Light Your Candle

Light the candle in your soul,
Carry it into the dark.
If you find a flame that's lost its glow
Light it with a spark.

The flame only grows brighter
When it gives another light,
And a billion burning candles
Can drive away the night.

Believe in yourself to the depth of your being,
Nourish the talents your spirit is freeing.
Know in your heart when the going gets slow,
That your faith in yourself will continue to grow.
Don't forfeit ambition when others may doubt,
It's your life to live, you must live it throughout.
Learn from your errors, don't dwell in the past,
Never withdraw from a world that is vast.
Believe in yourself, find the best that is you,
Let your spirit prevail, "Steer a course that is true."

Hold up your candle for all to see,
Reach from shore to shore,
And light the world with kindness
Now and forever more!

~Anon~

Ripples

Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them, once you've started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forget;
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy ere you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn't believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;
But there's gladness still a-swelling, and there's joy circling yet,
And you've rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.

~ By James W. Foley (1874-1939) Poet-laureate of North Dakota 1930-1939

GO GENTLY WITH THE FLOW

If the sky above seems cloudy, and you are left out in the rain,
If you are searching for a rainbow, but the colors bring you pain,

If your world is not revolving, and there is no end in sight,
If you are looking for the sunshine, but all you see is night,

If all around are smiling, but all you can do is frown,
If you are tired of all this living, when life just brings you down,

Then look beyond your teardrops, at the wonders of this land,
The beauty of a flower, like velvet in your hand.

Feel the air around you, the smell of new mown hay,
Laughing children in the park, the innocence there at play,

Imagine floating with a butterfly, as she flutters between the trees,
Or the whispers of the ocean, on warm hot summer's breeze,

Think of the taste of candy floss, as it melts upon your tongue,
Or the melody of morning birds, as they greet each day with song,

Remember words of beauty, told in your mother's embrace,
Feel the gentleness of her touch, as she softly kissed your face,

Seek the good within you, cast the clouds from your sky,
Don't look toward the pavement, but hold your head up high,

Think not what life owes you, but of all you have to give,
Forget about tomorrow, then you can start to live.

So bless this age you are living in, with the gifts you can bestow,
Don't disregard the stream of life,
Go gently with the flow.

~ © Shawnee Kellie

Heartprints

Whatever our hands touch
We leave fingerprints —
On walls, on furniture, on doorknobs and dishes;
There's no escape, as we touch we leave our identity.

Wherever I go today
Help me leave HEARTPRINTS —
Heartprints of compassion,
Of understanding and love.

Heartprints of kindness and genuine concern —
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor
Or a runaway daughter, or an anxious mother
Or perhaps an aged grandfather.

Send me out today to leave heartprints —
And if someone should say "I felt your touch,"
May they also sense the love
That is deep within my heart.

~Author Unknown

A Place for Me

There is a special place in life, that needs my humble skill,
A certain job I'm meant to do, which no one else can fulfill.

The time will be demanding, the pay is not too good,
And I wouldn't change it for a moment, even if I could.

There is a special place in life, a goal I must attain,
A dream that I must follow because I won't be back again.

There is a mark that I must leave, however small it seems to be.
A legacy of love for those who follow after me.

There is a special place in life, that only I may share.
A little path that bears my name, awaiting me somewhere.

There is a hand that I must hold, a word that I must say,
A smile that I must give, for there are tears to blow away.

There is a special place in life that I was meant to fill.
A sunny spot where flowers grow, upon a windy hill.

There's always a tomorrow
and the best is yet to be,
for somewhere in this world,
I know there is a place for me.

~© Grace E. Easley

Little Things in Life

Little stones make big mountains,
Little steps can cover miles,
Little acts of loving-kindness
Give the world it's biggest smiles...

Little words can soothe big troubles
Little hugs can dry big tears,
Little candles light the darkness,
Little memories last for years...

Little dreams can lead to greatness,
Little victories to success~
It's the little things in life
That brings the greatest happiness...

~ Author Unknown

Friendship

Friendship needs no studied phrases,
Polished face, or winning wiles;
Friendship deals no lavish praises,
Friendship dons no surface smile.

Friendship follows Nature's diction,
Shuns the blandishments of Art,
Boldly severs truth from fiction,
Speaks the language of the heart.

Friendship favors no condition,
Scorns a narrow-minded creed,
Lovingly fulfills its mission,
Be it word or be it deed.

Friendship cheers the faint and weary,
Makes the timid spirit brave,
Warns the erring, lights the dreary,
Smoothes the passage to the grave.

Friendship - pure, unselfish friendship,
All through life's allotted span,
Nurtures, strengthens, widens, lengthens,
Man's relationship with man.

~Author Unknown

May You Always Feel Loved

May you find serenity and tranquility
in a world you may not always understand.

May the pain you have known
and the conflict you have experienced
give you the strength to walk through life
facing each new situation with courage and optimism.

Always know that there are those
whose love and understanding will always be there,
even when you feel most alone.

May a kind word,
a reassuring touch,
and a warm smile
be yours every day of your life,
and may you give these gifts
as well as receive them.

May the teachings of those you admire
become part of you,
so that you may call upon them.

Remember, those whose lives you have touched
and who have touched yours
are always a part of you,
even if the encounters were less than you would have wished.
It is the content of the encounter
that is more important than its form.

