DURING THE ERRANDS OF THE DAY
Sometimes when I come into town,
With a general need to meet,
I keep with me a ready smile,
Which I may use to greet,
Any creature large or small,
Who happens in my way,
To uplift us in the workings
Of the hours of the day.
We need to lift us up each other,
In the making of our rounds,
In the daily walking, talking,
And the shopping in our towns.
Could we add a little brightness,
With some humor and some cheer,
And to raise a prayer together,
To make our time more dear.
I have sadly taken notice,
As I’ve walked along my way,
That few people have a smile,
Or a cheerful word to say.
They seem as I approach them,
Their eyes to hunker down.
Instead of naturally smiling,
They present a general frown.
Are we not all traveling together,
On the same celestial ship?
Could we exchange our fear for humor
For the duration of the trip?
Let us lift our hearts together,
In a general prayer to God.
Could he make us love each other,
With a smile and a nod?
And could we offer now and then,
A greeting or a Hi,
Encouraged by a loving look,
And a cheerful, helping eye?
If you smile and wave your hand,
You’ll be delightfully surprised,
To find others mirror imaging,
What they have just surmised.
Sometimes when I come into town,
With a general need to meet,
I keep with me a ready smile,
Which I may use to greet,
Any creature large or small,
Who happens in my way,
To uplift us in the workings
Of the hours of the day.
We need to lift us up each other,
In the making of our rounds,
In the daily walking, talking,
And the shopping in our towns.
Could we add a little brightness,
With some humor and some cheer,
And to raise a prayer together,
To make our time more dear.
I have sadly taken notice,
As I’ve walked along my way,
That few people have a smile,
Or a cheerful word to say.
They seem as I approach them,
Their eyes to hunker down.
Instead of naturally smiling,
They present a general frown.
Are we not all traveling together,
On the same celestial ship?
Could we exchange our fear for humor
For the duration of the trip?
Let us lift our hearts together,
In a general prayer to God.
Could he make us love each other,
With a smile and a nod?
And could we offer now and then,
A greeting or a Hi,
Encouraged by a loving look,
And a cheerful, helping eye?
If you smile and wave your hand,
You’ll be delightfully surprised,
To find others mirror imaging,
What they have just surmised.
JOY
Joy is not found in earthly treasure,
Nor does it abound in worldly pleasure.
Its lair is hidden, unseen to the eye,
Joy dwells with Truth, together they lie.
Joy is not found in earthly treasure,
Nor does it abound in worldly pleasure.
Its lair is hidden, unseen to the eye,
Joy dwells with Truth, together they lie.
GRIEF
I am not a stranger to grief.
My loved one lies before me sleeping,
His time on earth joyous, too brief.
I stand before my love, all my being weeping.
Good bye for now, but not for long,
My love for you is everlasting, strong.
I’ll see you again my dear, I know,
And on that day, tears of joy will flow!
I am not a stranger to grief.
My loved one lies before me sleeping,
His time on earth joyous, too brief.
I stand before my love, all my being weeping.
Good bye for now, but not for long,
My love for you is everlasting, strong.
I’ll see you again my dear, I know,
And on that day, tears of joy will flow!
OUR STRUGGLE
Each one has a struggle,
That daily he must face.
Some problems overwhelm us,
Our troubled hearts they chase.
Has God not made us, each one,
Equal to the task?
He promises a solution,
If we would just but ask.
Each one has a struggle,
That daily he must face.
Some problems overwhelm us,
Our troubled hearts they chase.
Has God not made us, each one,
Equal to the task?
He promises a solution,
If we would just but ask.
REGRETS
I’m saddened now, as I look back,
Across the golden lay of time,
Of countless days of wasted jest,
Of things planned but left undone,
Of dreams unrealized, of goals not won.
I’m saddened now, by words I threw,
As firebrands at my friends.
How to undo what’s done, I wish I knew,
And to heal and make amends.
I’m saddened now, my weakness known,
It’s something I withheld most dear.
I see the thing I would not loan,
The lending of myself, the cause was fear.
I’m saddened now, for I can never,
Redress events past, as they lie.
My task is to ask, for what’s gone forever,
Please forgive me, I heave with a sigh!
I’m saddened now, as I look back,
Across the golden lay of time,
Of countless days of wasted jest,
Of things planned but left undone,
Of dreams unrealized, of goals not won.
I’m saddened now, by words I threw,
As firebrands at my friends.
How to undo what’s done, I wish I knew,
And to heal and make amends.
