As I flipped the calendar, I was shocked that it was April already and April Fool's Day. Some of the readers of this Warm Thoughts column will recall the fun we had as children and trying to fool someone on that day, even if we had to lie a bit. It did seem to be permissible for just a day. You tried to fool at least one person. It was just a fun game.

The next day, April 2nd, has become Reconciliation Day. There is an interesting story about this special day. It was a California woman who wrote Ann Landers back in 1989, expressing a need for a reconciliation day. She expressed the need as she became aware that the years are flying by. Her parents suddenly seemed old and time somehow became very precious. She recalled misunderstanding and unmended fences that separate us and a sense of barriers. She stated in her letter the following words, "Wouldn't it be terrific if a special day could be set aside to reach out and make amends? We could call it Reconciliation Day. Everyone would vow to write a letter or make a phone call and mend a strained or broken relationship. It could also be the day on which we could all agree to accept the olive branch extended to a former friend. This day could be the starting place. We could go from there to heal the wounds and our hearts and rejoice and a new beginning."

Ann Landers replied that it was a beautiful idea. She suggested that in the absence of a national holiday, it would be wonderful if every person would pick up the phone and call someone with whom he or she has had a falling out. She was sure that there would be some heartwarming results. She encouraged people to just do it and not wait for the telephone rates to change. The rest of the story is that the first reconciliation day was adjusted for April 2nd, 1989. On April 2nd 1992, the letter written by the California woman in 1989 was repeated in the Ann Landers column and Ann Landers stated that "from now on April 2nd will be Reconciliation Day." It may not be a national day of reconciliation, but it would be wonderful if everyone would have a reconciliation day. Your own reconciliation day is your choice. I personally think we all need an international day of reconciliation. And this is no April Fool's joke! Will appreciate your thoughts. You, the readers, have so much to share and I know you really care too.

Thought for the Day: Life is too short to hold grudges, to be able to forgive can be enormous healing. Forgiving love can last a lifetime.

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G Werner

Published in the Marion Record, April 3rd, 2003.

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Till next time,

Trina