Poems

Amazing Women

Women have strengths that amaze men.

• They carry children, they carry hardships, they carry burdens but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

• They sing when they want to cry.
• They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous
• They fight for what they believe in.
• They stand against injustice.
• They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without new shoes so their children can have them.

• They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
• They love unconditionally.
• They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about a birth or a new marriage.

• 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 know that a hug and a kiss can help heal a broken heart.

Women come in all colors, shapes and shapes.

• They'll drive, fly, run or write, to show how much they care about you.
• The heart of a woman is what helps the world keep turning.
• Women do more than just give birth.
• They give hope and joy.
• They give moral support to their family and friends.
• They give compassion and ideals.
• Women have a lot to say and a lot to give.

A Prayer For Today

Every day I need Thee,

• Lord, but this day specially.

I need some extra strength

• to face whatever is to be...

This day more than any day

I need to feel Thee near

• • to fortify my courage
• and to overcome my fear.

By myself I cannot meet

• the challenge of the hour.

There are times when

• human creatures
• need a higher Power-
• to help them bear
• what must be borne.

And so, dear Lord, I pray

• • hold on
• to my trembling hand
• and be with me today.

Dare To Climb The Mountain

Many people view the mountain,

• But few ever want to climb.
• For when you scale the mountain
• you must leave the crowd behind.

There's a mountain that God offers

• Those who climb it must be true,
• Its peak's called full-time service
• and it beckons me and you.

Will you dare to climb the mountain

• though at times you'll feel alone?
• Will you be a missionary,
• leave the comfort of your home?

Now the way--it won't be easy--

• many folks won't understand.
• But there'll be applause in heaven
• and the Lord will hold your hand.

You won't hear loud cheers and trumpets

• When you tell folks of your plans.
• They'll say "Why climb the mountain?"
• "Why not play in the sand?"

But the voice still rings from heaven,

• "Give me men to match my mountains High"
• Men who won't give up--
• who'll reach the top or die.

As you journey up the mountain,

• you'll feel the cold winds blow,
• And at times youll get discouraged
• and your steps began to slow.

If you will just keep on the trail,

• and refuse to turn around,
• you can stand atop the mountain,
• No better place is found.

When you stand there at the summit

• with the world all far below,
• You'll see the sights reserved for climbers
• and your heart will seem to glow.

The guide that led you to the top

• will be there at setting sun
• and whisper at the end of the climb,
• "Let's go home and rest, well done."

-- Author Unknown

Daughter To Father

People always said they could see

• a certain magic
• between the father and his daughter.
• Even when she was just a toddler (and he just a graduate student)
• there was an open, visible, two-way pride...
• and for sixteen years since then, it had grown... his joy in
• all she had learned, all she had become, and mostly
• in the fact that she was his daughter...
• her joy in all he was and all he stood for, and mostly
• in the fact that he was her daddy.
• (And that was still his name,
• because she still felt the same simple love and
• respect
• that she had when "Daddy" was the first
• and only
• word she could say.)
• Between them, a total openness and love and trust had developed...
• so complete that facades and competition and the need to prove
• had never even flickered into the relationship...
• and such a oneness that the sharing of a happy memory
• stirred more joy
• than the original event,
• and the sharing of troubles came as second nature.
• She knew things about herself when she was with him
• that she didn't know when she was alone...
• and so did he.

Long walks happened between them now...

• sometimes for reasons, sometimes for none, and brought about
• a communication so complete
• that both felt a lingering awareness of a third present entity...
• a clarifying catalystic force
• that transcended the words they spoke
• and telegraphed feeling,
• heart to heart.

One clear soft evening

• in autumn,
• beneath the lofting elms that shrouded their street,
• she slipped her hand into his and whispered above the stillness,
• "Daddy... what is the most important thing of all?"
• It was a silly question in a way... a profound one in another...
• She knew it was... but it was a night for questions like that...
• they had time.

The father thought as they walked,

• for serveral silent minutes,
• and then he gave his daughter the right answer
• in one word:
• "Relationships."

The thought had never come to him like that before,

• yet as he said it, he knew it had a kind of inspiration
• and his mind formulated questions to teach his daughter
• what he felt.

