“..A Poem as Lovely as a Tree…”
Sometimes our fate resembles the fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom; but we hope it; we know it.
Johann Wolfgang van Goethe
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In every winter’s heart, there is a quivering spring and behind the veil of night there is a smiling dawn.
Kahlil Gibran
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If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.
Kahlil Gibran
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click link below to hear musical version of Joyce Kilmer’s ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A TREE featuring Mario Lanza, recorded 1952
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=if4gWDYdyEU#t=9
Printed Lyrics to Only God Can Make a Tree
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the sweet Earth’s flowing breast
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair
Upon whose bosom snow has lain
Who intimately lives with rain
Poems are made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree
Joyce Kilmer (born as Alfred Joyce Kilmer; 6 December 1886 – 30 July 1918) was an American writer and poet mainly remembered for a short poem titled "Trees" (1913), which was published in the collection Trees and Other Poems in 1914.
Things I Believe
…I believe…
There are angels among us–people who are sent for the purpose of comfort or guidance. If you’ve ever been blessed with a visit from an angel, if something has occurred you can’t explain, if you’ve felt comforting arms around you in times of fear or trouble…you may be a member of the group who believes there are angels among us!
Empty Promises
Are Our Resolutions Real Goals
…or Just Empty Promises?
Traveling Through This Life
I count them—like the numerous sunflowers of a Kansas field—Those people who pass through my life for a moment—or longer;
I treasure them—like the rare shell found after the ocean’s tide—Those people who emerge victorious through life’s turbulence;
I acknowledge them—with an engraved plaque “for services rendered”—Those people who take the time to inscribe on my heart a new song;
I wish for them—like those wished on a hundred falling stars–A lighthouse on the shore to guide them away from life’s dark, lonely places;
I invoke for them—like the sacred prayers of intercessors—The courage to create from a shattered past a future that is undiminished and abundant;
I promise them—with the assurance of experience—The powerful force necessary to mold a life of health , beauty and happiness lives inside your own spirit.
Van Hess, 2004
It was 2004 when I wrote the message of Traveling Through This Life at a significant juncture in my life. Since then, like all of us, I have been dealing with other things; and I must admit I’d forgotten the promises I made in my heart for people who came into and through my life.
Digging in a bottom drawer the other day, I found an old file folder. You know, the kind we all have where you toss things you probably won’t need. I was about to throw it out, but reached to retrieve it and nearly fell out of the chair! When my hands touched it, I looked at the words and was immediately overcome with sadness. What had happened to cause me to let these penned promises pass me by unfulfilled. I felt as if I had failed my friends and associates. Tears formed in my eyes making it hard to read to the end.
Would I have ever admitted what a failure I had been–as a friend, guide, intercessor, supporter–if I had not run across these words? Probably not since “ignorance is bliss” and we can’t fault ourselves if we don’t think about it at all.
- I had forgotten to make people feel the way I promised them.
- I had not prayed for them or treasured them or helped them.
- I had not even thought of some of them for years now.
My heart began to feel empty and the tears streaked my face because I knew by not living up to my promise to them, I had lost opportunities—to be a friend and to have a friend. In some cases, I had even lost the chance to make a difference because they had left this life. My negligence may have caused hardships for some without the encouragement they needed or were expecting.
Do I even have the right to ask someone to help me if I failed those I had promised to help? If we get another tomorrow, we get another chance–the chance to fulfill those promises. This time I must act upon it.
Many of us will make decisions in the next few days and develop a plan of how we want to change our lives. We think about it, make lofty goals, tell everyone what we will accomplish…then somewhere along the days or months they fall by the wayside. How can you concentrate on people in your everyday life if you are constantly focused on the “lofty goal” that awaits somewhere in the future.
Let’s admit, few of us would ever make a statement like this:
I can’t listen to you right now because I have a goal of making myself more available to people in the coming year !
Sadly, that’s exactly what we are telling people if we have tunnel vision about our goal. We might just miss the opportunity to experience a blessing or fail to be used for a blessing.
You can still do something for others. It’s not too late. Maybe spend the next day or two contemplating how you can help and just do it. If you just plan it, that’s all it is: a plan. But if you do it, it becomes something more. It becomes a blessing or a kind word or just a hello to someone who needs it. Give it away…it’s easy…just do it!
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Forget past mistakes. Forget failure. Forget everything except what you are going to do now and do it.
Will Durant
Please visit here often and “Leave a Comment” about how you are dealing with life’s struggles and winning some victories. I, too, pledge to leave you messages here as to how it’s working for me.
Mother’s Birthday
My mother is having a birthday this week. It’s not just any birthday but her 94th. I definitely realize how lucky I am to still have her in my life.
The role of a mother begins long before you give birth…it is formed in your heart first when you know you want to be a part of the ongoing process of life. Then, at that momentous second you give birth, few are prepared for how huge the job becomes! The little things of nurturing that child, teaching that child, loving that child, then letting that child go when the time comes for freedom.
That, to me, is the test of any mother’s love…can you let them go?
My mother did all those things for me: loved me, cared for me, taught me, and then…she let me go.
I am well into retirement age now, but my mother still seems young to me. She has two beautiful and smart daughters, 3 fantastic grandchildren, and 4 loving great-grandchildren.
Some of her greatest exhibits of strength have come in these later years. She was married over thirty years ago to her friend and lover. Nearly two years ago she lost him tragically. The way she has handled that great loss is exemplary not just to me as her daughter…but to the grandchildren and adult great-grandchildren. We all pulled together to help her, and it seems, in the long run she helped us through the tragedy.
About twenty years ago, she began her technology training when her husband said, “let’s get you a computer.” She didn’t know if she could learn that but today she is a prolific e-mailer, a web surfer and finds more things on the internet than anyone else can!
What can I say to my mother I haven’t said in my 60+ years? Perhaps I’ll give her the greatest compliment possible. I’ve learned to be a mother by watching her. She is my greatest strength and role model.
Mother, God is giving our family a present this year—to share another birthday with you! Happy Birthday!
The future is the past through another gate.
Arnold H. Glasgow
Thanksgiving All Year
Have you recently heard someone say, “At least Thanksgiving is over.” I did and was puzzled at first and then sad to think that a person does not or cannot find any other day of the year to say “thanks” or give “thanks” or count their blessings.
Did you let such an opportunity pass by? So many times I should have said those words. We often fail to express our gratitude to God or one another. God provides people on this earth to direct us to certain experiences which by that very experience should emit from our mouth those simple words: THANK YOU or THANK GOD or just THANKS.
Is the giving of thanks over? I know it’s been a week since many of us gathered around the table and ate our fancy turkey or garnished ham and stuffed ourselves with Gramma’s great pumpkin or pecan pie. And who brought that mouth-watering salad and dressing? Was that you, Auntie?
It’s such a simple concept to stay in the mood of thankfulness and gratitude, but we try so hard to get it over and move to the next busy thing—the next advertised holiday—or the next crisis (the kind we often make for ourselves).
If we were to stop here at the time of Thanksgiving and vow to make it a year-long holiday, perhaps we could carry that feeling through the days, months and years. Shouldn’t it be about more than eating that pumpkin pie and watching the football game?
Lord, help me to thank you for all you have done for me and given me and blessed me with BEFORE I ask you for something else—before I start wanting more things. Let me ponder on the miraculous things you have given me to ease my journey along this road of life—the most selfless gift you could give—Your Son for My Sin. Amen – (vh)
“Thankfulness creates gratitude which
generates contentment that causes peace.”
― Todd Stocker
Autumn in Maine
Autumn in Maine
God dips His brushes into His fall palette
creating the beauty of this world.
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