both client and peer. Fifteen years of history at PAMC captured her essence which has been transmitted to others who will continue to live out her legacy. Lesson…make the memories, make the time for wellness within and share yourself with others, determine what is important, and then live into that importance.

March. Spring arrives on the calendar. Even in Alaska, there are signs that new life is close at hand. We are ready to see the green again. Flowers and moose calves, sunshine, and slush.

It is said, “Hope springs eternal.” Hebrews 10:23 says “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” May your hope be renewed with the spring!

February Facts

Did you know the word February comes from the Latin word februa, which means “to cleanse?” This month was named after the Roman Februalia, which was a month-long festival of purification and atonement that took place during this time of year (The Month of February 2023: Holidays, Astronomy, Fun Facts, Folklore | The Old Farmer's Almanac). Interestingly, it was originally set as the last month of the year until it was moved to its place as the second month in c. 450 BC.

Named Black History Month in 1976 because the second week of the month coincides with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, it also is home to Valentine’s Day in honor of St. Valentine. The legend informs us that Emperor Claudius II prohibited soldiers from marrying. St. Valentine ignored the order and secretly married young couples to spare the young husbands from war. He was eventually imprisoned, tortured, and beheaded. According to another legend, St. Valentine signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and healed from blindness. In 496 AD Valentine’s Day was born (Valentine's Day 2023: History, Quotes, Recipes, and More | The Old Farmer's Almanac).

According to the National Weather Service, February is the snowiest month in the United States. A poem, The Snow-Shower, by William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) describes snow:

Here delicate snow-stars, out of the cloud,

Come floating downward in airy play,

Like spangles dropped from the glistening crowd

That whiten by night

The Milky Way.

February has two flowers assigned to it. The violet, signifying watchfulness, loyalty, and faithfulness; and the primrose, lets someone know you can’t live without them. The amethyst is February’s birthstone. A deep, rich purple, it was thought to prevent intoxication and keep its wearer thinking sharply and was worn in the Middle Ages by English royalty.

A few examples of some February folklore are:

• Married in February’s sleety weather, Life you’ll tread in tune together.
• If February gives much snow, A fine summer it doth foreshow.
• Fogs in February mean frosts in May.

As I was writing these thoughts, my husband came in with a Valentine's gift…a cookie (pictured)…and said he was practicing “self-care.” We all have those days, and this is one of them for him. It’s so important to have people in our lives with whom we can share both the good and the bad. (The cookie was good!)

I’m reminded of 1 Corinthians 13 in the Bible: “If I speak with the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal…Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails…And now, these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” It sounds like an unreachable goal until think about God. God is love. God = love. In a world of conflicting definitions of love, I find this to be grounding and reassuring. May your February be filled with love!