Love Beyond Words
by
Mary Manners
"Live every moment and love beyond words."
My mom flew peacefully to the arms of Jesus last week and she was laid to rest on Saturday. Throughout this bittersweet time I have had long moments to reflect on my love for her, my shortcomings as a daughter, and her deep love for me as a mother. I have taken pause to consider the finite boundaries of life as well as the rich legacy that remains in memories of Mom and the times we shared.
My mom once gave me a plaque that read, "Live every moment and love beyond words." At the time, I didn't think much beyond the saying. I was young and busy, with more important things to consider. But as I've aged I have often reflected on the sentiment. In this computer driven era, it is easy to stay engaged with others through manufactured words. A 'like' here, a comment there, and we feel like we've done our job. But are the words enough?
Mom loved beyond words on many occasions, such as the time she nursed five children through chicken pox--all at the same time. And when she rose before dawn each day to prepare five school lunches plus one for my dad. My love of books stems from the countless number she read to me as a child. I am sure she could have overlooked story time, as there were many other tasks that needed her attention, but she was never too busy to share a picture book.
So, in memory of my mom I will take to heart the words on the plaque she gifted to me so long ago. I will go the distance and hopefully leave, as she did, a rich legacy that extends beyond rhetoric.
I will choose to live every moment and love beyond words.
~~~~~
Sweeten
your Day with five brand new holiday stories. Like
a scrumptious box of fine chocolates and a bouquet of fragrant
roses, these novellas are a delicious treat for the soul.
LOVE
ON A DARE BY MARY MANNERS
Alana Mulvaney’s life is in a holding pattern. Consumed by day-to-day operations of the family business, Alana has no time for fun or romance. But a little fun and a whole lot of romance is just what Alana’s sisters have in mind when they learn childhood friend Donovan O’Reilly has returned to town.
HUMMINGBIRD KISSES BY DELIA LATHAM
Toni Littlebird believes that when she meets the man God created for her, she’ll know—and she’ll love him in that very moment. But then Dax Hendrick roars into Hummingbird Hollow on a noisy, crippled Harley, stinking up the air and chasing away her beloved hummingbirds. One look into the intruder’s eyes and her heart sinks. He’s “The One.” She’d been right about knowing, but wrong about something far more important: She will never love this man!
HEARTS ON THE HARBOR BY ROBIN BAYNE
Cara Peyton is content with her life, her trendy Baltimore bookshop is perfect for her. But when her ex turns up to remodel the store, asking for a second chance, she’s torn and unsure about risking her heart again. Can he convince her to trust him, and God, before the job is finished?
HIS VALENTINE PROMISE BY DORA HIERS
Another Valentine’s Day and Quinn Randolph prefers to spend it with her sweet rescue lab. Who needs men and their broken promises? Especially Pierce Karson’s! Years ago, his desertion shattered her. Now he’s trying to steal the property she targeted to expand her florist shop! Pierce only wants to belong…and for Quinn to choose him. His Valentine Promise…
THE INVISIBLE WOMAN IN A RED DRESS BY ZOE M. McCARTHY
Candace Parks lives a passionless life in Richmond. The computer programmer returns to the empty family home in the Blue Ridge Mountains solely to evaluate her job, faith, and boyfriend. Her high school crush, Trigg Alderman, who barely remembers her, visits his Gram next door. Sorting her life out? How about nothing of the sort!
Alana Mulvaney’s life is in a holding pattern. Consumed by day-to-day operations of the family business, Alana has no time for fun or romance. But a little fun and a whole lot of romance is just what Alana’s sisters have in mind when they learn childhood friend Donovan O’Reilly has returned to town.
HUMMINGBIRD KISSES BY DELIA LATHAM
Toni Littlebird believes that when she meets the man God created for her, she’ll know—and she’ll love him in that very moment. But then Dax Hendrick roars into Hummingbird Hollow on a noisy, crippled Harley, stinking up the air and chasing away her beloved hummingbirds. One look into the intruder’s eyes and her heart sinks. He’s “The One.” She’d been right about knowing, but wrong about something far more important: She will never love this man!
HEARTS ON THE HARBOR BY ROBIN BAYNE
Cara Peyton is content with her life, her trendy Baltimore bookshop is perfect for her. But when her ex turns up to remodel the store, asking for a second chance, she’s torn and unsure about risking her heart again. Can he convince her to trust him, and God, before the job is finished?
HIS VALENTINE PROMISE BY DORA HIERS
Another Valentine’s Day and Quinn Randolph prefers to spend it with her sweet rescue lab. Who needs men and their broken promises? Especially Pierce Karson’s! Years ago, his desertion shattered her. Now he’s trying to steal the property she targeted to expand her florist shop! Pierce only wants to belong…and for Quinn to choose him. His Valentine Promise…
THE INVISIBLE WOMAN IN A RED DRESS BY ZOE M. McCARTHY
Candace Parks lives a passionless life in Richmond. The computer programmer returns to the empty family home in the Blue Ridge Mountains solely to evaluate her job, faith, and boyfriend. Her high school crush, Trigg Alderman, who barely remembers her, visits his Gram next door. Sorting her life out? How about nothing of the sort!
~~~~~
Mary
Manners is a country girl at heart who has spent a lifetime sharing
her joy of writing. She has two sons, a daughter, and three beautiful
grandchildren. She lives in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains of East
Tennessee with her husband Tim and two rescue cats, Colby and Jax.
Mary writes stories full of faith
and hope. Her books have earned multiple accolades including two Inspirational
Reader’s Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold,
the Heart of Excellence, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.
Mary
loves long sunrise runs, Smoky Mountain sunsets, and flavored coffee. She
enjoys connecting with reader friends through her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.