"Can you think of a single better measurement of happiness

• than the number and depth of the relationships
• a person has?"
• The moonlight caught her hair as her head turned,
• "Certainly not money... not possessions... maybe testimony
• and conviction that God lives...
• but that is a relationship, isn't it...
• with God?"
• His thoughts rushed to catch hers,
• "What is that relationship... with God... what is its nature?"
• "Parent-Child."
• "You know, we say it so often... I wonder if we really hear it.
• Does the phrase 'I am a child of God' stop in your mind
• as it goes through your ears?
• And how many do you think really believe the phrase..
• (Assuming that understanding it is prerequisite to believing it)?"
• "Not many, Daddy...
• if we did
• we would spend more time seeking to strengthen and improve that
• one relationship."

He nodded, then went on, teaching himself as he taught her...

• "Is there anything you can take with you... from this life
• to the next
• other than the relationships you have formed?"
• She paused for some time... formulating what she thought was
• a full answer,
• "To be able to retain our relationships beyond this earth
• must be our greatest blessing...
• but there is more that we can take...
• Knowledge, judgment, capacities... all that we become
• internally
• while we are here."
• They walked on in silence for a few moments and then
• her definition of "relationships" expanded to match his
• and she went on,
• "Relationships with self... that's what all of these things are."

From that plateau, he reached again,

• "Is there anything else? I mean
• if a person was suddenly voided of all the relationships he had...
• would there be anything left?"
• "No... nothing...
• except maybe the potential to build new relationships."

Now their thoughts leap-frogged past each others'.

• Her answers went beyond his questions and bounced his mind
• into deeper perspectives.
• "Can't almost everything be translated into a relationship...
• our problems,
• our fulfillments,
• our concerns and worries, our joys and pleasures...
• don't all stem from one relationship or another...
• and if they do, why don't we focus more effort
• on relationships?"
• "I don't know, Daddy... I guess partly because we all work
• so hard on achievement...
• on getting things done and on gaining material things.
• That word is really the villian, isn't it?... "Things"...
• things are the antithesis of people;
• and that's the choice we face so often...
• people or things...
• relationships or achivements...
• taking time to get to know someone or getting another thing done.
• Why is it that we usually choose the thing over the person,
• even when we know that the thing is temporary
• and the person is forever?"
• Now he was answering instead of asking,
• "Maybe...
• maybe because we think of relationships not as ends in themselves
• but as the means to other ends.
• When you think about it, our 'relating' usually takes one
• of two forms...
• either it is small talk, for social reasons,
• with no motives;
• or it has ulterior motives of achieving some objective...
• some thing other than the relationship itself."

"Daddy, how many real relationships do you have? And

• how many
• do you need?"
• "I don't know... I mean, I guess that
• it depends on what a real relationship is.
• What constitutes one... what are the essential ingredients?
• What do we mean when we say
• 'a real relationship'?"
• So they built a mental list as their walking ruslted the leaves
• underfoot.
• First the father, then the daughter...
• stimulating each other's thought...
• setting up an expanded defintion of an ideal relationship
• and of what it would contain:

Investment of time... together

• Trust
• Openness
• Honesty - Integrity
• Shared experiences
• Background knowledge
• Personality insight
• Respect
• Interest
• Concern
• Admiration
• Commonality
• Commitment
• Giving of one's self
• Empathy
• Understanding
• Communication
• Patience
• Love
• Sincerity
• Delight
• Participation
• Challenge
• Stimulation
• Progression
• Tolerance
• Listening
• Receiving
• Sharing

Finally, a longer silence signaled that the list

• was done,
• at least for then.
• They had walked a mile, the moon was higher...
• "Can you imagine the value of one relationship possessing all
• these qualities?
• Can you even compare it with anything else?"

The conversation shifted from question to answer

• to question to question
• because
• some questions needed no verbal answers
• and others needed reflection and pondering beyond that one
• crisp evening:
• "How many of the 'relationship components' in the list
• apply to a relationship with God?
• to a relationship with self?"
• "How many real relationships do
• you
• have... (if the list is your criteria)?
• How many should you have... (if 'should' is defined as
• 'prerequisite to happiness')?"
• How many do you need... (if 'need' is defined as
• 'essential to exaltation')?"
• "Is a deep relationship selfish
• or selfless?
• or both?"
• "Is there anything more exciting
• than really relating to someone?
• Is there any thrill
• to match?"

(Her hand tightened on his fingers, and performed the answer

• to the last question.)

