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Nature is man's teacher.
She unfolds her treasures to his search,
unseals his eye, illumes his mind, and purifies his heart;
an influence breathes from all the sights and sounds of her existence.
~Alfred Street

Everything we perceive should be accepted
Like a toy carelessly dropped from a baby's hand
As it sleeps on, peacefully nestled in God.
~Deepak Chopra

If I could, I'd comb the sky
and collect the stars,
quickly pile them into a basket
until it overflowed with silvery light.
And then I'd give the basket to you,
because all things precious
and beautiful
should be yours today.

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.
~Celia Thaxter

The Spirit of Childhood

Marbles and friends and days without end,
those are the times that stay with us.
Our hearts full of promise, our eyes full of wonder,
the possibilities were endless.
Counting clouds, laughing out loud
we played and dreamed together.
The best of times with the best of friends,
nothing on earth could be better.
Sharing, caring, cherishing .
The Spirit of Childhood lives in our hearts forever.

Though no one can go back and make a new start,
anyone can start from now and make a brand new end.
~Carl Bard

A great and lasting friend is like the world's ocean:
within its waves lies constancy,
within its rhythms lies vitality,
and within its depths lies truth.
~M. Repeaux

Let the water settle;
you will see the moon and stars mirrored in your being.
~Jelaluddin Rumi

After winter comes the summer.
After night comes the dawn.
And after every storm, there comes clear, open skies.
~Samuel Rutherford

But he who trusts in the LORD,
mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous;
and shout for joy,
all you upright in heart!
~Psalm 32: 10b-11

Let me do my work each day;
and if the darkened hours of despair overcome me,
may I not forget the strength that comforted me
in the desolation of other times.
May I still remember the bright hours
that found me walking over
the silent hills of my childhood,
or dreaming on the margin of a quiet river,
when a light glowed within me,
and I promised my early God to have courage
amid the tempests of the changing years.
Spare me from bitterness
and from the sharp passions of unguarded moments.
May I not forget that poverty and riches are of the spirit.
Though the world knows me not,
may my thoughts and actions be such
as shall keep me friendly with myself.
Lift up my eyes from the earth,
and let me not forget the uses of the stars.
Forbid that I should judge others lest I condemn myself.
Let me not follow the clamor of the world,
but walk calmly in my path.
Give me a few friends who will love me for what I am;
and keep ever burning before my vagrant steps
the kindly light of hope.
And though age and infirmity overtake me,
and I come not within sight of the castle of my dreams,
teach me still to be thankful for life,
and for time's olden memories that are good and sweet;
and may the evening's twilight find me gentle still.
~Max Erhmann

Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in my life,
I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.
Jamie was trying out for a part in a school play.
His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it,
though she feared he would not be chosen.
On the day the parts were awarded,
I went with her to collect him after school.
Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement.
"Guess what Mom," he shouted,
and then said those words that will remain a lesson to me forever:
"I've been chosen to clap and cheer."
~Author Unknown

If...
If a child lives with criticism,
He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility,
He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule,
He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame,
He learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance.
He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement,
He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise.
He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness,
He learns justice.
If a child lives with security,
He learns faith.
If a child lives with approval,
He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world.
~Dorothy Law Nolte

Life is the childhood of our immortality.
~Goethe

Parents can plant magic in a child's mind
through certain words spoken with some thrilling quality of voice,
some uplift of the heart and spirit.
~Robert MacNeil

~~~

*Poems, quotes and mouse graphic on this page were from the internet and no express permission for use was asked for on the net. Background and other graphics, are courtesy of Wendy's Backgrounds and More..., whose web page I have linked to. Thank you Wendy! Please check out her beautiful artistic work by clicking on her link button. If any of these poems, quotes or graphics are yours, please let me know and I will be glad to give proper credit to you on this web page, or remove them entirely, if you so wish. Thanks!*