"Nocturne In E-Flat"
The Most Beautiful Flower
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life, with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.
And, if that weren't enough to ruin my day,
A young boy approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down,
And said with excitement, "Look what I found!"
In his hand was a flower, and a pitiful sight,
With its petals all worn ... from too little rain or light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go play,
I faked a small smile and then shifted away.
But instead of retreating, he sat next to me,
Placed the flower to his nose and declared cheerfully,
"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too.
That's why I picked it. Here, it's for you."
The weed before me was dying or dead,
Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red.
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So, I reached for the flower and said, "Just what I need."
But, instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it mid-air without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time,
That weed-toting boy could not see; he was blind.
I heard my voice quiver ... tears shown in the sun,
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see.
The problem was not with the world ... it was me.
And, for all those times I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see beauty in life and appreciate each second that's mine.
Then, I held that wilted flower up to my nose,
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose.
And I smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand,
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.
(Author Unknown)
And, Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you want me to do for you?"
They said to Him, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened." And moved
with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately
they regained their sight and followed Him.
~ Matthew 20:32-34 (NASV) ~
Smiling Is Infectious
Smiling is infectious;
You catch it like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling, too.
I passed around the corner
And someone saw my grin.
And when he smiled, I realized
I'd passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile;
Then I realized its worth.
A single smile, just like mine
Could travel 'round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin,
Don't leave it undetected.
Let's start an epidemic quick
And get the world infected!
~ Author Unknown ~
A Smile Is Everything
If at times you want to cry
And life seems such a trial,
Above the clouds, there's a bright blue sky.
So, make your tears a smile.
As you travel on life's way
With its many ups and downs,
Remember, it's quite true to say,
"One smile is worth a dozen frowns."
Among the world's expensive things,
A smile is very cheap.
And when you give a smile away,
You get one back to keep.
Happiness comes at times to all,
But sadness comes unbidden.
And sometimes a few tears must fall
Among the laughter hidden.
So, when a friend has sadness on his face
With troubles 'round him piled,
The world will seem a better place,
All because you smiled.
~ Author Unknown ~
If I Had My Life To Live Over
~ By Erma Bombeck ~
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner
even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the "good"
living room and worried much less about the dirt
when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my
grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be
rolled up on a summer day because my hair
had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like
a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children
and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching
television ... and more while watching life.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick
instead of pretending the earth would go into
a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because
it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was
guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy,
I would have cherished every moment and realized
that the wonderment growing inside me was the
only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never
have said "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love you's" ...
more "I'm sorry's."
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize
every minute ... look at it and really see it ...
live it ... and never give it back.
~ In memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer. ~
Amazing Statistics
If you own just one Bible, you are abundantly blessed. One-third of the world does not have access to even one Bible.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive the week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people around the world.
If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest or torture of death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish some place, you are among the top eight percent of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, even in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can but most do not.
If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.
If you prayed yesterday and today, you are in the minority because you believe in God's willingness to hear and answer prayer.
If you believe in Jesus as the Son of God, you are part of a very small minority in the world.
If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.
~ Author Unknown ~
(Contributed by my friend, Eve Smith)
This site
has been awarded
Walk while ye have the light,
lest darkness come upon you.
~ John 12:35 (KJV) ~
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