They turned for home

• but the talk continued on that and other nights...
• and focused
• on Relationships with Self
• Relationships with God
• Relationships with Family...
• for they are the three that are essential
• to exaltation
• And they are the three on which the full Gospel sheds
• so much
• unique and additional light.

Introduction to 'Relationships... Self... Family... God' -- Paul H. Dunn and Richard M. Eyre

Divine Nature

You are somebody special

• We love you the way you are.
• Develop the best within you
• And reach for every star.

You are somebody special

• But you must do your part
• To find what lies inside you,
• The beauty within your heart.

You are somebody special

• Remember that always please.
• And if you ever forget it
• Then get down on your knees.

You are somebody special

• A daughter of God, you know.
• Each time you look in this mirror
• It's sure to tell you so.

-- Author Unknown

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

• When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
• When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
• And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
• When care is pressing you down a bit,
• Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

• As every one of us sometimes learns,
• And many a failure turns about,
• When you might have won, had you stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow,

• You may succeed with another blow.
• Success is failure turned inside out -
• The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
• And you never can tell how close you are.
• It may be near when it seems so far.

So try your best and give it all you've got.

• Don't look at others and wish you had their lot.
• Just stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
• It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Family Life

There's a special kind of closeness that only families know

• That starts off with a childhood trust and deepens as you grow.
• There's a special kind of happiness in sharing little things,
• The laughter, smiles and quiet talks that daily living brings.

There's a special kind of comfort in knowing your family's there,

• To back you up, to cheer you up, to understand and care.
• Of all the treasures life may bring, your family means the most,
• And whether near or far apart that love will hold you close.

-- Author Unknown

From Parent to Child

I gave you life but I cannot live it for you.

I can teach you things but I cannot make you learn.

I can give you direction but I cannot push you there.

I can allow you freedom but I cannot account for it.

I can take you to church but I cannot make you believe.

I can teach you right from wrong but I cannot decide for you.

I can buy you beautiful clothes but I cannot make you beautiful inside.

I can teach you to respect but I cannot force you to show honour.

I can offer you advice but I cannot take it for you.

I can give you love but I cannot force it upon you.

I can teach you to share but I cannot make you unselfish.

I can advise you about your friends but I cannot choose them for you.

I can explain about the facts of life but I cannot build your reputation.

I can tell you about drugs but I cannot say No for you.

I can warn you about sin but I cannot make your morals.

I can help you set goals but I cannot achieve them for you.

I can teach you about kindness but I cannot force you to be gracious.

I can pray for you but I cannot make you walk with God.

I can tell you how to live but I cannot give you eternal life.

-- Author Unknown

If You Think

If you think you are beaten you are;

• If you think you dare not, you don't
• If you like to win, but think you can't
• It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose you've lost

• For out in the world you'll find
• Success begins with a person's will
• It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed you are,

• You've got to think big to rise,
• You've got to be sure of yourself before
• You can win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go

• To the stronger or faster man,
• But sooner or later the man who wins,
• Is the man who thinks he can.

-- Walter D Wintle

It Shows In Your Face

You don't have to tell how you live each day,

• You don't have to say if you work or play,
• A tried, true barrometer serves in it's place,
• However you live, it shows in your face.

The false, the deceit you wear in your heart

• Will not stay inside where it first got it's start;
• For sinew and blood are a thin veil of lace'
• However you live, it shows in your face.

If you have battled and won in the great game of life,

• If you feel that you've conquered the sorrow and strife,
• If you've played the game fair and you stand on first base,
• You don't have to tell it,It shows in your face.

If your life's been unselfish and for others you live,

• Not for what you get, but for what you can give,
• If you live close to God in his infinite grace'
• You don''t have to tell it -- It shows in your face.

Life, by Mother Teresa

• Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
• Life is a beauty, admire it.
• Life is bliss, taste it.
• Life is a dream, realise it.
• Life is a challenge, meet it.
• Life is a duty, complete it.
• Life is a game, play it.
• Life is costly, care for it.
• Life is wealth, keep it.
• Life is love, enjoy it.
• Life is mystery, know it.
• Life is a promise, fulfill it.
• Life is sorrow, overcome it.
• Life is a song, sing it.
• Life is a struggle, accept it.
• Life is tragedy, confront it.
• Life is an adventure, dare it.
• Life is luck, make it.
• Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
• Life is life, fight for it!

