Pretty poems, and stories for you to read and share. If any of you know who the authors on the "authors unknown", please send names to me. Thanks!
TODAY
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 an unbelievable life I have had so far: the
accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, 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 God's 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 he is, 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 God has already given me. I'll remember
that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine
Plan ensures everything will be just fine.
And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the
heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will
praise God for these magnificent treasures.
As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow,
I will thank the Almighty 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!
(author unknown)
EARLY ONE MORNING
Early one morning, just
as the sun was rising
I heard a maid sing in the valley below
"Oh don't deceive me, Oh never leave me,
How could you use, a poor maiden so?"
Remember the vows that you made to me truly
Remember how tenderly you nestled close to me
Gay is the garland, fresh are the roses
I've culled from the garden to bind over thee.
Here I now wander alone as I wonder
Why did you leave me to sigh and complain
I ask of the roses, why should I be forsaken,
Why must I here in sorrow remain?
Through yonder grove, by the spring that is running
There you and I have so merrily played,
Kissing and courting and gently sporting
Oh, my innocent heart you've betrayed
How could you slight so a pretty girl who loves you
A pretty girl who loves you so dearly and warm?
Though love's folly is surely but a fancy,
Still it should prove to me sweeter than your scorn.
Soon you will meet with another pretty maiden
Some pretty maiden, you'll court her for a while;
Thus ever ranging, turning and changing
Always seeking for a girl that is new.
Thus sang the maiden, her sorrows bewailing
Thus sang the poor maid in the valley below
"Oh don't deceive me, Oh never leave me,
How could you use, a poor maiden so?"
Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
"Eyes Of The Ages"
Oh how bright we see, with the new eyes of a child. So young and fresh and all
the world is something to be discovered. Growing up into teens we have
discovered that we do not need our parents help and are not so dependant upon
them because, after all, they don't know everything as we once thought! Our eyes
need to inspect the world and to learn by our own mistakes, we need to get out
on our own and become an adult, "so don't hold me back, Mom & Dad, just let me
go and do my own thing!" Gee, the time has flown by us and we are already in our
30's and 40's and guess what? Mom & Dad are old and they seem to know a lot more
than I thought they did in the past! Have they grown "wiser" or have I "just
grown up"? Now they are gone and though I wish I could ask them some more
questions about our life when I was a kid, and about our genealogy and about my
great-grandparents and learn who they were and where we came from..well, it is
too late and I will have to rely on "second hand" help if I get any at all! And
now I am getting a little older and my own children are seeing me with different
eyes, for now their eyes have grown to the point of thinking I may not "be so
dumb" after all..and my own eyes have grown old with age and have dimmed with
the many years of time. Soon they will not see even as well as I see today and
then it will come time for me to close them for one last time and when I awake,
I will be with my LORD and all of my loved ones who have made their journey
before me are waiting with smiling faces and oh guess what, my eyes have grown
so bright with the radiance of the love of GOD that I see all things NEW and
shall ever more see ever so clearly as my FATHER in heaven..in HIS presence
eternally.. amen. (K.S. 2004)
HE'S ALIVE!
The gates and doors were barred
and all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness
and rose at every sound
half in hopeless sorrow
and half in fear the day
would find the soldiers breaking through
to drag us all away
just before the sunrise
I heard something at the wall
the gate began to rattle
and the voice began to call
I hurried to the window -
looked down into the street
expecting swords and torches
and the sound of soldiers' feet
there was no one there but Mary
and so I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me
as she told us where she'd been
she said, "they moved Him in the night
and none of us knows where.
the stone's rolled away,
and now His body isn't there."
we both ran toward the garden
then John ran on ahead
we found the stone at the empty tomb
just the way that Mary said
but the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
was just an empty shell
and how or where they'd taken Him
was more than I could tell
something strange had happened there
but just what I didn't know
John believed a miracle
but I just turned to go
circumstance and speculation
couldn't lift me very high
cause I'd seen them crucify Him
and then I saw Him die
back inside the house again
the guilt and anguish came
everything I'd promised Him
just added to my shame
when at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His name
I denied I knew His name
and even if He was alive
it wouldn't be the same
suddenly the air was filled
with strange and sweet perfume
light, it came from everywhere
drove shadows from the room
Jesus stood before me
with His arms held open wide
and I fell down on my knees
and just clung to Him and cried
He raised me to my feet
and as I looked into His eyes
love was shining out from Him
like sunlight from the skies
guilt and my confusion
disappeared in sweet release
every fear I've ever had
just melted into peace
HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE
HE'S ALIVE AND I'M FORGIVEN
HEAVEN'S GATES ARE OPEN WIDE
HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE
HE'S ALIVE AND I'M FORGIVEN
HEAVEN'S GATES ARE OPEN WIDE
HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE
HE'S ALIVE AND I'M FORGIVEN
HEAVEN'S GATES ARE OPEN WIDE
HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE
HE'S ALIVE AND I'M FORGIVEN
HEAVEN'S GATES ARE OPEN WIDE
HE'S ALIVE,
HE'S ALIVE,
HE'S ALIVE,
HE'S ALIVE!