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COURTESY Courtesy conquers crabbiness Courtesy constitutes chivalry in its finest form Courtesy encourages kindness in times of disagreement Courtesy overcomes outrage and instills confidence Courtesy greets all people as friends Courtesy graciously gives and amiably appreciates Courtesy eradicates impudence while pursuing politeness Courtesy never lost a client Courtesy is gentility bathed in the oil of elegance Courtesy is not a natural pearl, it must be cultivated.
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CONTENTMENT Many have searched all their lives for that contentment that leads to peace of mind. Perhaps contentment comes from giving up those things we cannot keep...while keeping those things that money cannot buy. It was said that "A tub was large enough for Diogenes, but a world was too little for Alexander." As of late, we have become aware of the pricelessness... Of a silent starry sky. Of the dawn's early blush. Of children laughing innocently. Of the burden lifting power of prayer. Only as we learn to be content...shall we be able to widen the channels of our creativity. (First published on September 23, 2012) TICK-TOCK 232 "It is possible to own too much," suggested Gene Brown, "A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never sure." This is similar to the statement by the Apostle James (1:8)... "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." It is perhaps difficult for many of us to consistently remain stable in our everyday, often-changing, challenging and oft-times threatening world. Perhaps one reason for our continued inconsistencies in moral and spiritual living is that...we fail to recognize that while all of our parts are important ones, we could not run for a second if our Creator failed or refused to set our mainspring and minor wheels in motion. As in some watches, as also in most men, it is very difficult for us to be ticking while we're tocking. To be in harmony with the Harmonizer of the Universe would suggest we need... a steady hum...which only He can give us. (First published on October 21, 1976... Obviously has no resemblance today's tic-toc craze. 4.17.2020) MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY My country, my country With freedom and liberty Long may you stand Through tribulation, trials and strife You bring forth abundance And a brand new life Time will pass, time will tell With America, all is well All is well (Written and published on September 7, 2021, after watching "Yannick: An artist's Journey," originally presented by PBS on September 3, 2021.) COUNTING MOONBEAMS Back in July, it was another one of those really hot nights. With the temperature soaring above 100 degrees in the daytime, and not much cooler in night time. I was laying in bed trying to go to go to sleep, with little success. I even tried counting... moonbeams, putting them in a jar and taking them home with me. Didn't help. So, I just laid there and after awhile, these thoughts ran through my head... If it can wait, let it Pursue the Holy moment Keep your lamps lit (First published on August 18.2013) Zzzzz! There's an old Chinese proverb that goes... "Think of your own sins the first part part of the night while you are awake, and of the sins of others the second part of the night while you are asleep." Concerning our own sins, we would advise handing them over quickly and quietly to our Heavenly Father who loves us, and to his Son who shed his blood to redeem us from our sins, that we might sleep with a guilt-free conscience. And as for the sins of others...Well... There's this fellow in our church who... Zzzzz! A NEW DAY 656 The late Woodbridge N. Ferris, former Governor and U.S. Senator from Michigan was also the founder and President of a state college. In one of his many addresses to the student body, he gave them the following encouragement... "Every once in a while in your life there comes a time when you should pull yourself together, take a new look at yourself and make a fresh start, because you may have more on the ball than you think you have." That's a great idea. A great motivating though. This is the day of new beginnings, for you and for me. Let us begin anew. Renewed and ready to go. Ready to meet the challenges of this great new day which the Lord hath given us. (First published on August 12, 1979, with revisions made on August 23, 2021) HELP US MAKE OUR DAY GO THROUGH "An open hand, an easy shoe and a hope to make the day go through" --Author Unknown When dark perils thick surround us At the dawning of the day Give us words to greatly cheer us As our trust in thee holds sway Turn our gray, gray skies to blue Help us make our day go through Give us Lord, thy calm assurance Lead us gently by thy hand Quit us with thy spirit's armour Let his promptings be our command When risks are high and friends are few Help us make our day go through Let thy hand, O Lord, be open Give our foot an easy shoe Give us hope that produces courage To do the things we ought to do Wake us to thy loving kindness And help us make our day go through (Written on August 31, 1978) TO BE POLISHED 536 An unknown writer has written... "A gem cannot be polished without friction nor a man perfected without trials." We seem to be living in a age of friction caused by scrapping and buffeting. With so many rough, jagged edges sticking out, our polishing process is often a teeth gritting experience. We get tired of rubbing up against the grinding wheel, but we suspect the buffeting shall continue so long as we refuse to shine as we should. Polishing pains like growing pains remain with us most of our days. Alas, perfection does not come easily. (First published on October 8, 1978, with revisions on August 11, 2021) FRIENDS 502 "Strangers," wrote Roberta Lieberman, "are friends you have yet to meet." The more strangers we meet and become more acquainted with, the more we realize how small our world really is, and just how much commonality exists amongst us all. We recently had some strangers and their four children for a couple of days in our home. Our present company was a good example of this. In getting to know the wife of this family, we learned that she had the same university that we had and that she had written her master's thesis on Robert Frost. We enjoyed meeting and greeting other members of God's family. They arrived as strangers, but left as friends. (First published on July 20,1978) |
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