-- Mother Teresa

My Prayer Rock

I am a special prayer rock, and this is what I do,

• You put me on your pillow until the day is through,
• Then when it's coming night-time and you jump into your bed -
• Whack! Your special prayer rock will hit you on the head!
• That's how you will remember to get up and say your prayer.
• Then dump me on the floor and until morning I'll stay there.

When you get up next morning, then clunk! I'll stub your toe,

• So you will quickly think about your morning prayer, you know.
• Then back on to your pillow, before you start your day,
• Your clever little prayer rock once again will help you pray.
• When we forget to say our prayers, our days are not the same
• We need our Heavenly Father's help to reach our highest aim.

-- Author Unknown

No Time

• I knelt to pray but not for long,
• I had too much to do.
• I had to hurry and get to work
• For bills would soon be due.
• So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
• And jumped up off my knees.
• My Christian duty was now done
• My soul could rest at ease.
• All day long I had no time
• To spread a word of cheer.
• No time to speak of Christ to friends,
• They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
• No time, no time, too much to do,
• That was my constant cry,
• No time to give to souls in need
• But at last the time, the time to die.
• I went before the Lord,
• I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
• For in his hands God held a book;
• It was the book of life.
• God looked into his book and said
• "Your name I cannot find.
• I once was going to write it down...
• But never found the time"

Prayer

I got up early one morning

• And rushed right into the day.
• I had so much work to accomplish
• That I didn't have time to pray.

Problems came tumbling about me

• And heavier came every task.
• "Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.
• He answered, "But you didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty

• But the day dragged on, sadly and bleak.
• I wondered why God didn't show me.
• He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence.

• I used all the keys at the lock.
• God gently and lovingly chided,
• "My child, but you didn't knock."

So I woke up early this morning,

• And paused before entering the day.
• I had so much work to accomplish,
• That I had to take time to pray.

-- Author Unknown

Smile

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
• 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!

Keep the smile going by

• sending this on to a friend.
• Everyone needs a smile once in a while!

Take Time

Take time for work; it is the price of success.

Take time to think; it is the source of power.

Take time to play; it is the secret of youth.

Take time to read; it is the fountain of wisdom.

Take time to be friendly; it is the road to happiness.

Take time to dream; it's hitching your wagon to a star.

Take time to love; it is the highest joy of life.

Take time to laugh; it is music to the soul.

Team-Work

• I
• read
• about
• the reason
• migrating geese
• fly in a V-formation.
• Each goose flapping its
• wings creates an upward
• lift for the goose that fol-
• lows. When all the geese do
• their part, the whole flock has
• a 71% greater flying range than if
• each bird were to fly alone. Also when
• a goose begins to lag behind, the others
• 'honk' it into position. The teamwork appli-
• cations here are tremendous. I am sure it is at
• least 71% easier to work the teamwork way flying
• in the flock' than trying it alone, and it is good to
• have the advantage of being moved back into position if
• we stray from our goals.

That's What Teamwork Is All About!

Teen Troubles

• What will this school year be like?
• Who will I sit next to?
• What will my teacher be like?
• Will my pimples go away?
• Will I get a date?
• What will I be?
• Will I make friends easy?
• Will they like my haircut?
• Who will save the whales?
• Buy lunch or take it?
• Hair long or short?
• Cricket or tennis?
• English or science?
• Maths or art?
• Bus or bike?
• Will I pass?
• Rap or metal?
• Does the Easter Bunny really exist?
• Is there life after thirty?
• What is love?
• Who am I?
• What am I going to wear?

-- Author Unknown

The Difference

I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;

• I had so much to accomplish that I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task;

• "Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.
• He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on gray and bleak;

• I wondered why God didn't show me.
• He said: "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence; I used all my keys at the lock.

• God gently and lovingly chided,
• "My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day;

• I has so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

-- Author Unknown

The Oyster

There once was an oyster whose story I'll tell,

• Who found that some sand had worked under his shell.
• Just one little grain but it gave him a pain,
• For oysters have feelings that are very plain.

Now did he berate this working of fate,

• That left him in such a deplorable state?
• Did he curse the government, call for an election,
• And say that the sea should have some protection?

Well, years passed by, as years always do,

• Till he came to his destiny - oyster stew!
• But the small grain of sand that bothered him so,
• Was a beautiful pearl, all richly aglow.

Now this tale has a moral, for isn't it grand,

• What an oyster can do with a small grain of sand?
• And what couldn't we do if we'd only begin
• With all of the things that get under our skin?