Category: poetry

Desiderata {Max Ehrmann}

 

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

 

PARENTING

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

 

 

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Related articles

Through This Journey of Today {G. B. McClain}

When the sunlight in the morning
Parts the shadows of the night,
And the world once more awakens
To a day so fresh and bright…
With the dew-kissed flowers so fragrant,
As the birds begin to sing
Long before the sound of traffic,
To this day its noise will bring…
This is when we need to seek Him
As we store this peace away,
And we ask our lord to guide us
Through this journey of today.

For the clouds may hide the sunshine
Long before this day is through;
But when storms of life are raging,
He can give us peace anew;
And each day with all its problems,
With its joy and sometimes strife,
Can be like a gift so precious
On this journey known as life.
All this beauty He has given
And this peace we store away
Are the gifts the Father gives us,
As we journey through today.

Where Are You? {Helen Gleason}

Where are You, Lord, I cried with tears?
You said You were by my side.
But, Lord I didn’t see You.
Though ever so hard I really tried.
And then I heard Your answer
In that still small voice that speaks within:
“My child just look around you –
There is no place that I’m not in.
I’m in that sweet and loving child
Who greets you with a cheering smile;
I’m in the friend who calls on you
To visit and chat awhile.
I’m in that lovely birdsong sweet
That falls upon your listening ear,
And in that friend who prays with you
Who even sheds with you a tear.

I’m in the fragrance of a flower,
In the kiss of day’s first gentle dew;
In the breeze that falls upon your cheek,
In every morning fresh and new.
I’m in the love of a dear pet’s eyes
As it trustingly snuggles close to you.
My love is all around you, child,
And my promises for you still true.
I am in the Word, in the Book I left
To guide, comfort, each day anew.
You see me in so many ways
In the lovely world I made for you.”

Cast Your Cares Upon the Lord {Shirley H. Powell}

I won’t worry about tomorrow, Lord,
I’ll leave that up to you.
I place my faith and trust in You
In whatever you decide to do.

My frets and fears of yesteryear
And sins of distant past
Are needless things to worry about,
For upon you they were cast.

Today, I promise to do my best
To please You ion every way
I’ll hold steadfast and keep the faith
And never give in to dismay.

To shine your light within my heart
Is my heartfelt, earnest prayer.
I’ll cast my cares upon the Lord,
For I know that You are always there.

Turn to God {Delphine LeDoux}

When your spirit’s heavy-laden
And your sorrows get you down,
When your heartaches overwhelms you
And your problems make you frown…
Don’t weep bitter tears of sadness
Nor give way to dark despair;
Don’t give up; you have a Father
You can always reach with prayer.
Just remember He is waiting;
He can make all things come right;
You can reach Him when you are troubled,
Be it day or darkest night.
He is always there to listen
And help you if you ask;
He can soothe your worried spirit;
He can lighten every task.

‘Twas His Great Love {Hazel Yoho}

I walked along the ocean shore –
The waves were lapping high.
I felt the sand about my feet
And seagulls soared the sky.
I gazed across the mighty waters
As far as eye could see,
Then I was made to wonder
Why God gave this to me.
Then I traveled to the mountains
Where eagles made their nests.
There, again, I saw the hand of God –
I saw creation at its best.

So I looked into the heavens now
Where sun and moon doth shine.
I felt a sense of awesomeness
Knowing all this was mine.
For I could not escape His magnitude
No matter where I’d go.
I felt His constant presence
And He wanted me to know
That all of this was given me
Because of His great love,
And these and other blessings
Are sent from the lord above.

That is what I Know {Steven M. Schumacher}

Few things in life are certain,
But I know beyond a doubt,
Faith in God is the one thing
That I cannot live without.
I don’t know what each day holds,
Yet, the Lord is at my side,
And through prayer, I’m confident
What I need He shall provide.
Oh, others might let me down,
But God is steadfast and true;
He will take good care of me…
And do just the same for you!

Two Paths {Grace E. Easley}

Two paths lay before me,
Once long ago,
When Summers were long,
And I didn’t yet know
The meaning of heartache,
Or recognize pain,
And I took it for granted,
That youth would remain.

Two paths lay before me,
And each of them led
To what I could only
Imagine ahead.

Though I wanted to wander
Down both, for a bit,
Life just shook her head
And would have none of it.
For one path alone
Is given each man
And we must journey down it
The best that we can.
And whether we win,
Or whether we lose,
Largely depends on…
The path that we choose.

Life

 

Life is a paradox
A mystery still unexplained,
With the passage of time,
A kaleidoscope of events,
That takes you up one day,
Then dash you down the next,
A journey embarked on expecting
the unexpected,
Never knowing exactly,
How one’s day will end.

With the passage of time,
We learn to be strong,
Smile when you feel like crying,
Make shop talk when all you really
seek is peace and quiet,
For there is so much,
To be welcomed in silence.

We change, people change,
And the world sometimes seems,
Like a strange place,
A place where there is no thought,
Of caring, or sharing, or loving.
Each man is caught up in a cycle,
Of events called survival,
And each man seeks after his own,
Some consumed with a burning,
desire for wealth,
To rise to the top of the ladder,
Pursuing a plan of scheming, conniving,
And knocking down anyone,
Who gets in the way,
With the ultimate goal being
One’s self gratification.

There is no thought or care for,
The people we trod on or hurt,
In our tireless pursuit,
And when we have achieved our goal,
When we are finally at the top of the ladder,
Looking down our noses,
At those we have passed on our way up,
What of happiness?
Is there happiness to be experienced,
When we find ourselves alone,
On our mountain of wealth?
Shouldn’t happiness be the ultimate goal?