May you not become too concerned with material matters,
but instead place immeasurable value
on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see beauty and love
in the world around you.

Realize that what you feel you lack in one regard
you may be more than compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present
may become one of your strengths in the future.
May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.

May you find enough inner strength
to determine your own worth by yourself,
and not be dependent
on another's judgment of your accomplishments.

May you always feel loved.

By Sandra Sturtz Hauss © 1987

WILDFLOWERS

Marsh Marigolds

(Photo: Courtesy by Janie of Utah)

 **********************************

Artwork by Jema Abellera Cejero

Are you a wildflower?

Wildflowers grow from mere dust to reach their full potential.

Wildflowers grow well, even in adverse soil conditions.

Wildflowers don't require late nights at the office to grow.

Wildflowers grow thick and stick together.

Wildflowers grow strong and tall.

Wildflowers display their brilliant personalities for all to see.

Wildflowers withstand drought and grow all the more beautiful when watered.

Wildflowers withstand frost and hale.

Wildflowers last late in the season, when other flowers have given up.

Are you a wildflower?

~The Happy Guy~

Angel in My Heart

When I have no one to turn to
And I am feeling kind of low;
When there is no one to talk to
And nowhere I want to go...

I search deep within myself
For it's the love inside my heart
That lets me know Angels are there
Even though we are miles apart.

A smile then appears upon my face
And the sun begins to shine;
I hear a voice, so soft and sweet
Saying, 'Everything will be just fine.'

It may seem that I am alone
But I'm never by myself at all;
Whenever I need my Angels near,
All I have to do is call.

An Angel's love is always true
On that you can depend;
They will always stand behind you
And will always be your friend.

Through darkest hours and brightest days
Our Angels see us through;
YOU are one of my Angels ...
Perhaps I am one for you.

~Anon~

ALWAYS A SUNRISE

Look out, look in. Every day has a sunrise.
Wherever you are, like a magic circle, the world is all around you.
Everything has a purpose. Every action a reaction.
All around you there are happenings.

People, places and ideas, all offering you opportunities.
Some to be touched and changed by the very nature of your uniqueness.
Others to be left alone for they are not worthy of you.
Life is a love affair. Love the people around you, love what you do.

Every day dawns with a sunrise. Always, high days and low days.
Blue skies of pleasure, there to enjoy. Celebrate.
Dark clouds of storming hurt, however black, they always pass.
Today was yesterday’s tomorrow; yesterday is gone. History.
And the wonder of yesterday is whatever we didn’t like is behind us.
Make a change. Unlimited you. Greatness from within.

There is no such thing as failure, only learning experiences.
Some things are easy to learn, others hard.
What is easy for one may be hard for another.
Lessons to be learned, not burdens to be carried.
Everyone is different. Everyone is special.
We are all creative. We are all tool makers.

Greatness and humility. Both are you.
Leader and follower. Warrior and water carrier.
Teacher and student. Champion and cheerleader. Who is to say?
One day you are one, the next day you are the other.
Pace setters tread the untrodden path.
Never given away your sunrise day of action to an excuse.

'When the time is right.' 'When I feel like it.' 'When I've enough money.'
Sometimes it’s too easy to justify not taking action.
Sometimes you have to say 'no' to your inner voice ...
when it tries to keep you too comfortably where you're at.
Always a new light. Always a new day. Each day a gift of opportunity.
There is always a sunrise even when it is far from our view.

There is always a door. We simply have to seek.
There is always a key. We simply have to persist.
And, sometimes, we just have to wait a while. Patience does have virtue.
There is always a future. The future is hope and the magic is faith.

It begins with you today. Today a new day. Always.
Today our decision to be the person we really want to be.
Today our choice of courage to accept what we cannot change.
Today our choice to rise to the challenge of changing what we must.
These are the choices of happiness.

Always an answer. You simply have to believe.
The dawn. The magic of a new day given to us.
A love affair. A love affair with today.
Today, a gift of opportunity; to laugh; to learn; to achieve;
to make someone happy, to be happy.
Always a sunrise.

~ By Rex Barker

Touch of an Angelic Friend

An angel was sent down from heaven one day
to visit a child who had nothing to say;
Now this young child was poor, great wealth she did lack,
but she always was happy in spite of the fact.

Until one day it happened — her best friend went away
and it left her heartbroken with nothing to say.

Now the task of the angel was a great one indeed,
to give hope to a heart that was so much in need.
And though great riches and power were at the angel's command,
he sent a lost kitten and the healing began.

The girl cheered the kitten as it tracked down a snail,
and she started to giggle when he chased his own tail.

Then without any warning the girl whose heart broke
found some reason for saying these words that she spoke —
"I love you little kitten ... I hope you will stay!
We will always be friends and together we’ll play."

Now the little girl was happy though she still remained poor,
for she had a new friend someone to care for.

You see riches and power are fine things indeed
but for a broken heart that is not what you need.
The angel was wise for he knew in the end
how to mend a broken heart with the touch of a friend.


Original version © 1999 ~ By Motivational Speaker Tom Krause ~ All rights reserved
Feline adaptation with permission - by Chelle Thompson of Inspiration Line

The Gift

"Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection."~Pindar.



I GIVE TO YOU
A fire to light inside your heart,
to feel the warm embers glow;
A splash of the sun's bright rays,
to melt even winter's snow.

