I Lift The Branch

As I grow older day by day

And heartaches add to wisdom's bay,

The loves for which my youth once vied

No longer light my fired, inside.

I lift the branch that's hanging low.

I smell the rose but let it grow.

Adventure lacks the lure it knew

When foolish dreams and passions grew

And though it still demands my smile

(Where past and present meet a while)

No more I haunt the turtle's rest

Or flush the robin from her nest.

I journey, now, to meet an end

Where deeds of past the future blend

And what I pass, in love's embrace,

I leave for better in its place -

 But God must often hear me say:

I wish I lived my life this way.

~ Michael Dubina

Resolve

Build on resolve, and not upon regret,

the structure of thy future.

Do not grope among the shadows of old sins,

but let thine own soul's light

sine on the path of hope

and dissipate the darkness.

Waste no tears upon the blotted record of lost years,

but turn the leaf and smile, oh, smile,

to see the fair white pages that remain for thee.

Prate not of thy repentance, but believe the

spark divine dwells in thee: let it grow.

That which the upreaching spirit can achieve

the grand and all-creative forces know;

they will assist and strengthen as the light

lifts up the acorn to the oak tree's height.

Thou hast but to resolve, and lo! God's whole

great universe shall fortify thy soul.

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Be Near Me, Lord

 

Be near me, Lord, each night and day
And lead me with Your light,
O, keep me in Your loving care,
And guide my life aright.

Forgive my every sin and fault
For all the years gone past,
The years ahead I give to You
However long they last.

I praise You for Your goodness, Lord,
My heart I give to Thee,
O help me, Lord, to live for You
Through all the years to be.

~ Rev. Thomas Foy

Kindness

A little word in kindness spoken,
A motion, or a tear,
Has often healed the heart that's broken
And made a friend sincere.

A word, a look, has crushed to earth
Full many a budding flower,
Which, had a smile but owned it birth,
Would bless life's darkest hour.

Then deem it not an idle thing
A pleasant word to speak;
The face you wear, the thought you bring,
A heart may heal or break.

~ John Greenleaf Whittier

When Winter Comes

When winter comes into our lives

With its uncertain sound,

To strip us of our warmth and joy,

Our petals on the ground,

We may be tempted to give up;

To fold beneath life's storm.

We may be tempted to forsake

The hope which keeps us warm.

But, we must learn to stand up tall;

To always face the sun

And patiently await the day

When winter's work is done.

For winter winds will cease to howl,

The snows will melt away,

Then we shall see the beauty of

Another summer's day.

And we will have renewed our strength

When summer's wind first blows,

For God will whisper once again

The promise of a rose.

~ Glenda Fulton Davis

You Can Never Tell

You never can tell when you send a word

Like an arrow shot from a bow

By an archer blind, be it cruel or kind,

Just where it may chance to go.

It may pierce the breast of your dearest friend,

Tipped with its poison or balm,

To a stranger's heart in life's great mart

It may carry its pain or its calm.

You never can tell when you do an act

Just what the result will be,

But with every deed you are sowing a seed,

Though the harvest you may not see.

Each kindly act is an acorn dropped

In God's productive soil;

You may not know, but the tree shall grow

With shelter for those who toil.

You never can tell what your thoughts will do

In bringing you hate or love,

For thoughts are things, and their airy wings

Are swifter than carrier doves.

They follow the law of the universe -

Each thing must create its kind,

And they speed o'er the track to bring you back

Whatever went out from your mind.

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

An Evening Hope

I sat in the quiet evening hour
As the lengthening shadows grew,
And my gaze was fixed on parting sun
In a change of the gentlest hue.

And I could not help but contemplate
On the close of another day,
That the end of the day has a beauty, too,
As the morning light's first ray.

And so it is in the life we live,
Though moments be weary or long,
At the end of the day, the sun's parting ray
Brings the gentle evening song.

I have lived my day on earth below,
And now with the evening's rays,
I can know no fear but expectant hope,
For my trust is in Christ, the Way.

And though lengthening shadows round me twine,
I will never fear the night;
To the golden hues of my Heavenly home,
I am guided by Christ, my Light.

~ Charles G. Ramsey

With Every Rising of the Sun

With every rising of the sun
Think of your life as just begun.

The past has shrived and buried deep
All yesterdays - there let them sleep...

