Blog Archives
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!
Consequences of Inaction
George W. Cecil said:
“Upon the plains of hesitation
Lie the bones of countless thousands
Who, on the threshold of victory,
Sat down to wait,
And, in waiting, they died.”
Ask yourself: What am I waiting for? The perfect time?
There is no perfect time as it does not exist.
If you have a goal, begin to move toward it.
If you want to reach for a star,
You may not succeed in reaching it
But you will, indeed, go farther than one
Who will never begin by taking that first step.
Think
Sometimes when we think we have nothing,
That nothing crystalizes into a realization
That often what we think of as nothing
Becomes everything!
What?
Lack or loss of deep perception
And understanding
Make the difference!
Happy New Year 2023
To all who gaze upon my web site: Warmest wishes to you and yours for the happiest and healthiest New Year 2023!
It’s been a long 2022, but by golly it’s past! Different medical problems have precluded my ability to write and post for quite a while…So I’ll give a shout: It’s good to be back!
Again, Happy New Year’s blessings to each and every one of you! May this be your best year yet!
Warmest Wishes for a Happier New Year!
This past year has been a challenging one. COVID19 has changed how the world operates. Things we took for granted do not exist any longer. So much has caused negative impacts in every area of living. If permitted, these circumstances can alter how you think, feel, and operate. Depression is rampant. Anger if boiling over in so many ways.
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not a train that is coming the other way, just to make things worse.
Faith is still alive. People are working harder to be a little happier–decorating the outside of their houses to uplift the spirit of those driving by. Christmas is past, yes. But the New Year is coming.
With your thoughts and prayers, you can pray for everyone you know who is having a hard time, including you. Prayers and good thoughts do, indeed, still matter. But you must choose to work on your attitude if negativity is all you can see. Surely there is still Beauty in something every day. Look for it. Praise the good you see. Pay attention to the brighter side of things (as in “Every cloud has a silver lining”).
There once was a very powerful man who had everything he could want. So he called his advisors to his side and said, “Come up with a saying that will cover everything, both good and bad.” They worked on it very hard for a long while. When called to his side, he asked them what they had come up with. One stepped forward with a smile and handed him a small sheet of paper. The man looked at it, smiled, and nodded his head. He looked at them and said, “Job well done. Thank you. You will be amply rewarded for your time.” What was on this sheet of paper?
“This too shall pass!”
On that happy note, warmest wishes to you and yours for a Happier New Year ahead! God bless you and yours!
Prayers, Dreams and Goals
When you pray for something, add feet to your prayers – Do something about it.
When you dream, add wings to your dreams – Take action, no matter how small.
If you have a goal, write it down and put it somewhere you can see it.
You will be reminding yourself that you are working towards and end,
not just wandering aimlessly.
Anyone can do nothing – It takes someone to accomplish something.
Don’t forget Synergy – an object in motion generates forward movement.
Remember Serendipity – Along the way, enjoy all the good stuff that happens.