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The Last Prayer
The old man knelt by his bed on a rug that helped cushion the pain in his knobby knees.
He cleared his throat and spoke in a tired, raspy voice, “Dear Lord, after years of going, doing, reading, and striving to become and to be a better person, I am here. Yes, I openly admit that I’ve made many mistakes due to my poor choices and wrong actions.
With age came the realization that I have been growing weaker, unable to do those things I did as a younger man. My vision has dimmed, my hearing has weakened, and my strength has waned. I have less energy now. I know that, through all these normal aging progressions, You were always with me in fellowship.
I want to thank You for all the sunrises and sunsets you have granted me. I have always tried to express my humble gratitude for these treasures. My life has been that of a worker whose calloused hands earned an honest living. My hands have never held large sums of money, a fat checking account, gold, or precious jewels. Yet I will readily admit that I’ve never truly needed anything because Your warehouse has always been there to supply my needs.
Besides, money or gold could never quench my thirst for knowledge and wisdom, nor would it bring me the simple blessing of peace and fulfillment which I have always sought. Only you can fill my need, Lord.
So here am I, Lord, before you on bended knees. My hair is thinned, and my skin is wrinkled. All my deeds, both good and bad, have been done. My race has been run, but, even with poor vision, I can see the finish line. I bring nothing because I have nothing except two very precious gifts. Over the years, I have guarded them closely, enriching them through learning and doing my best to polish them with daily care. To my eye, they are beautiful.
You entrusted them to my keeping, and now I return them to Your Hands. I hope You find my soul and spirit pleasing to your eye, Lord. I realize that I am responsible for my actions, my mistakes, and poor choices.”
The old man shifted his weight a bit to relieve the pain in his knees before he continued, “Lord, I would ask for two favors, if it be Your pleasure. First, I ask for mercy. Secondly, just like the thief hanging on a cross beside you on Golgotha Hill, I ask you to please remember me in Your Father’s House. So here am I, and so it is. Amen.”
The old man crumpled to the floor as he drew his last breath, finally at peace.
Do You Know What Love Is?
Many years ago, I thought I knew everything about love there is to know. Silly me! What I thought it was, in reality, everything love isn’t! Of course, my research and learning was not only time consuming, but also very expensive personally and ended in disillusionment.
Then I met my soulmate, and she taught me what love truly is and shows it every day and every way. It never grows old. Thirty-four years later seems like only a couple of years have passed.
Many books have been written about this subject, but maybe in the end we have to learn for ourselves. After all, it’s just words piled on top of words. It’s not an actual experience, is it? We need to understand what it isn’t so we’ll recognize what it is if and when we find it.
Once you find it, never let it go. Care for it, nurture it as you share it with your soulmate. You’ll experience happiness, peace and contentment.
All my wishes for a good walk on your path of life!
Wondering
Have you ever seen a rainbow’s breathtaking beauty against a dark grey sky?
How did it get there?
Have you ever wondered why?
Observe the rose as it unfurls its beautiful petals to greet the rising dawn.
What makes this happen?
Have you ever wondered why?
The night stars glitter like diamonds to tease and light up the eye,
Glittering every night.
Did you ever wonder why?
Over white-capped ocean waves, flying fish still fly.
Without wings, they fly along.
Do you ever wonder why?
Distant snow-capped mountains stand sentinel against a light blue sky.
How did they get there?
Do you ever wonder why?
When Love enters, it’s bigger than oceans or stars of the sky,
Far more beautiful than a rose or a rainbow on high.
Love brings understanding and no need to wonder why!
Unbroken Vows
Vows were broken, Love, by an unplanned death.
Promises that were spoken by the living breath.
Vows softly spoken in the listener’s ears
Linger on after death, bringing forth anguished tears.
Neither mountains high nor rivers wide
Can stop or contain them, and they still abide.
Later, you’ll bring them as you wing your way
And join my spirit, awaiting on the other side.
Marvel not then upon this small wonder,
For what God joins together, nothing puts asunder.
Though you live on if I pass first,
Find peace and joy, my love.
My spirit patiently awaits you
While angels sing above.
Our spirits will again reunite on that golden strand,
In that timeless Shangri-la, never to part again.
Think not that it’s over, that death brings the end,
For the spirit lives forever and ever, even then.
Finish your journey.
Walk your path, following destiny’s pull.
Shine your light on friend and foe.
Live life to the full.
I loved you then; I love you now
As when I gave the ring
To seal the vow made long ago.
Oh, Death, where is thy sting?
THOUGHTS OF SPRING
I sat upon a park bench, writing pad in hand,
Enjoying flowering shrubs and warmth upon the land
As cacophony of sound assaults both my ears:
Birds singing, dogs barking, and children’s laughter at play.
Then, not one but three lasses appeared
With bonnets and flower baskets at arm.
They wore floral-colored smocks,
Emitting Old World charm.
“I see you are a writer, sir,” one said
As her laughter broke the air.