I’m saddened now, my weakness known,
It’s something I withheld most dear.
I see the thing I would not loan,
The lending of myself, the cause was fear.
I’m saddened now, for I can never,
Redress events past, as they lie.
My task is to ask, for what’s gone forever,
Please forgive me, I heave with a sigh!
THOUGHTS ON LOVE
Love is caring, not a notion.
Love is joy and truth in motion.
What better thing on which to muse,
Love’s not slime up from the ocean.
God gave us love for all to use.
Unloving be and love you’ll lose.
If love you must, then love the truth.
Love showers joy in all its hues.
Love and Deceit, Beware, Forsooth.
Love won’t mix with things uncouth.
Do you yearn for love? Learn of Christ.
To seek his love, you don’t need youth.
“What is love” we ask of Love’s Geist,
That love can leave us so enticed.
The answer begs to be un-iced,
Life without Christ, a life un-spiced.
Love is caring, not a notion.
Love is joy and truth in motion.
What better thing on which to muse,
Love’s not slime up from the ocean.
God gave us love for all to use.
Unloving be and love you’ll lose.
If love you must, then love the truth.
Love showers joy in all its hues.
Love and Deceit, Beware, Forsooth.
Love won’t mix with things uncouth.
Do you yearn for love? Learn of Christ.
To seek his love, you don’t need youth.
“What is love” we ask of Love’s Geist,
That love can leave us so enticed.
The answer begs to be un-iced,
Life without Christ, a life un-spiced.
FOR A PRINCESS
I thought I’d write a little poem,
Something for you to keep,
To show you that I really care,
My love for you is deep.
My thoughts of you are of a princess,
Mounted on a Royal Steed.
On you we pin our highest hopes,
Your thoughts, our hearts, to lead.
I thought I’d write a little poem,
Something for you to keep,
To show you that I really care,
My love for you is deep.
My thoughts of you are of a princess,
Mounted on a Royal Steed.
On you we pin our highest hopes,
Your thoughts, our hearts, to lead.
NEVER GIVE UP
When you’re ready to quit,
And you’ve had enough.
When you’re feeling unfit,
And the going’s rough.
When you’ve said, “I’m undone,”
And, “I can’t go on.”
When you’ve told yourself,
“Self, I’m through, I quit.”
When you’re sore pressed with debt,
And nettled in despair,
And the weight of your burden,
Is too great to bear.
Hold your ground men!
Right now, the battle’s not lost.
We’ve come so far, we’ve fought so hard!
Rally boys, the cost is dear!
Step by step and hour by hour,
This is your test, now give your best.
Sometimes life’s finest hour and hardest test,
Is upon us unbeknownst and unawares.
Courage now boys! Courage!
This is our greatest battle!
We’re smack thick in the middle of it!
Little by little, we’re gaining ground.
God give us courage!
Lend us your strength!
Let us go the full measure.
Let us endure this darkest hour.
Their flag is down boys!
Their cannons cease their roar!
We’ve got them on the run now!
The day is ours, the battle’s won!
To those of you who’ve given up,
And quit before you should’ve,
Backbone your thoughts with a “Never Give Up!”
And finish what you could’ve.
‘Tis the sweetest wreath that’s given,
In the end to those who’ve seen,
Their way to having finished,
The course through which they’ve been.
When you’re ready to quit,
And you’ve had enough.
When you’re feeling unfit,
And the going’s rough.
When you’ve said, “I’m undone,”
And, “I can’t go on.”
When you’ve told yourself,
“Self, I’m through, I quit.”
When you’re sore pressed with debt,
And nettled in despair,
And the weight of your burden,
Is too great to bear.
Hold your ground men!
Right now, the battle’s not lost.
We’ve come so far, we’ve fought so hard!
Rally boys, the cost is dear!
Step by step and hour by hour,
This is your test, now give your best.
Sometimes life’s finest hour and hardest test,
Is upon us unbeknownst and unawares.
Courage now boys! Courage!
This is our greatest battle!
We’re smack thick in the middle of it!
Little by little, we’re gaining ground.
God give us courage!
Lend us your strength!
Let us go the full measure.
Let us endure this darkest hour.
Their flag is down boys!
Their cannons cease their roar!
We’ve got them on the run now!
The day is ours, the battle’s won!
To those of you who’ve given up,
And quit before you should’ve,
Backbone your thoughts with a “Never Give Up!”
And finish what you could’ve.
‘Tis the sweetest wreath that’s given,
In the end to those who’ve seen,
Their way to having finished,
The course through which they’ve been.