I GIVE TO YOU
A piece of a rainbow to color your world,
when all seems totally gray;
Some roses for their lovely perfume,
to kiss you with a sweet bouquet.

I GIVE TO YOU
A sprinkling of some twinkling stars,
to wish upon at night;
The morning dew to bless the day,
to bask in its delight.

I GIVE TO YOU
A summer's breeze to caress your face,
to show that someone cares;
The sweet song of the nightingale,
to remind you nature's there.

I GIVE TO YOU
My lasting friendship, always true, and
Love to hold inside if ever you feel blue,
Or just because you need a friend ...
this friend, who is always there for you!!

~Author Unknown (Adaptation)

Photography: My friend Marilyn, who came down from Orange leaving home on a thick frosty morning to travel far just to give me my 60th Birthday treat on Magistic Cruise Dinner around Sydney Harbour. Afterward, she took me to the National Maritime Museum exploring The Endeavour and RAN Submarine. For once, we were like children one more time having fun and enjoying the day. We also had a Monorail Ride and culminated the day over a large glass of Milkshake. Thank you Marilyn for making my day unforgettable.

TO MY CHILDREN

"If we could hold each grain of sand
that sifts through the hour glass of life,

And cherish each one as a diamond rare,
and permit them to reflect their light,

We'd understand that diamonds are priceless,
and sand but worthless dust ...

And how we live each bit of today
reveals our life's brilliance."

~ By Daniel Roberts
(Submitted by his son Derek, an Inspiration Line subscriber
who lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado)

THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever!
There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today... but I did!
And because I did I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what a great life I have had so far;
the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, even the hardships,
because they have served to make me stronger.
I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart.
I will marvel at seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew,
the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds.
Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people.
I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected
act of kindness for someone I don't even know.

Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down.
I'll tell a child how special they are, and I'll tell someone I love
just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and
start being grateful for all the wonderful things I have already been given.
I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because
my faith ensures everything will be just fine.

And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the skies.
I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon,
and I will be grateful for these magnificent treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow,
I will thank Goodness for the best day of my life.

And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child,
excited with expectation because I know tomorrow
is going to be the best day of my life, ever!

~ ©1993 Gregory M. Lousig-nont, Ph.D.
from "Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul"

You Are Worthy

(Photo Courtesy by Bill Baker)

Do not undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Do not set your goals by what other people deem important.
Only you know what is best for you.

Do not take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Do not let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past, nor for the future.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Do not give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
It is a fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Do not be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Do not shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find.

The quickest way to receive love is to give love;
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.

Do not dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams is to be without hope;
To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Do not run through life so fast that you forget
not only where you have been, but also where you are going.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step

~ By Nancye Sims

Friendship

True friends are not dream-slashers

Choose friends wisely,
the portrait they paint
Is who you are and who you ain't.
Friendship is life's great support
When friends are of the right sort.
For all your dreams do they make room,
Or bring you down with doom and gloom?
You will know a friendship is true
When it brings out the best in you.

~David Leonhardt,

A Card from Karen

Please enlarge to read.

Birthday token from Judy

"GROWTH"

The river flows,
ever changing,
picking up speed here
and slowing down there,

narrowing,
widening,
dropping silt
and lifting up dirt,

joining,
separating,
warming
and cooling,

finally emptying into the sea,
just a hint of what it once was.

It is not the same river
as at the source.
It is not the same river
as where the turtles nest.
It is not the same river
as it is at the rapids.

We are each a river.

We flow.
We change.
We learn,
we forget.

We jump for joy.
We mourn a loss.

I don't know about you,
but my childhood feels
like someone else's life.

It's hard to believe
that was me,
that it is the same person.

Of course, it's not the same person.
It was a different person,
because now I'm different.

Different from me as a child.
Different from me as an adolescent.
Different from me as a young man.
Different from me even
as a new parent a few years ago...

in fact, my young daughters are different
than they were just a few years ago,
and it is hard for me to believe
they are the same girls.

Keep changing.
Keep learning.
Keep growing."

~David Leonhardt~
Source: The Happy Guy Newsletter
www.thehappyguy.com

Wherever There is Love

"Three Old Men" Italy Circa 1535
By Paramigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)

A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat." "Is the man of the house home?", they asked. "No", she replied. "He's out." "Then we cannot come in", they replied. In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. "Go tell them I am home and invite them in!" The woman went out and invited the men in. "We do not go into a house together," they replied. "Why is that?" she asked. One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home." The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!" His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?" Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!" "Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife. "Go out and invite Love to be our guest." The woman went out and asked the three old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest." Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?" The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but you invited Love, and wherever he goes, we go also. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!" ~Author Unknown

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

(From my old file)

I don't know about tomorrow;
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to grey.

I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden's getting lighter,
Every cloud is silver-lined.

There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow;
It may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.

And the path that is my portion
May be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

~Anon~

How to be Wealthy

Friendships are priceless, time is invaluable,
health is wealth, and love is a treasure, so ...

Create a nest egg of beautiful memories that you can
dip into from time to time to ease any sorrows.

Have the kind of remembrances that raise you up with
their worth and keep you there with their wonder.

Always have a secret supply of hopes on hand
to help you plan your tomorrows.

Remember that when you invest in your dreams,
it is impossible to overpay.

Give away smiles and watch them
come back to you a hundred times over.

