Poems to Ponder

It's Up to You

One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true,
One life can make the difference,
You see, it's up to you
~Author Unknown~

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SOME GREAT THINGS ABOUT GETTING OLDER

Finally you can eat dinner at 4:00 p.m.

Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.

Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

It's harder and harder for sexual harassment charges to stick.

If you've never smoked, you can start now and it won't have time hurt you.

People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size.

Your eyes won't get much worse.

Adult diapers are actually kind of convenient.

Things you buy now won't wear out.

No one expects you to run into a burning building.

There's nothing left to learn the hard way.

Your joints are more accurate than the National Weather Service.

In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.

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IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

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 have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or 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 have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
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 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 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'd 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.
~Erma Bombeck~

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MY HOPE FOR YOU...

I hope you woke up this morning with a big smile on your face ...
I hope the sun is shining just for you and the birds are singing their very best songs ...
I hope your coffee is hot and tastes just right and the cats are purring contentedly,
and the mailman waves a cheery hello and there are no bills in your mailbox ...
I hope that your day is filled with lovely surprises and friends call you up just to say "Hi" ...
I hope you feel on top of the world with a spring in your step all day ...
I hope just everything goes your way ...

I hope everything is well with your world, a place for everything and everything in it's place ...
I hope you can enjoy all you do and you are complimented on the way you look and you can laugh and talk and share to your heart's content ...
I hope you have all you wish for yourself and those dear to you, and all your dreams come true ...
and at the end of the day I wish you a perfect moon,
shining just for you, a snug and cozy bed with the softest of pillows and I hope you sleep like a lamb with a smile on your face ...

I hope you have a perfect end to the perfect day and I hope that every day is just as wonderful in it's own way.
~Author unknown~

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The Most Beautiful Flower

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 out of breath
approached me, all tired from play.

He stood right before me
with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement,
"Look what I found!"

In his hand was a flower
what a pitiful sight,
With its petals all worn
not enough rain, or too little light.

Wanting him to take his dead
flower and go off to play,
I faked a small smile and
then shifted away.

But instead of retreating
he sat next to my side
And placed the flower
to his nose and declared
"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 replied,
"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 shone like 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,
the problem was me.

And for all of those times
I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life,
and appreciate every second that's mine.

And then I held that wilted flower
up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance
of a beautiful Rose

And smiled as I watched
that young boy,
another weed in his hand
About to change the life
of an unsuspecting old man.
~Author Unknown~

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LIFE

Imagine there is a bank which credits your account each morning with $86,400,
carries over no balance from day to day,
allows you to keep no cash balance,
and every morning cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day.
What would you do?
Draw out every cent, of course!

Well, everyone has such a bank.
It's name is TIME.
Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night it writes off, as lost,
whatever you have failed to invest to good purpose and carries over no balance.
It allows no overdraft.

Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the records of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits,
the loss is yours.
There is no going back.
There is no drawing against "tomorrow".
You must live in the present on the day's deposits.

Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!
The clock is running.
Make the most of today.
To realize the value of ONE YEAR Ask a student who has failed her CHEM exam.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH ask a mother who has given birth to a pre-mature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE DAY ask a daily wage laborer who has ten kids to feed.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE ask a person who has missed the train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND ask a person who has survived an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND ask the person who has won a silver medal in the olympics.
Treasure every moment that you have!
And treasure it with more because you have shared it with someone special...
special enough to have your time...
and remember time waits for no one.
~Author Unknown~
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I SAID A PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY

I said a prayer for you today
And know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart
Although He spoke not a word.
I didn't ask for wealth or fame
I knew you wouldn't mind.
I asked for priceless treasure rare
Of a more lasting kind.
I prayed that He'd be near you
At the start of each new day
To grant you health and blessings fair,
And friends to share your way.
I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small
But that you'd know his loving care
I prayed the most of all.
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After A While

After a while you learn the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn
that love doesn't mean leaning
and company doesn't always mean security.
And you begin to learn
that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises
and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of woman, not the grief of a child
and you learn
to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow's ground is
too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down
in mid-flight.
After a while you learn
that even sunshine burns
if you get too much
so you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone
to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
you really are strong
you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn
with every goodbye, you learn...

Veronica Shofstall

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