At a loss for words, I simply smiled,
Caught up in her blue-eyed snare.
“Please do write us a sonnet,” said the second lass.
“Oh, no, a poem,” pleaded the third.
I smiled at all three,
Completely lost for word.
Their little faces in mock pout,
Their dresses so colorful and gay,
Added the finishing touch on the canvas
Of this beautiful, fine Spring Day.
I cleared my throat and spoke, “Oh, I suppose,
A line or two I’ll jot of spring-time prose.
With a smile and a thank you, they skipped away, arms interlocked.
As they moved away, I couldn’t help but notice: The flowers matched their frocks.
The sun was warm, and the wind was balmy.
White fluffy clouds adorned the sky.
I stretched and yawned like a Cheshire cat,
Releasing a contented sigh.
Mother Nature had once again blessed the land,
Calling forth different flowers in abundant array.
While I watched butterflies and birds flit about
On this gorgeous, balmy Spring Day.
Spring tulips
Spring has sprung!
Daddy and Momma Mallard with 10 new ducklings
Daddy and Momma Canadian Geese with 2 new goslings
Double Bearded Iris
Happy Thanksgiving!
Our warmest wishes for you is to have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
It is a day to watch parades on the television, probably overeat from a heavily laden table (if you are lucky), take a nap, enjoy the companionship of loved ones and friends, or perhaps even to just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Whatever your day consists of, we hope that you take the time to list all of the blessings which fill your life. Some are obvious, and others are not. Some you think of frequently, while others pass you by without your noticing. Some do not get any of your attention at all until something negative impacts it. Sometimes, the negative takes it away for a long time, if not forever.
Thanksgiving has always been a day for doing exactly that: Change your focus from what you do not have and are striving for to what you already possess. It does not matter if it is a nickel when you need it, or lots of cash at the right time.
Just notice: Can you walk? Can you talk? Can you sing? Can you use your hands freely? Do you have your health? Are you working your way through a health challenge? Can you eat whatever you like? Can you see? Can you hear? What beauty surrounds you?
There are so many people who do not have those blessings for they are either unable to do them for whatever reason or their life situation prohibits/inhibits it.
Life is made up of a lot of simple things which pass us by like a ship in the night if one does not take time to focus on them. We miss many blessings just because we do not see them. Look at your surroundings to see the beauty, life, and laughter that are there – no matter how small or insignificant it may appear. Just know that what you bless increases.
Gather your loved ones and friends, be they near or far, into your heart and thoughts. Bless them one and all.
How about you? What do you choose to focus on today?
God’s blessings upon your journey!
Examples of Beauty:
Rocky Mtn Fall
Rocky Mtn Autumn Snows
Rocky Mtn Snow Storm
Bald Eagle
Deer
Vaughn Lake
Trappers Peak
Jerusalem
This poem comes from Autumn Leaves:
She sits on a battle-scarred hill,
Standing quietly like a lone sentinel,
Waiting through clear, starlit nights
For history to turn yet another page.
Resting against an ancient olive tree,
From Gethsemane, I gaze across the valley.
She looks like a dull jewel
In desperate need of a good polishing.
War, tears, bloodshed and misery
Have been seen often by her.
She wears them like every day apparel.
Peace is not found within her walls.
Yet it’s written that a child was born
In a village known as Bethlehem
That’s just south of where I rest,
Just as the prophecy foretold.
Born in the bloodline of David,
Root and stem of Jesse,
Born to die, yet live again
And live forevermore. Amen!
His house was over there
Across the little valley.
All that’s left of it now
Is the Wailing Wall.
The mind boggles at the battles fought,
At the endless bloodshed,
The lives and dramas played out
And history that touches lives untold.
Here on this dry,
Barren landscape…
Where water and not gold
Molds the lives of the people.
The bride to be
Patiently awaits her groom
To dazzle the whole world
On her wedding day.
Timeless
This poem is in Autumn Leaves:
Peace be with you,
My thoughts unwind,
But…I knew you elsewhere,
From a distant time.
Though it seems but yesterday,
Still it’s been a long, long while,
Something hauntingly familiar,
My thoughts beguile.
Memories sometimes lapse,
But time cannot disguise,
I believe it was your smile,
Not your laughing eyes.
No words spoken here,
Nor lofty man-made towers.
Simple use of thought exchange —
No clock to chime the hours.
Corridors of time are hazy.
Dust covers her ancient fold.
Recollections thwart and tease
In this timeless mold.
Pardon my intrusion
Into your hallowed space.
Forgive my poor conclusion,
But…I never forgot your face.
Timeless memories the past can blur,
Yet never to erase
Our footprints o’er paths we walked,
Another time…another place.
Thoughts we shared, flowers touched,
As we made our way.
Soft words exchanged, feelings passed,
Fragrance lingering where we lay.
Enraptured by you still,
Forever I’ll repose.
Would you linger her a while,
My spiritual, timeless rose?
wfosterwelborn 