Concern yourself with but today,
Woo it and teach it to obey,

Your wish and will. Since time began
Today has been the friend of man...

You and today! a soul sublime
And the great pregnant hour of time.

With God between to bind the twain -
Go forth I say - attain - attain.

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Each Day Brings a Chance to do Better

How often we wish for another chance

to make a fresh beginning,

A chance to blot out our mistakes

and change failure into winning -

And it does not take a special time

to make a brand-new start,

t only takes the deep desire

to try with all our heart

To live a little better

and to always be forgiving

And to add a little "sunshine"

to the world in which we're living -

So never give up in despair

and think that you are through,

For there's always a tomorrow

And a chance to start anew.

~ Helen Steiner Rice

Better, Wiser and Happier

Do you wish the world were better?
Let me tell you what to do;
Set a watch upon your actions,
Keep them always straight and true;
Rid your mind of selfish motives;
Let your thoughts be clean and high,
You can make a little Eden
Of the sphere you occupy.

Do you wish the world were wiser?
Well, suppose you make a start,
By accumulating wisdom
In the scrapbook of your heart;
Do not waste one page on folly;
Live to learn, and learn to live.
If you want to give men knowledge
You must get it, ere you give.

Do you wish the world were happy?
Then remember day by day
Just to scatter seeds of kindness
As you pass along the way;
For the pleasures of the many
May be ofttimes traced to one,
As the hand that plants an acorn
Shelters armies from the sun.

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Life's Adventure

Life is a great adventure,

Each day a new surprise,

So sweep the cobwebs from your heart,

And open up your eyes.

Sorrow flees the sunlight,

So throw the windows wide,

And watch the brightness flooding in,

Warm everything inside.

Life is a great adventure,

For those who would explore,

The road winds upward and the wind

Taps lightly at the door.

And should the day be cloudy,

No reason to complain,

When trees along the avenue,

Are singing in the rain.

Life is a great adventure,

Each day that passes by,

A dazzling panorama

As broad as it is high.

Beyond all comprehension,

The wonder of the spheres,

When one by one the hours make

A ladder of the years.

~ Grace E. Easley

A New Day

The morning's here, another day,
The sun is shining through,
I left my worries all behind;
Today, I start anew.

An orchestra of tuneful birds
Gives messages of cheer,
The dark of night has vanished
And the morning sun is here.

The dew is wet with diamonds
And the world has come alive,
The little stems I planted,
All limp; will now survive.

The morning's come, the air is sweet,
The sun is shining through,
Yesterday has ceased to be -
Today, I start anew.

~ Mildred H. Bell

Daybreak

The morning light is breaking, Lord

Another day is here,

Life's problems must again be met,

With heart and vision clear.

Strength for today I ask, dear Lord,

Strength only for today;

Renew my faith, my hope revive,

Illuminate my skies of gray.

For yesterday is past, dear Lord,

Tomorrow I ne'er may see,

Today alone lies in my grasp

To use or lose for eternity.

Help me to lend a helping hand,

To dry the fallen tears,

To give to all whose life touch mine

Some comfort or good cheer.

Help me to sink my poor weak self

With its longings, hopes and fears,

In service to my fellow-man,

Battling through this vale of tears.

Just for today - day by day

Courage and strength I pray

Garnering the good, forgiving the wrong,

Till I've lived my last today.

~ Samuel F. Smith

Speak Gently

Speak gently; it is better far
To rule by love than fear;
Speak gently; let no harsh word mar
The good we may do here.

Speak gently to the aged one.
Grieve not the careworn heart;
Whose sands of life are nearly run,
Let such in peace depart.

Speak gently, kindly to the poor,
Let no harsh tone be heard;
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word.

Speak gently; 'tis a little thing
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
The good, the joy that it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.

~ G.W. Langford

No Regrets

Isn't it good at the end of the day

To look up to God and be able to say

"Dear Lord, I helped someone today."

But isn't it sad if instead you must say

"Dear Lord, I hurt someone today.

I drove the nails a little bit deeper

And forgot that I am my brother's keeper."

Isn't it better when the day is done

To know that you have injured no one.

From the time of your waking,

Til you lie down to sleep,

Remember the promises that we should keep,

To love one another as He loves us too,

And you'll never regret any good that you do.

~ Barbara Zepp