RIPPLES

Drop a pebble in the water:
just a splash, and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center,
flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling
where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water:
in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing,
and there's ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing
to a great big wave have grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river
just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless:
in a minute it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading
from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them,
once you've started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless:
in a minute you forget;
But there's little waves a-flowing,
and there's ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart
a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy
ere you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
just a flash and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort
on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn't believe the volume
of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
in a minute you forget;
But there's gladness still a-swelling,
and there's joy circling yet,
And you've rolled a wave of comfort
whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water
just by dropping one kind word.
~ James W. Foley ~

Good to have you back, Dr. H

JUST FOR TODAY

JUST FOR TODAY I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle all my life's problems at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

JUST FOR TODAY I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that 'Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.' JUST FOR TODAY I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my 'luck' as it comes and fit myself to it.

JUST FOR TODAY I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

JUST FOR TODAY I will exercise my soul in three ways; I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don't want to do - just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

JUST FOR TODAY I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, talk low, act courteously, criticize not one bit, not find fault with anything, and try not to improve or regulate anybody but myself.

JUST FOR TODAY I will have a plan. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests; hurry and indecision.

JUST FOR TODAY I will have a quiet half hour all by myself, and relax. During this half hour, sometime, I will try to get a better perspective of my life.

JUST FOR TODAY I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.

Author Unknown

IDEALS

Remember that ideals
are like stars up in the sky,
You can never really reach them,
hanging in the heavens high....

But like the mighty mariner
who sailed the storm-tossed sea,
And used the stars to chart his course
with skill and certainty,

You too can chart your course in life
with high ideals and love,
For high ideals are like the stars
that light the sky above....

You cannot ever reach them,
but lift your heart up high
And your life will be as shining
as the stars up in the sky.
~ Helen Steiner Rice

THE ANSWER

It's often hard to think the positive
when bad things happen to those you love.
We don't understand why they suffer,
so we blame our God above.

How can this be for their own good?
What can they possibly learn from pain?
Haven't they gone through enough torture?
What is the prize that they will gain?

We see the tears roll down their faces
while their hearts are breaking in two.
Why would a loving God look down on them,
and watch all the sorrow that they go through.

Why won't He change their situation?
He has the power to turn it all around.
Instead they go on living the same way,
Hurt and sorrow is all they have found.

But do they listen to what they read,
about waiting patiently on the Lord.
Or do they go on doubting His promises,
and not truly believing His holy Word.

No wonder why they are full of sorrow,
they are dealing with it on their own.
They act on their emotions and feelings,
and they try to solve things all alone.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
that means in every thing you ever do.
He will direct every step that you take,
and never will let go of you.
~ author unknown--