Stuff your pockets with kindness and optimism;
there is nothing more precious in the world.

I'm sharing this advice with you today because
YOU are such a valued part of my life.

~ Author Unknown ~

"LET GO AND LOVE MORE"

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring—
It means I can't do it FOR someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off—
It's the realization that I can't CONTROL another.

To "let go" is not to ENABLE—
But to allow learning from natural consequences.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another—
It's to make the most of MYSELF.

To "let go" is not to care FOR—
But to care about.

To "let go" is not to FIX—
But to be supportive.

To "let go" is not to JUDGE—
But to allow another to be a human being.

To "let go" is not being in the middle, arranging all outcomes—
But to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To "let go" is not to be over-protective—
It's to permit another to face reality.

To "let go" is not to DENY—
But to accept.

To "let go" is not to nag, scold or argue—
But instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To "let go" is not to adjust everything to MY desires—
But to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To "let go" is not to regret the past—
But to grow and live for the future.

TO LET GO IS —
TO FEAR LESS ... AND TO LOVE MORE.

~ By Dr. Margaret J. Rinck
www.FamilySuccessConsortium.com

Mother and Son

The Law of Life

Whatever you give away today or think or say or do
Will multiply about tenfold and then return to you;
It may not come immediately, nor from the obvious source,
But the law applies unfailingly, through some invisible source.

Whatever you feel about another, be it love or hate or passion,
Will surely bounce right back to you in some clear (or secret) fashion;
If you speak about some person a word of praise or two,
Soon tens of other people will speak kind words of you.

Our thoughts are broadcasts of the soul, not secrets of the brain;
Kind ones bring us happiness petty ones, untold pain;
Giving works as surely as reflections in a mirror —
If hate you send, hate you'll get back, but loving brings love nearer.

Remember as you start this day, and duty crowds your mind,
That kindness comes so quickly back to those who first are kind;
Let that thought and this one direct us through each day —
The only things we ever keep are the things we give away.

Author Unknown

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves,
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

~By Marianne Williamson from A Return To Love

Important Note:

The words above are often Found on the Internet INCORRECTLY stated as a quote
from Nelson Mandela's Inauguration Speech. Mandela's actual speech is shown at
the official African government site here: Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inauguration Speech

When I am an Old Man

(Photo courtesy by Lily)

When I am an old man...
I'll wear mixed plaids.
I'll put my teeth in only when I need them.
I'll proudly and loudly produce massive amounts of phlegm at will.
I'll drive as slow as I want — I was here first, wasn't I?
I'll buy my grandchildren gifts my kids don't want them to have.
I'll let waiters and waitresses really know how "everything" is tonight.
I'll wear Vicks Vap-o-Rub, BenGay, and that Icy Blue stuff instead of cologne.
 I'll let my gut stick out.
Way, way out who gives a rip anymore?
I'll darn sure let people know what I think about "the trash they're showing on the TV these days." 
I'll let my grandchildren get away with things I used to punish my children for doing.
I'll blow my nose as hard and as loud as I want!
I'll make darn sure I get my "Senior" discount!
I'll refuse to stand in long grocery store lines to pay for a quart of milk and a box of bran.
If they catch me, I'll just act senile.
I'll keep my turn signal on as long as I want, dab-nabit!
I'll pass gas whenever and wherever I dang well please.
I'll darn sure let people know what I think about  "the garbage the government makes us go through just to get what we have coming."
I'll develop an addiction to Milk of Magnesia.
I'll write long letters to the editor about whatever I don't like.
I'll chug Metamucil like I used to chug beer.
I'll obsessively make elaborate contraptions to keep the dang squirrels off my bird feeders.
I'll have more hair growing out of my nose and ears than on the top of my skull.
I'll flirt with women who wouldn't have gone out with me even when I was their age.
I'll brush my eyebrow hair up over my bald spot.
I'll go to them all-you-can-eat buffet lunch places and bring a doggy bag with me.
I'll wear my pants hiked up around my armpits
or I'll let them ride comfortably down under my belly.
I'll blow my social security money by buyin' junk from the back of books.

~By Tim Nyberg
(Suggested by Margaret who lives in San Francisco, California)

Yesterday, Tomorrow and Today

The journey's our goal, our path is the point ...

There are two days in every week we should never worry about,
two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension

One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its aches and pains, its faults and blunders.

Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.

We cannot undo a single act we performed, nor erase a single word we've said.

Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow, with its impossible adversaries, its burden, its hopeful promise and unknown performance.

Tomorrow is beyond our control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds ... but it will rise ... and until it does.

We have no stake in tomorrow, for it is as yet unborn.

This leaves only one day: TODAY!

Anyone can fight the battles of just one day.

It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of today that drives people mad.

It is the remorse of bitterness for something that happened yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

Make TODAY the best day it can be, and live one day at a time!

~Author Unknown~

Wishing for Another Chance

Do you wish the world were better?
Let me tell you what to do.
Set a watch upon your actions,
Keep them always straight and true.
Rid your mind of selfish motives,
Let your thoughts be clean and high.
You can make a little Eden
Of the sphere you occupy.

Do you wish the world were wiser?
Well, suppose you make a start,
By accumulating wisdom
In the scrapbook of your heart;
Do not waste one page on folly;
Live to learn, and learn to live.
If you want to give men knowledge
You must get it, ere you give.

