The air is sweet the birds are free
To sing their song, God’s symphony
The leaves that rustle in the trees
Play melodies upon the breeze !
The crickets in the bush keep time
While buzzing insects hum a rhyme
Now if it rains the pitter-pat
Of falling drops could be B flat !
Such marvels that our God will bring
It seems He thinks of everything !
So long ago and far away
A young man spent his final day
Upon a windy hill out there
He died and left us unprepared
For all the pain that was to come
With sin for all and calm for none !
Under the spell of magic breeze
His presence moved among the trees
As far off stars to earth they fell
And history that story tell.
These words we keep remembering
Can faith to all God’s children bring
And peace that will in truth display
His sacrifice on that last day !
Old Noah was an honest man
Who followed God’s exact command
It made no sense to build that boat
No one was sure if it would float !
Then after all those tedious years
Rife with derision, jokes and jeers
The day arrived to pack the space
With creatures from just everyplace !
Now if you thought the ark a chore
To fill it would take so much more
Corralling that exotic strife
Would be the effort of his life !
But Noah’s band stuck to their gun
They needed food for everyone,
Almost five thousand years ago
As Genesis has told us so,
His years nine-hundred-fifty were
Thank God for him, our forefather !
My life has been a series of
Moments inspired by God and love
Pain and grief weigh-in second best
While peace and joy exceed the rest !
If I could wish one thing for you
To truly last your whole life through
It would be that you’ll find the one
Who’ll be your stars and moon and sun !
Lifetime partners with needs divers
Our God has shown us, verse by verse
This destiny designed for us
With Him it will be glorious !
EXCUSE ME while I share ! Over 65 years ago someone shared the following
poem with me when my father died after a 9 year battle with brain cancer. I
have been sharing this piece by James Whitcomb Riley since (less 12 lines) :
I cannot say and I will not say
That he is dead, he is just away
With a cheery smile and a wave of the hand
He has wandered into an unknown land
And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be since he lingers there.
And you, oh you who the wildest yearn
For the old time step and the glad return.
Think of him faring on as dear
In the love of there as the love of here
Think of him still as the same I say
He is not gone he is just away.
Sincerely, Claire B.
I have searched in vain for a special place
In which to occasion my last embrace
In my mind remains, after many years
How my dear grandma shed her final tears !
Her words to me I shall never forget
As she said her goodbyes with no regret
Though but a child I remember her still
And I love her now and forever will !
In truth, I haven’t forgotten her face
Or the strength of her courage, help and grace
For the child I was, she taught me to be
Honest and fair giving, loving and free,
She spoke with her God day and night
Was angelic in her apron starched white
She lived in that house I’ve told you about
No running water and toilet without.
She left her heart and her dreams behind
And whispered her secret that I might find
Whatever I prayed for would come to be
Especially God keeping watch o’er me !
( SHE JOINED THE ANGELS 7/20/1936 )
The wheel is spinning round and round
Where will my happiness be found
The wheel is turning, see it go
When will it end, how do I know ?
God is my partner all my life
Through all the joy and all the strife
In time of peace or in distress
I owe Him all that I possess !
The early sun that filters through the window blind
Brings welcome warmth into the room where dreams unwind
Its fingers undulating all across the spread
So careless thrown upon the length of my small bed.
I’ve often thought God’s greatest gift must be the sun
It is the reason life exists for everyone
Another facet of nature’s vast mysteries
That rise beyond the heart and mind that knows and sees !
Oh, little star up in the sky
You shine so bright please tell me why
This vigil which you silent keep
That watches o’er me in my sleep
Is like some vast and hidden eye
In outer space are you God’s spy ?
Oh, how much fun that job must be
Shining through His infinity !
Oh tender thought so peaceful here
Please whisk away my wildest fear
You mold each frown into a smile
And urge me make my life worthwhile
I beg You not to leave my side
Where will I go, where can I hide ?
For in the dark I will be blind
Where is the road that I must find,
This path that leads to God above
Securing His eternal love ?
The fog immerses one and all
The young, the old, the short, the tall
And softens all the edges found
As misty haze curls all around !
