March 15, 2022 — That’s our thing, isn’t it, cardies? Spreading happiness. Yet we’ve heard from many of you saying it’s become a challenge to feel, much less spread, pure happiness these days, with millions of Ukrainians on your hearts and minds. We’re with you there.
Cardie Lauren Rowell put it beautifully in a lovely note I pulled from my mailbox last evening. “I have appreciated the last two cardie newsletters,” she explained, “because it can be easy to become paralyzed by the enormity of chaos and pain in the world, to feel deeply moved by the suffering, yet too small and removed to do anything to help. Thank you for encouraging us to do our part, no matter how small it may seem. Difference-making often involves many small waves of love that, together, can create tsunamis of positive change.” Indeed.
In our Sunflower of Peace issue on March 4th, you met my friend, Luda, who grew up in Russia and Ukraine and, for the past 22 years, has lived with her American husband in the building next door. They’re now trying hard to get her 40-year-old, peace-loving daughter on a flight out of Moscow. “If she is able to fly to Turkey, then we can go from there,” Luda said, then tearfully explained how difficult it is to make such plans when her daughter is in a country where citizens must fearfully curtail conversations. “She will say, ‘Mama,’ and I will understand we must change subjects.”
Scores of friends in both Russia and Ukraine call or text message Luda every day. Can you imagine her feelings of sadness, fear, frustration, and powerlessness? Here’s how she says she’s honoring those emotions … when she wasn’t crying, last week she came over and we revisited the messages on our most popular Meanings of Life cards before they went back on press. She took over the rolling and baking of a double batch of all-American snickerdoodles that I had going. She stuck in her AirPods and listened to comedy (“Laughing stops me from crying!”) while steaming all the wrinkles out of my new drapes. And all along the way, she sweet-talked my little dog Gracie.
On Friday, Luda took the bus a half-hour up to the Russian specialty shop and returned with Russian tea and cookies. “See how beautiful!” she said with pride. “I want you to see how special and know that there are good people in Russia making these products, and good Russian-Americans who carry them for us here. These people hate this war as much as we do,” she said sincerely. “And I also want to thank you for giving me these interesting new things to do! Helping you has been fun for me and kept my mind and body moving so I don’t just sit and worry and cry.”
Our CEO Ana is here from her home office in Denver. Sunday around dinner time, Luda popped by wearing her oven mitts and carrying a delectable chicken roast straight from her oven. It was amazing, and reminded Ana and me that, if Luda can lovingly channel her fear and frustration into spreading a little happiness wherever she goes, we surely can too.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
Another great newsletter! I feel so for the people of Russia who don’t want this war anymore than the Ukrainians. Amazing how one madman and his followers can cause so much destruction. We’ve seen it all before and swore never again.
Yes, we all need to spread as much happiness around to combat evil as we can.
Keep up the good work, Jodee and all of you at Cardthartic.
Blessings and love to Luda and her family. Thank you, Jodee, for sharing her story. Prayers for her daughter especially …. 🙏
Jodee – I loved and needed every word of this today. Like so many, I too feel weighed down by the helplessness of what is happening in the Ukraine. I hope when they give out the Noble Peace Prize this year it is to those who rose up and changed their lives enormously to make a difference, even a small one, in the lives of the people chased from their homes, families and personal safety. Note to self: find something I can do today to make a difference. As Lauren said from small waves into a tsunami.
Thank you for making Luda a part of our life. As I sit in my comfortable chair, I am so very thankful for the peace I have to look out on a beautiful sunny sky and feel love and the Lord all around me, and not see bomb smoke filling the sky. May I never take my awesome gifts for granted. It all makes me feel a bit guilty, but also reminds me to get on my knees and thank God for His constant guidance and protection.
I pray the beautiful people of Ukraine will have that again someday. They need to be in our prayers constantly,. America needs to realize how much we need to pray for others.
Molly McKnight
Thanks so much for the kind words that Ana and I read to Luda this afternoon. Through the grateful tears we could see it did her heart good!
I always enjoy the newsletters. They remind me to be grateful for what I have. I cry for the Ukrainian people but hopeful for peace. Thank you for your wonderful cards and all the cardies who bring us joy and inspiration!