BEATING HEART

BEATING HEART
"Many a beating heart is silenced by the tyranny of indifference." ~Michael Faudet

THE PUREST PLACE

THE PUREST PLACE
"Retrace your steps and go back to the purest place in your heart… where your hope lives. You’ll find your way again.” ~Everwood (Trust Your Journey)

The Bible says

"a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth."

28 May 2010

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

23 May 2010

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

11 May 2010

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

5 May 2010

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)