The Knack to Happiness

If we can find without a dime

The beauty in a mite of Time

Because the sky is full of blue

And every dawn is wonder- new

And if, for no reason at all

We walk at dusk, its shadow-hall

Where earth and heaven interlace

And we see God in every place

…oh, and if we do not insist

On stuff of things to fill our fist

But gladly-awed and humbly we

Touch marvels none can fully see

Where somehow seed becomes a bloom

And Mother earth, both womb and tomb

Gathers the petals to her breast

And nudges new sprouts from her nest

And if we, a small part of this

Are satisfied to watch the mist

Of morning melt, silver to gold

In Time’s quick ephemeral hold

And do not fret but learn to live

And give the best we have to give

In every day; a gift of grace

To hold a hand, to kiss a face

To fill the air with cheer and song

And thus help someone else along

And never seek more recompense

Than time to linger where the fence

Is laden green with bindweed vine

And we are glad and life is fine

Because we found, without a dime

The beauty in a mite of Time

And in its mercy we confess

We found the knack to happiness

© Janet Martin

Don't you just love it when you read a book that makes you feel so good you could eat it! That's what Fresh from the Country (copyright 1960 by 'Miss Read') is for me right now. The inspiration for this poem came from a page in this book...

Anna and Tom are on a walk in England's countryside discussing people. Anna says so many people are miserable over things that don't matter a button-
"that's what's wrong with nine-tenths of people you meet," asserted Tom with the down-rightness of youth. "As far as I can see they don't interest themselves in making things or looking at plants or trees or lovely buildings...what beats me is the neglect of simple pleasures and the complete loss of-well-wonder. Why, I get a thrill every time I plant something that looks like a dead flea and comes up a great, glorious pulsing flower! Who wouldn't?"

"You've got the knack of happy living", commented Anna. "I think you must be like my mother who says you aren't just given happiness. She says you have to pick it up here and there all day through. And she does too. She smells a rose, or marvels at a bird hanging upside down on a spray, she makes a perfect dinner. She really savors life, you know, and from it builds up a stock of happiness...she reads a lot of poetry"

Have a Happy Sunday. We are having an out-door service at a campground for our annual church picnic!