Do you wish the world were happy?
Then remember day by day
Just to scatter seeds of kindness
As you pass along the way,
For the pleasures of the many
May be ofttimes traced to one.
As the hand that plants an acorn
Shelters armies from the sun.


Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850 – 1919)
Ella Wheeler Wilcox.www.hubs.com

Another Chance

How often we wish for another chance
to make a fresh beginning.
A chance to blot out our mistakes
And change failure into winning.

It does not take a new day
To make a brand new start,
It only takes a deep desire
To try with all our heart.

To live a little better
And to always be forgiving
And to add a little sunshine
To the world in which we're living.

So never give up in despair
And think that you are through,
For there's always a tomorrow
And the hope of starting new.

Helen Steiner Rice (1900-1981)
www.HelenSteinerRice.com

Start Where You Stand

Start where you stand and never mind the past,
The past won't help you in beginning new,
If you have left it all behind at last,
Why, that's enough, you're done with it, you're through.

This is another chapter in the book,
This is another race that you have planned,
Don't give the vanished days a backward look,
Start where you stand.

The world won't care about your old defeats
If you can start anew and win success,
The future is your time, and time is fleet
And there is much of work and strain and stress.

Forget the buried woes and dead despairs,
Here is a brand new trial right at hand,
The future is for him who does and dares,
Start where you stand.

Old failures will not halt, old triumphs aid,
Today's the thing, tomorrow soon will be;
Get in the fight and face it unafraid,
And leave the past to ancient history.

What has been, has been; yesterday is dead
And by it you are neither blessed nor banned,
Take courage, man, be brave and drive ahead,
Start where you stand.

~By Berton Braley (1882-1966)

Source: Inspiration Line

Leaves Are Changing

As the leaves surely change,
With time, so do we.
We grow and we learn,
From the things that we see.

Everything makes a difference,
Whether subtle or grand;
The heart can grow stronger,
And the mind will expand.

It's true, we're affected
By everything that's been said;
Every movie we've watched,
And all the books that we've read.

Though just like the leaves,
No two are akin;
Each one is unique
Like every person within.

And just like the seasons,
We're all changing as well;
For our lives are each different,
As are the stories we tell.

No matter how much we change,
You will always be special to me!

~Author Unknown

The Invincible You

There's nothing to fear — you're as good as the best,
As strong as the mightiest, too;
You CAN win in every battle or test
For there's no one just like you.

There's only one you in the world today
'Cause nobody else, you see,
Can do your work in as fine a way:
You're the ONLY one there'll be!

So face the world, and all life is yours
To conquer and love and live,
And you'll find the happiness that endures
In just the measure you give.

There's nothing too good for you to possess,
Nor heights where you cannot go:
Your power is more than belief or guess —
It is something you have to KNOW.

There is nothing to fear —
you can and you will,
For you ARE the invincible you,
Set your foot upon the highest hill —
There's NOTHING you cannot do.

~ Author Unknown

Women of Strength

Women have strengths that amaze ...

They carry children, they carry hardships, they carry burdens,
yet they hold faith, happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.

They volunteer for good causes.
They are pink ladies in hospitals, they bring food to shut ins.
They are senators, educators, childcare workers, executives, attorneys,
truck drivers, pilots, stay at home moms and your neighbors.

They fight for what they believe in. They stand up against injustice.
They write to the "powers that be" for things that make for a better life.
They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.

They can wipe a tear, cover a cut and pat you on the back at the same time.
They go without new shoes so their children can have them.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They tell people that need to be told to straighten up their act.
They lend a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen
and a voice to make suggestions.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They have sorrow at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They can round up energy, even when they are tired.
They can stay up a little longer to talk to someone that needs a friend.

Women do more than give birth. They bring peace and hope.
They give compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
They weep with joy when their children excel,
and cheer when loved ones get awards.

Women want people to grow into the best person they can be.
They want to touch you in a way that
will make you share your goodness with others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair
... true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes because
that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world spin!

~ Author Unknown ~

Note: History of Mother's Day

PHENOMENAL WOMAN

From A Journey Begins

Pretty women wonder
Where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit
A fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.

It's in the reach of my arms, the span of my hips,
The stride of my step, the curl of my lips.
I'm a woman ... phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.

I say,
It's in the click of my heels, the bend of my hair,
The palm of my hand, the need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman ... phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Excerpted from the Poem
"Phenomenal Woman"
By Maya Angelou ©1995

FULL TEXTS

Phenomenal Woman

BY MAYA ANGELOU

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,   

The stride of my step,   

The curl of my lips.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,   

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,   

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.   

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.   

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,   

And the flash of my teeth,   

The swing in my waist,   

And the joy in my feet.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered   

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,   

They say they still can’t see.   

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,   

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.   

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,   

The bend of my hair,   

the palm of my hand,   

The need for my care.   

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

I Shall Wear Purple

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other peoples' gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickles for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.


~Jenny Joseph (1932 - ) Visit Jenny's Website
Get Jenny's Book at Amazon: "Warning: When I Am an Old Woman"

A Mom's Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my sanity to keep;
For if some peace I do not find,
I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.

May I lie back — not have to think
About what they're stuffing down the sink,
Or who they're with, or where they're at
And what they're doing to the cat.

