Thursday Thoughts On Character-building...

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Work hard

Be kind

Be true

No one can take that

From you

To do what is right

Is never wrong

Remembering that

Will keep

You strong

Man sees the outside

But God sees

The heart

He knows if we

Are doing our part

© Janet Martin

So when the few who didn’t skip class were told they would be rewarded with lunch, (teacher’s treat) on the last day of the semester (today) it made those who didn’t skip glad. Yesterday Teacher told the class everyone would be treated; those who skipped as well as  those who didn’t .  The ‘skippers’ laughed at the ‘nons’. .. I remind Student. Character is shaped by choice of response…

Remember, the teacher didn't have to treat anyone. I guess he chose to treat everyone for their hard work all semester.

We may think that Choice

is not oft rewarded,

We should remember

where choice is recorded

***

Character is that Thing

that happens

whether we pay attention

or not

the wise remember

and realize

Character begins in

Thought

***

What others say

We cannot  boss,

but our response

Is up to us

***

touch-taste

do-say

builds the man

we are today

***

Handle with care

Like treasure rare

This moment you are in

Its precious gift

As moments shift

Will never pass again

***

Words can pile up
like dust on a shelf
What we do
speaks for itself

***

Love bears all things, 

believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things.

Love never fails;

1 Cor. 13: 7-8

Perspective...

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Circumstance must have its way

That’s all there is to it

But in spite of this, today

Is all in how we view it

Who can fill tomorrow’s cup

Or one past gasp savor?

See? The Now that we lift up

Beams with mercy’s favor

Pray then God gives us the eyes

Not of wish, but wonder

And to humbly recognize

His hands, over, under

Then, as circumstances pour

Whether joy or sorrow

Love keeps us from pining for

What no one can borrow

Yesterday is gone away

Tomorrow, who knows it?

Take a good look at today

And at Who bestows it

© Janet Martin

 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Rom.11:36


This morning's YDP is on perspective (a dandy!!)
I read it just after reading this at A Holy Experience...

Don't Forget to Pray, Son

Because Matt got his driver’s license the other week there has been increased intensity on my prayer-Richter-scale…;)

I like to send my family off  in the morning with a prayer together, but sometimes the bus is suddenly here and I chase them out with a ‘don’t forget to pray!!’ good-bye. This bus-driver has no idea that the back of the bus is plastered with prayers...

Dream up to the moon, son

Youth is such a gift

Dare to live-laugh-love, son

Where time-moments sift

Through God’s grace to you, son

In a brand new day

But, don’t forget to pray, son,

Don’t forget to pray

Life is not our own, son

Nor the way we trod

When this life is done, son

We answer to God

So if you are wise, son

As time ticks away

Don’t forget to pray, son

Don’t forget to pray

Lean not on yourself, son

Self is often wrong

If you lean on God, son

Then you will be strong

So before you set out

Upon your Today

Don’t forget to pray, son

Don’t forget to pray

© Mom AKA  Janet

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov.3:5-6

Our Only Today

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That pink satin sash binding heaven to earth

Untethers the fringes of night

Unhinging a box that God’s whisper unlocks

And separates darkness from light

Love’s bridled Unknown renders fresh stepping-stones

...In the crook of God's arms we climb

The foot-path of life, where both laughter and strife

Frame heaven's gift... of Time

Who knows, as the sweep of dark melts from the deep

Who will be taken away?

The sun, like a ball of molten trumpet-call

Opens time’s door to Today

And we who remain to watch Mercy unchain  

The Gate through which grace tilts Time’s tray

Are beholden thus to give our best because

This is our only Today

© Janet Martin

 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Phil.4:8

Sometimes the Sorrow of Others...

For Jason, Kara, family and friends...

Sometimes the sorrow of others

Reminds us how precious joy is

Ever its flip-side hovers

Between moment-flutters of bliss

Sometimes the sorrow of others

Draws us to our knees

Showing us what is important

For life offers no guarantees

Sometimes the sorrow of others

While we weep mutual tears

Opens our arms to hold closer

That which in death disappears

Sometimes the sorrow of others

Draws our eyes to Those Gates

As we tug on the hem of Mercy

Where Heaven and healing waits

© Janet Martin

 Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Sh-h-h

Sometimes speech

Is too heavy with word

When face-to-face silence

Is more readily heard

Best, good intention

Clatters from lips

…we can move mountains

With finger-tips

Darling, forgive me

When words are too much

For the heart, hungry

For nothing but touch

© Janet Martin

Opposites Attract prompt from Margo