Sow Seeds of Love

"Love is the flower you've got to let grow." ~ John Lennon

I was saddened this week to learn that an online friend, Miss Judy Glende, lost her battle with cancer. I can remember vividly reading about her abrupt diagnosis with a malignant and inoperable melanoma in her lungs back in early December. It all happened so quickly. My thoughts and prayers are with her family as they cope with this tragic loss.

Miss Judy was a gifted artisan jewelry designer with a style that I admired and a giving spirit that drew people to her. She could take the most amazing vintage treasures and breathe new life into them, adding her own special touches with her amazing etched copper pieces. She was a published author who contributed her talents to some of the best publications out there. Judy will be sorely missed.

I had always wanted to have something of Judy's, so yesterday I went to both of her Etsy sites ~ Flap Your Wings and Judith B Designs ~ and I placed an order, complete with notes of condolence for the family. I guess I didn't realize that her shops would still be open while she was ill, but I have found out that her husband Ed was keeping them going. I am in no hurry to get these things, and truthfully, if they  never found time to send them I would be okay with that too. It is just one small thing that I could do to show support for someone who always had a kind and encouraging word for me, someone I admired.

{one of the etched copper pieces that I purchased - embrace change}

I purchased two of Miss Judy's etched copper pieces. My intention is that I will make a piece inspired by Miss Judy herself. When I do, I will find out where the family would like donations made in Judy's honor and either sell it or auction it off with the money directed there. I will keep you posted when I receive the pieces and get inspired.

{sow seeds of love ~ march 2012 simple truth sampler club}

My good friend, Miss Rebecca Anderson of Songbeads, was so moved by this news that she started creating a necklace in Miss Judy's honor. She added art beads from all over, including the newest Simple Truth Sampler for March that she just received.

{stronger than death - by rebecca anderson - watch for the Flap Your Wings blog hop that many are participating in on April 14th

This month being so very warm, unseasonably really (I keep wondering when winter will actually arrive. This is Wisconsin. I have seen snow in June.), I have thoughts of flowers and sunshine. Tulips are my sister's favorite and their simple regal shapes always make me think of my beautiful sister Kelly. The words "sow seeds of love" just came to me as I was making them. Sometimes that is how it happens, the inspiration just strikes when I am playing with the design.

After the fact I started thinking about what that means ~ "sow seeds of love" ~ and so I offer you some
ideas on what that means to me.

When we bring love to everything we do, we can change the world. From the tiniest actions, the smallest seeds, great things can grow. When you plant that seed of love, however small that seed may be, more seeds will be born to be sown again. Sort of like a ripple of a pebble in a pond, each seed gets blown on the wind to touch the lives of those we may never meet.

So what are these seeds that we sow with great love? They do not need to be grand nuts of immense sacrifice. The best seeds are the ones that are small...

• Smiling at those we pass on the street...
• Sending a quick email or a little note on the Facebook wall of a friend who is in our thoughts...
• Picking up a piece of litter on the sidewalk instead of stepping over it...
• Cleaning up the dishes that are inevitably strewn over every flat surface in my house most days (my kids don't read my blog, but if they do, maybe I will plant that seed ;-)...
• When the telemarketer calls just trying to do her job, I can be polite and patient in letting her know my wishes instead of curt and angry...  

Each of these actions is planting a seed that can grow into more love and respect, and hopefully be blown on the wind to touch someone else with its simple beauty. It is like that commercial where each person witnesses someone else doing something nice for another complete stranger and then passing on that courtesy to the next person they meet, eventually coming full circle. Each time a seed of love is sown, another sprout grows from the first seed, another ripple flows out widening the circle.

Today I am going to be mindful of planting seeds of love in honor of the seeds that Miss Judy herself planted for so many of the people whose lives she touched, many that she may never have even known.

I just noticed on the side bar of Miss Judy's blog there reads this quote:

"When I stand before God at the end of my life,
I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say,
'I used everything You gave me.'"

~ Erma Bombeck

I couldn't have said it better myself.

RIP Judith Glende. We will miss you.

What seeds of love have you planted today?