I pray for time all to myself...
(Did something just fall off a shelf?)
To cuddle in my nice, soft bed...
(Oh no, another goldfish — dead!)
Some silent moments for goodness sake...
(Did I just hear a window break?)

I pray I find a little quiet
Far from the daily family riot:
And that I need not cook or clean —
Well heck, I've got the right to dream!

Yes, now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my wits about me keep;
But as I look around I know —
I must have lost them long ago!

~ Author Unknown

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

(Written by a former child)

When you thought I wasn't looking...
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking...
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking...
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I learned that the little things can be very special in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking...
I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick,
and I learned that we all need to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking...
I saw you give your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that everyone can make a difference.

When you thought I wasn't looking...
I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it,
and I learned the importance of FAMILY.

When you thought I wasn't looking...
I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good,
and I learned that I would need to be responsible when I grew up.

When you thought I wasn't looking...
I sometimes saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned there are things that can hurt, yet it's O.K. to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking...
I saw that you truly cared about people,
and I wanted to be everything that I could possibly be
to follow in your footsteps.

When you thought I wasn't looking...
I looked at you and wanted to say,
"Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."


~Modified Version, Author Unknown — Mary Rita Schilke Korzan, Original Author
(Contributed by Beverly who lives in St. Cloud, Florida)

A Difference

Amidst the morning mist of the swift returning tide
I set out on my daily run, my Walkman on my side.
Lost within my private world apart from cares and woes
I ran along the moistened shore, the sand between my toes.

In the distance, I saw a boy, as busy as can be.
He was running, stooping, picking up, and tossing in the sea.
Just what he threw, I couldn't tell, I looked as I drew near.
It seemed to be a rock or shell — as I approached him I could hear:

"Back you go, where you belong. You're safe now hurry home.
Your family's waiting for you, little starfish, hurry on!"
It seemed the evening tide had washed the starfish on the shore,
And the swift receding water left a thousand there or more.

And this self-appointed savior, was trying one-by-one
To toss them back into the sea, against the racing sun.
I saw his plight was hopeless, that most of them would die.
I called out from my private world, "Hey Kid, why even try?"

"Must be at least a thousand here, strewn along the beach,
And even if you had the time, most you'll never reach.
You really think it makes a difference, to waste your time this way?"
And then I paused and waited, just to hear what he would say.

He stooped and took another, and looked me in the eye.
"It makes a difference to this one sir, this starfish will not die!"
With that, he tossed the little life, back where there was hope.
He stooped to take another. I could tell this was no joke.

The words that he spoke to me cut like a surgeon's knife.
Where I saw only numbers, he saw only life.
He didn't see the multitude of starfish on the sand.
He only saw the little life he held there in his hand.

He didn't stop to argue, to prove that he was right.
He just kept tossing starfish in the sea with all his might.
So I too stooped, and I picked up, and I tossed into the sea,
And I thought, just what a difference, that this boy has made in me.

By Randy Poole (A Missionary in Nicaragua)
From: InspirationPeak.com

THE MEANING OF LIFE

Your life is a journey ahead of you.
Each day is a new beginning.
Yesterday is a friend that will guide you.

There will be good times and bad times;
Cherish the good, because they make life sweet,
But be thankful for the bad,

For through them you come to know
The important things in life
And the meaning of life.

There will be times when you face
Difficult decisions,
And you won’t know which way to turn.

The important thing is that you make a choice,
And move forward.
There will be times that test your strength and endurance,

But don’t give up;
Refuse to accept defeat,
For perseverance is the key to success.
there will be times when you are hurt by love.

Forgive those who hurt you
So that your heart will be free to love again.

There will be times when you make mistakes.
Remember that mistakes are not a reflection of your self-worth,
But of your humanity.

Nor do they make you less of a person.
Because of the lessons you’ve learned,
You’ve grown and become wiser.

There will be times when your search for happiness
Leads to frustration and disappointment,
But don’t stop believing in happiness.
Being happy with yourself goes a long way toward
Knowing happiness in your life.

There will be times when life seems unfair,
But don’t allow it to make you bitter
And steal your joy.
Nothing is worth this.

When fear stands in the way of reaching out for your dreams,
Confront them and you will conquer them.

There will be times when your faith is shaken,
But don’t despair,
It will rise up and carry you above the storm and to victory….

Copyright © 1996 By Nancye Sims

Source: Positive Thoughts

Angels Online

There's a land where I go, when I need to share,
That's not on a map, yet exists everywhere;
Lots of names without faces, a curious place,
A virtual creation that's called — cyberspace.

There are all sorts of people with cute little handles,
Like Jasmine and Sandman and Rosebud and Jangles;
Some can be snobs, though most are great fun,
And some of them just want to talk with someone.

Both good and bad, they all play a role,
And each one's unique, but part of the whole;
We chat and we laugh and often we sigh,
We flirt and we 'hug' and sometimes we cry.

We can't be heard and we can't be seen,
Still we can 'talk' right there on that screen;
But, all in all, the most curious part
Is the power this has to open our hearts.

We share with a stranger stuff we've concealed
From our closest of friends — things we never reveal!
Our deepest regrets and most troubling fears,
The scars in our life which bring us to tears.

What gives them the power to reach into me
And show me the truths that I never see?
How do they manage to open my eyes
And make me confess the pain and the lies?

