Sunday Morning Peace: Remembering...

Remembering...

the time shared with your loved ones

the stories they told

the memories you had together

the songs

the laughter

the fun times

Always forget...

the times of sorrow

arguing

wrongs

but rejoice...

that you have a hope

perhaps the lessons learned

that you've got much to look forward to.

Remembering, let us not forget...

that God loves us

that we're bound for a beautiful country with no heartaches.

Down Memory Lane: The Older Versus the Younger

Our boys were just tots--little things. 

We'd moved to a new location, 

with my husband beginning a new pastorate

 in nice little community with a good church. 

There was a sweet park with plenty of children activities provided,

including swings, slides and a fun-looking fire truck.

Stepping onto the park grounds, 

we set the boys on their feet to toddle toward

whatever toy activity that caught their eye,

their dad and I on their heels for protection and guard duty.

Our youngest son, barely over one year,

moseyed away,

but the three year old--

hesitated,

then cried,

refusing to take a step,

refusing the fun ahead of him,

refusing to enjoy what we'd offered.

Why?

We still have no clue.

Son #1 has always been confident in his own decisions.

He's always seemed to be friendly and outgoing, smart and discerning.

Was it the newness of the place?

Had he sensed something wrong, out of place, different

that perhaps we, adults, had not?

We'll never know.

But as a lesson,

it tells me, that we are sometimes afraid 

of new things,

different things,

unknown people,

and paths we've not trod.

But...

with a certainty and faith

we can trust God,

the all-seeing,

all-knowing God.

Who always has our backs!

What strange thing has your child done in the past that makes you wonder 

why he showed such out of character action?

Happy memories!

Monday Morning Gratitudes

That we can remember those gone on before us.
That I had a godly heritage
That God helps me to live a good life for him.
For the knowledge that another saint made it home.
For guiding the surgeon's hands in the liver transplant of a friend
That he kept me from broken bones when I fell
That he kept my friend Grace from hurting herself when she tripped

Blessings!

Our Hats are off to . . .

To all Veterans and Military!

A Touching story for you:

Daddy's Poem 

Her hair was up in a pony tail,

her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home;
why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why, once again,
she tried to keep hr daughter home.

But the little girl went to school,
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees, a dad
who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in
back, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seat.


One by one the teacher called
on a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.


At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
a man who wasn't there.


"Where's her daddy at?"
she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day."


The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher, who
told her to go on.


And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak..
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.


"My Daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know
all about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.


He loved to tell me stories,
he taught me to ride my bike;
he surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.
I'm not standing here alone.

'Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart;
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart"

With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere there in the crowd of dads,

her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was a right.

And when she dropped her hand back
down, staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.

 

"I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far.

You see he is an American Soldier
and he died just this past year,,
when a roadside bomb hit his convoy
and taught Americans to fear.

 
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.


And to her mother's amazement,
she witnessed with surprise,
a room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them;
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.


"I know you're with me Daddy,"
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it,

for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for
a moment, by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.

 

 

 

Blessings!

Hope you had a wonderful, memorable and happy US Independence Day!


Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Here are some statistics:

• Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
• Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
• Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.
• Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?

• Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists
• Eleven were merchants
• nine were farmers and large plantation owners
• men of means, well educated

But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

• Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
• Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
• Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
• At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
• Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
• John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics and baseball games.

Thanks, Max, for sharing this.
Blessings!

A November to Remember . . .


Listen . . .



With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts
The leaves, frost-crisped,
Break free from the leaves,
and fall.
--Adelaide Crapsey, 1878-1914, November Night

Here is the dark tree
Denuded now
Of leafage . . .
But a million stars. --Shiki



Quote:
A September to remember,
An October full of splender
A November to treasure.
--La Prevenchere

Blessings!