“Our lives improve only when we take chances and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.” Walter Anderson
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
October 26, 2011
October 3, 2009
In Everyday, a Lesson
If it weren't for the lessons
That I learn in every day
What would be the point
In rising?
Who am I
To think
That there is nothing more to be learned?
Or that somehow I'm entitled
To rest on my laurels?
To the lessons of the day
...that my mind stays open
To better understand someone
Who is misunderstood
That I don't rush to judge
But seek to understand
That I keep reaching
Keep striving
Keep learning
Keep living
And do not rest each day
Until I've learned something new
…However great or small
That I learn in every day
What would be the point
In rising?
Who am I
To think
That there is nothing more to be learned?
Or that somehow I'm entitled
To rest on my laurels?
Surely I can build
upon what I've already learned
To be something more
than what I was yesterday
But if I wake
And stop trying
To discover something new
I am shortchanging myself
and more importantly
...God
Today I Pray…
To the lessons of the day
...that my mind stays open
To better understand someone
Who is misunderstood
That I don't rush to judge
But seek to understand
That I keep reaching
Keep striving
Keep learning
Keep living
And do not rest each day
Until I've learned something new
…However great or small
September 9, 2009
Today
I'm trying my best...
Today I Pray...
...for Your patience
...for Your wisdom
...for Your strength
Today I Pray...
...for Your patience
...for Your wisdom
...for Your strength
August 11, 2009
Mom's Wisdom
Staring at a blank computer screen
Hypnotized by the blinking cursor
and its calming hum
Today I prayed for inspiration
New words, new thoughts,
new reason to give pause
Across the bottom of the screen
A message flashed
"One new email from Mom"
Prayers answered
Inspiration comes
Author unknown
Today I Pray...
...with a peaceful heart,
grateful for the angels that flutter in and out of my life
...ready "to float awhile"
fully aware that at rest
and with a quiet mind
the answers will come
Hypnotized by the blinking cursor
and its calming hum
Today I prayed for inspiration
New words, new thoughts,
new reason to give pause
Across the bottom of the screen
A message flashed
"One new email from Mom"
Prayers answered
Inspiration comes
Author unknown
Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark
ONE: Don't miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat!
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
SIX: Build your future on high ground.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile.
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.
Today I Pray...
...with a peaceful heart,
grateful for the angels that flutter in and out of my life
...ready "to float awhile"
fully aware that at rest
and with a quiet mind
the answers will come
July 24, 2009
Are You Out There?
In the still of the morn
I sit quietly
Sleepy morning
Gray skies, thick summer air
Like a heavy blanket
Muffling the sounds
of life
There is no symphony
of birds, and leaves
and breeze
That plays for me each
Sunny summer morning
The vast gray sky
Both suffocating
and endless
Remind me of my place in the world
Are You really here with me?
Do You know me?
Do You hear my prayers?
Closing my eyes
I surrender my thoughts
to the sleepy silence
Keenly aware
of the stillness
that surrounds me
But then the Hoot Owl coos
from somewhere in the trees
And I'm reminded
...That I'm never alone
Today I Pray...
...with gratitude
for your unfailing presence
Help me to understand Your
gentle "coos"
that whisper through the trees
And give me the confidence
and persistence
to become the person
You want me to be
Help me to see the doors
that open to me
And the ones upon which
I may need to knock
Guide me to step
Across the threshold
Of the door
to my good and true life
I sit quietly
Sleepy morning
Gray skies, thick summer air
Like a heavy blanket
Muffling the sounds
of life
There is no symphony
of birds, and leaves
and breeze
That plays for me each
Sunny summer morning
The vast gray sky
Both suffocating
and endless
Remind me of my place in the world
Are You really here with me?
Do You know me?
Do You hear my prayers?
Closing my eyes
I surrender my thoughts
to the sleepy silence
Keenly aware
of the stillness
that surrounds me
But then the Hoot Owl coos
from somewhere in the trees
And I'm reminded
...That I'm never alone
Today I Pray...