This must have been planned by Spirit above,
Few places on earth can bring so much love;
When I need some direction I know I can find
Those angels from heaven just waiting online.

~Author Unknown (Adaptation)

Friends Make a Difference

Some people come into our lives and quickly go;
Some people move our souls to dance; they awaken us to new understanding
With the passing whisper of their wisdom;
Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.

Friends share simple, ordinary times in our lives,
Moments that become memories that stay in our hearts forever
... And we will never, ever be the same.

Friendship is a strange thing ...
It is by chance we met, by choice we became friends;
We find ourselves telling each other the deepest details of our lives,
things we don't even share with our families who raised us.

But what is a friend? A confidant? A lover? A fellow email junkie?
A shoulder to cry on? An ear to listen? A heart to feel?
A friend is ALL of these things and more;
No matter where we met, I call you "friend":
A word so small ... yet so large in feeling ... a word filled with emotion.

Once the package of friendship has been opened,
It can never be completely closed;
It is a constant book always waiting to be read ... and enjoyed.

We may have disagreements,
We may argue, we may concern one another ...
Friendship is a unique bond that lasts through it all.

A part of me is put into my friends: some is my humor, some is my listening ear,
Some is real life experience, some is my romanticism, but with all, it is FRIENDSHIP ...
Thanks for making a difference in my life!

~ Author Unknown

A Beautiful Day

I woke up early today, excited over all the things
I get to do before the day ends... 

My job is to choose what
kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or ...
I can be thankful that the grass
is getting watered for free. 

Today I can grumble about my health or...
I can rejoice that I am alive. 

Today I can mourn my lack of friends or...
I can excitedly embark upon a
quest to discover new relationships. 

Today I can whine because I have to go to work or...
I can shout for joy
because I have a job to do. 

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or...
I can feel honored because life has provided
shelter for my mind, body and soul. 

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped ...
And here I am, the sculptor
who gets to do the shaping. 

Today I am going to have a BEAUTIFUL DAY...
Because I am blessed with
so many gifts in my life.

~ Author Unknown ~

Life Still Has Meaning

If there is a future
there is time for mending —
Time to see your troubles
coming to an ending.

Life is never hopeless
however great your sorrow —
If you're looking forward
to a new tomorrow.

If there is time for wishing,
then there is time for hoping —
When through doubt and darkness
you are blindly groping.

Though the heart be heavy
and hurt you may be feeling —
If there's time for contemplation,
there is time for healing.

So if through your window
there is a new day breaking —
Thank Heaven for the promise,
though mind and soul be aching.

If with harvest over, there
is grain enough for gleaning —
There is a new tomorrow
and life still has meaning.


~ Author Unknown

River of Friendship

How do I love
The wilderness places
Where beauty exists
In great open spaces

Where in mountain valleys
Sweet water flows free
Like the river of friendship
Between you and me

May it ever bring joy
Down from hillsides above
Like cascading streams
In a water fall of love.

~G Seierstad~
February 17, 2010

A Crabby Old Woman

 

What do you see, nurses ….. What do you see?
What are you thinking ….. When you’re looking at me?
A crabby old woman ….. Not very wise?
Uncertain of habit ….. With faraway eyes?

Who dribbles her food ….. And makes no reply,
When you say in a loud voice ….. “I do wish you’d try!”
Who seems not to notice ….. The things that you do,
And forever is losing ….. A stocking or shoe?

Who, resisting or not ….. Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding ….. The long day to fill?
Is that what you’re thinking?? ….. Is that what you see??
Then open your eyes, nurse ….. You’re not looking at me.

I’ll tell you who I am ….. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding ….. As I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of ten ….. With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters ….. Who love one another.

A young girl of sixteen ….. With wings on her feet
Dreaming that soon now ….. A lover she’ll meet.
A bride soon at twenty ….. My heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows ….. That I promised to keep.

At twenty-five now ….. I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide ….. And a secure happy home.
A woman of thirty ….. My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other ….. With ties that should last.

At forty, my young sons ….. Have grown and are gone,
But my man’s beside me …..To see I don’t mourn
At fifty once more ….. Babies play round my knee,
Again we know children ….. My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me ….. My husband is dead,
I look at the future ….. I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing …..Young of their own ,
And I think of the years ….. And the love that I’ve known.

I’m now an old woman ….. And nature is cruel;
Tis jest to make old age ….. Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles ….. Grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone ….. Where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass ….. A young girl still dwells,
And now and again ….. My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys ….. I remember the pain,
And I’m loving and living ….. Life over again.

I think of the years ….. All too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact ….. That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people ….. Open and see,
Not a crabby old woman ….. Look closer …. see, ME!!

~ Author Unknown

Photography: Mom Mona (Bradley)
On my hospital visit last 15 Jan 2010
She passed away 15 February 2010

Be A Friend!

Don't worry about knowing people
...just make yourself worth knowing.

When you ask how someone's doing
...wait to listen to the answer.

Anyone can give advice, but
a real friend will lend a helping hand.

Pick your friends
...but never pick them to pieces!

A good friend is one who keeps up with you
But never looks down on you.

Deal with the faults of your friends
as gently as if they were your own.

The reason a dog is everyone's friend
is that he wags his tail
and not his tongue.

 

~Author Unknown~

My Comfort Zone

I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn’t fail;
The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail;
I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing much;
I said I didn’t care for things like commission checks and such;
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win;
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin;
I took a step and with new strength I’d never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone good-bye and closed and locked the door.

