From the desk of... Mary Robinson Reynolds
Re: It really does matter, to matter ....Acknowledgment story!

It is a season of many rituals and meanings to many people. After 7 months of chemo treatments, my birth mother transitioned yesterday peacefully ...a blessing. My adopted parents have long been deceased, and the message in dying is that we must live to give so that the only thing that has died is death itself. We do this by giving all those we love the unabashed knowledge that they matter, and hold dear the importance of knowing that "mattering matters" ...no matter what.

Another blessing is that today is our 20th wedding anniversary, another day of making certain we each know just how much we matter to each other ...and to each our life's purpose and passions together.

The following story was given to us from a man who was also helping his mother transition; here is how we became involved this past fall...

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
- Gladys Berthe Stern

Background note:  It's been a few weeks now since my husband and I were provided this amazing opportunity to help someone on a Friday night after our business hours.

We got a call from a man who's mother was in the hospital, moving toward her transition... and the nurses had to cut off her "I Make A Difference" wristband!

He sent us a letter, and I wanted to share it with you because, as I always say, "You just NEVER know the difference you are making in someone's life when you acknowledge them with one of our 'I Make A Difference' wristbands." Stories like this truly make a difference in my life, and I hope this one will drive it home for you too.

The Holiday Season is now here and this year, in addition to all of the presents you buy, give the gift that will make the greatest difference, mean the most ... that people matter ... you just never know when it quite possibly can even save a life.

I can't emphasize the importance of this enough ...take action today to order your wristbands. If you are moved by this letter we received, do something today, while you are letting yourself feel the profound and yet simple importance of this. Don't wait for your "rational" mind to jump in there and tell you that it doesn't really matter. It DOES matter, and one may never know just how MUCH it matters.

We have a society that is seeking purpose to heal our lives. Of all the people that I acknowledge with our "I Make A Difference" wristband, 99.9% immediately say back to me, "No one has EVER told me that I make a difference" ...that's right, 99.9%! Unbelievable!!!

Here's James Mercer's letter to us...

In 2009, I did the Make A Difference 9-week Program with my youth group at church (in fact, I purchased enough of the arm bands for my kids to hand out to their mothers for "Mother's Day" 2010,) and the impact from Mary's program was so amazing.

So I decided to present the "I Make A Difference" wristband to my Mom, but I had no idea the impact it would make in her life.

You see, when I was growing up in the 60's and 70's there was a lot of friction between my mom and I. Most of which, was just me being a stupid kid, thinking I knew it all and wanting to prove I was man. In my heart, I knew I was wrong and I needed to come clean with my mom – but my pride would not allow me to face it.

Some years later, I finally got the courage to call and had no idea she had been waiting all those years for me to come back to her. But by then, her health had started to fail – she was diagnosed with COPD and Emphysema.

So, that Thanksgiving I flew to Michigan to be with her and presented her the "wristband." I told the AcknowledgmentMovie.com - story and what her life meant to me, that she had made a "difference" in my life.

As the last few years passed, complications from her illness caused her to have frequent visits to the emergency room. During which times she made it clear to the hospital staff "under no circumstances" was anyone to cut off her wristband.

I was not aware of any of this until I spoke with her hospice nurse ...she told me that my mom refused to remove her wristband for any reason.

She said, my mom was the talk of the hospital and that everybody knew not to remove her son's wristband.

Since January 2012, my mom's weight dropped 40 lbs, and she's now just a mere shell of what she used to be. The wristband is so large on her that it easily slides off her hand.

Then on Friday while attempting to replace an IV, one of the aids decided it was necessary to cut the silicone wristband off her swollen wrist, not knowing how much it meant to her.

She was so distraught about losing the "I Make A Difference" wristband, because she had worn it every day since her son gave it to her, that the hospital contacted me immediately to help with her distress.

So late that Friday, I called Craig and he had some youth wristbands on hand at their home office that he ran to the post office to mail to me for her, which is still too large for her but much better than the adult sized ones. Thank you.

The Talmud tells a story of a King who had a son who had gone astray from his father. The son was told, "return to your father" and the son replied, "I cannot." So the father sent a messenger to tell the son, "Return as far as you can, and I will come to you the rest of the way."

That sums up the story of my life. I have done so much wrong and made so many mistakes in my life, I have gone astray thinking there was no hope for such a wretch like me. At 54 years old God's Grace and Mercy has brought me back home again. I have peace and joy in knowing that I have a restored relationship with my mom and my Heavenly Father.

God Bless you!

Go see just how easy this is to Acknowledge people in your family and within your circle of influence: download the simple 3-Step Acknowledgment Ceremony here.

FYI: to follow in James' footsteps and to Acknowledge the people you meet on the street, while you are running your errands, while you are doing your Gift Shopping, in your home or in your organization you will need "I Make A Difference" wristbands www.makeadiff.us/?Wristbands

Reaching out ...

Mary Robinson Reynolds
Author & Founder, Heart Productions & Publishing
www.AcknowledgmentMovie.com/Welcome.php

PS ...PUT A WRISTBAND IN EVERY GIFT YOU WRAP - and take this precious gift opening moment to let the people within you love and care about - know beyond a shadow of a doubt - just how much they matter!

ORDER Your "I Make A Difference" Wristbands NOW to assure we have quantities in stock for you will receive them in time for Christmas! makeadiff.us/?Wristbands

PPS ...*Please note that we accept Purchase Orders from schools, businesses and all non-profit organizations at: makeadiff.us?BuyWithPO

Heart Productions & Publishing, Greater Boston Area, 800-639-8191