...with gratitude
for your unfailing presence
Help me to understand Your
gentle "coos"
that whisper through the trees
And give me the confidence
and persistence
to become the person
You want me to be
Help me to see the doors
that open to me
And the ones upon which
I may need to knock
Guide me to step
Across the threshold
Of the door
to my good and true life
July 7, 2009
More Than Words
Today I Pray...
...a simple prayer
for Your wisdom and grace
I need Your help today God
as I face another difficult conversation
I'm mentally preparing
But I don't want to over think it
Please shed Your amazing light
So I can see where I need to step
And help me find
the confidence
to say what I need to say
Enlighten me
So that I might be
A thoughtful listener
Help me to remember
that sometimes things are better
left unsaid
And when I speak
please breathe Your grace
into all my words
I ask for Your ever-guiding light.
"For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right." Psalm 84:11
June 2, 2009
Waiting for the Storm to Pass
Outside my window
Grey skies
Ominous clouds
Looming over the mountain
And to the west
A ray of hope
Sunshine slicing through the clouds
Much to do
No time to waste
Head out or wait
for the storm to pass?
Why wait?
It's only rain.
One step, two steps
A mist of rain
Then a steady shower
Like a wake up call from the heavens
Further along the path
The sweet fragrance of renewal
As the rain washes over me
Then sunshine
To welcome me home
Today I Pray...
...for the wisdom
to know when to let the storm pass
...and when it's better
to walk in the rain
Grey skies
Ominous clouds
Looming over the mountain
And to the west
A ray of hope
Sunshine slicing through the clouds
Much to do
No time to waste
Head out or wait
for the storm to pass?
Why wait?
It's only rain.
One step, two steps
A mist of rain
Then a steady shower
Like a wake up call from the heavens
Further along the path
The sweet fragrance of renewal
As the rain washes over me
Then sunshine
To welcome me home
Today I Pray...
...for the wisdom
to know when to let the storm pass
...and when it's better
to walk in the rain
May 31, 2009
Be A Difference Maker
There is a story that I love about a man and his son walking along the shore. As they walk they discover hundreds and hundreds of starfish have been washed up on the beach. With each step, the boy picks up a starfish and throws it back into the sea.
The man sees the boy's actions and says, "What are you doing? There are thousands of starfish along the shore, you will never save them all -- it can't possibly make a difference."
The boy bent down and picked up another starfish, and tossed it gently beyond the breaking waves, then looked up at his father with innocent eyes and wisdom beyond his years, and simply said, "It made a difference to that one."
Today I Pray...
...that I choose my words and actions wisely
Ever aware that...
...every word
...every gesture
...every moment
...can make a difference.
The man sees the boy's actions and says, "What are you doing? There are thousands of starfish along the shore, you will never save them all -- it can't possibly make a difference."
The boy bent down and picked up another starfish, and tossed it gently beyond the breaking waves, then looked up at his father with innocent eyes and wisdom beyond his years, and simply said, "It made a difference to that one."
photo from http://andrew-ong.com/
Today I Pray...
...that I choose my words and actions wisely
Ever aware that...
...every word
...every gesture
...every moment
...can make a difference.
April 18, 2009
Breathe In, Breathe Out
Today I Pray...
...for your peace within me.
...for the calm and quiet confidence that comes from knowing You are with me.
Help me to remember to breathe in, and breathe out...
...as I face the challenges this day is guaranteed to present.
I pray for the grace to rise above the adversity...
...and the humility to hold my tongue.
Let my words be positive, thoughtful and uplifting.
Today I pray for your peace within me.
...if you are reading this, please say a prayer for me too. I am facing a difficult day and I need all the support I can get. Thank you for your kindness.
...Please tell me how I can pray for you.
...for your peace within me.
...for the calm and quiet confidence that comes from knowing You are with me.
Help me to remember to breathe in, and breathe out...
...as I face the challenges this day is guaranteed to present.
I pray for the grace to rise above the adversity...
...and the humility to hold my tongue.
Let my words be positive, thoughtful and uplifting.
Today I pray for your peace within me.
...if you are reading this, please say a prayer for me too. I am facing a difficult day and I need all the support I can get. Thank you for your kindness.
...Please tell me how I can pray for you.
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