If you’re in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt;
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true;
Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!

~Author Unknown

DON'T LOOK BACK

As you travel through life there are always those times
When decisions just have to be made,
When the choices are hard, and solutions seem scarce,
And the rain seems to soak your parade.

There are some situations where all you can do
Is simply let go and move on,
Gather your courage and choose a direction
That carries you toward a new dawn.

So pack up your troubles and take a step forward —
The process of change can be tough,
But think about all the excitement ahead
If YOU can be stalwart enough!

There might be adventures you never imagined
Just waiting around the next bend,
And wishes and dreams just about to come true
In ways you can't yet comprehend!

Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from new things
As you challenge your status quo,
And learn there are so many options in life,
And so many ways you can grow!

Perhaps you'll go places you never expected
And see things that you've never seen,
Or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds
And wonderful spots in between!

Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring
And somebody special who's there
To help you stay centered and listen with interest
To stories and feelings you share.

Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends
Are supportive of all that you do,
And believe that whatever decisions you make,
They'll be the right choices for you.

So keep putting one foot in front of the other,
And taking your life day by day ...
There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road —
Don't look back! You're not going that way!


by Mary Engelbreit

NEWBORN SOULS

❤❤❤

"While viewing the beauty of fresh falling snow,
My mind wandered back to words spoken softly to the ear of a child:

"Snowflakes are like newborn souls falling from the clouds to the earth."

Like the snowflake we are all perfect creations,
Each of us uniquely formed.

Many of us are taught religion in a fog of truth during childhood.

We call ourselves Christians, Jews, Moslems, Buddhists,
Hindus, Atheists, Agnostics or Pagans.

None of us speak or relate to God in the same manner.

Eventually, as the snowflakes melt,
They return to the water from which they were formed.

Water runs deep and will seek its own level
Until it is found.

Sometimes these waters are the waters of consciousness.

Heat melts the snow;
Like snow we soften with warmth.

We each live in a sea of thoughts, feelings and beliefs.

When we experience the warmth of love
Our thoughts, feelings and different beliefs melt away.

Connecting us with one another,
Making us realize we are one."

~Mary Ann Faris
Copyright February, 2008
(Mary Ann is a long-time Inspiration Line Subscriber from Harper's Ferry, West Virginia)


✻ღ♥*✿*•♥ღ✻

Meaningful Resolutions

To leave the old with a burst of song;
To recall the right and forgive the wrong;

To forget the things that bind you fast
To the vain regrets of the year that’s past;

To have the strength to let go your hold
Of the not worthwhile of the days grown old;

To dare go forth with a purpose true,
To the unknown task of the year that’s new;

To help your brother along the road,
To do his work and lift his load;

To add your gift to the world’s good cheer,
Is to have and to give a Happy New Year.

~ Author Unknown

THE MOONLIGHT'S KISS

A perfect round and shining sphere
the August Moon in a dusky sky
shines down upon us and lights the way
for the weary traveler who passes by,
and winds his way o'er hill and down glen
and journeys on to the end of his day.

The light that surrounds us from
this Pearl of perfection
gives hope to the helpless
and to the lost gives direction;
without her light the dark would be endless
and we souls would wander, lost and friendless.

Thanks be for the gift of the night's moon —
we hold you in awe;
we raise our eyes to the night's sky
and behold your radiant glow;
we are ever thankful
to have been so truly blessed
by the touch of your moonlight's kiss
as our soft skin you caress.


Copyright ©2008 Linda Bell, aka Honesty Lunaria
via The Inspiration Line

Recipe for a Happy New Year

Take twelve, fine, full-grown months,
see that these are thoroughly free
from all old memories of bitterness,
rancor, hate and jealousy;
cleanse them completely from
every clinging spite.

Pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness;
in short , see that these months are freed from all the past;
Have them as fresh and clean as when
they first came from the great storehouse of Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts —
This batch will keep for just one year;
Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time,
but prepare one day at a time, as follows:

Into each day put twelve parts of faith,
eleven of patience,
ten of courage,
nine of tolerance,
eight of hope,
seven of fidelity,
six of kindness,
five of work,
four of rest,
three of generosity,
two of meditation and prayer,
and one well-selected resolution.

Put in about a teaspoonful of good spirits,
a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play
and a heaping cupful of good humor.

Pour in lots of love and mix with a vigor;
Cook thoroughly in a fervent heat;
garnish with a few smiles and a sprig of joy;
then serve with quietness, unselfishness, and cheerfulness,
and a Happy New Year is certain.


~ Author Unknown ~

Point of View

I've heard it said, "Don't go to bed
While hanging on to sorrow.
You may not have the chance to laugh
With those you love tomorrow."


You may not mean the words you speak
When anger takes its toll.
You may regret your actions
Once you've lost your self control.

When you've lost your temper
And you've said some hurtful things,
Think about the heartache
That your action sometimes brings.

You'll never get those moments back,
Such precious time to waste,
And all because of things you said
In anger and in haste.

So if you're loving someone
And your pride has settled in,
You may not ever have the chance
To say to them again,

"I love you and I trust you
And although we don't agree,
I'll try to see your point of view,
Please do the same for me."

~Author Unknown

Source: Inspiration Line

Photo: Brothers James and Oliver Silvey