The fog seeps in with quiet ease
And silent moves upon the breeze
So like the clouds up in the sky
That sail and float and pass on by !
Against this passage we’re no match
There is no fog that we may catch
Likewise the wind and clouds, I’m sure
They carry on, their paths secure !
How many hopes have gone astray
And lost their dreams along the way
How many lives have come undone
And lost their values one by one ?
How many ways have we forgot
To do the right and worry not
We are bereft and lost and cold
How will our future world unfold ?
This we have lost and must demand
The law of God and faith of man !
How long or fleet our lives may be
Examples set by those we see
Have impact we can never know
Directions may move fast or slow !
Decisions made without much thought
Ensnare us in dilemma fraught,
Should we turn out our patient best
It would be sweet to ace that test !
I’ll settle for a joyous smile
Days that promise to be worthwhile
A life that thrives with energy
And faith that God abides with me ‘
I had a dream it’s clear to see
The sky was blue the wind was free
It made its way among the leaves
And whispered gently in the breeze.
The grasses swayed as if in tune
The daisies bobbed in their full bloom
The lilies flowered in the field
They stood quite still and did not yield.
It was a view that blessed my soul
And challenged me to see the whole
An image burnt within my mind
Perfection, I shall never find !
Oh little lamb, so calm and still
I sight you there upon the hill
Why is it that you quiet wait
Aside that height in passive state ?
What is it that you seem to see
That’s still invisible to me,
Who is expected to arrive
To bring you peace as you survive ?
Oh simple and unfettered lamb
How may I learn just who I am ?
Oh Lord, sometimes I find myself cast adrift
With reason run astray like a miser’s thrift
I cannot understand or comprehend why
My life’s course is set on medium not high.
I’d like to believe that we are all alike,
Walk on four balls while out requires a third strike,
However time will prove that forgiveness waits
Patient there standing outside those pearly gates !
This heart of mine is like a tool
It tows the line and bides the rule,
It feels the ache of those in pain
And weeps for souls who can’t sustain
A way of life in which there’s peace
And from this fear who seek release.
Please tell me why the weak must be
Sad victims of inequity,
I wish I knew what I could do
To ease their ache and help them through
The only words I have to say
Are “God is good, He is the way” !
A man of honor earns God’s reward
He does the best that he can afford
In all walks of life, he’s passed the test
He accepts the blame with selfsame zest.
Both honest and true he stays the path
In times of stress, he channels his wrath
Allowing others to garner fame
Avoiding schemes that tarnish his name.
A simple man believes in himself
Considers family as his wealth
Enjoys the fruit of labor and play
And walks with God each and every day !
Across the mighty mountains and
Wild rushing streams that thread the land,
We have promised we shall follow
No matter where that path may go !
Like Ruth of olden days allowed
In truth, she would not join the crowd
But traveled to that foreign place
Pursuing life in God’s embrace.
Now know the joys she’s brought to us
Without her choice, where is Jesus ?
Hidden behind the window blind
What sort of secrets shall we find
What kind of pleasures will be there
For each to seek and perhaps share ?
What pleasant dreams may be fulfilled
Or treasures sought and ogres killed,
How shall we know which way to go
Which path to take or room to show ?
The road is long some will not wait
For ways that lead to heavens gate !
God grants us all a wider choice
In learning how to use our voice
To make our way and do the right
From early morn through harried night.
Pursue the course and do the best
To forge our way and pass the test
This is one task we cannot fail
The stakes are high we need prevail.
No matter what decisions made
One can’t escape or chance evade
The simple act of courage bold
To choose new ways or keep the old.
My last reaction’s brash and hard
Like Abraham, I will choose God !
God is my true compass along lifes road
He channels my ship no matter the load
He bellows the wind and pushes the tide
Wherever I go, He travels beside.
I’ve known for awhile I am not alone
How patient He when my goal is unknown
In the terrible tempest living brings
He’s there at the helm and when the bell rings.
We’ve traveled quite far soon our journey’s done
We’re off to the west to follow the sun !
Oh blessed Lord, please hear my plea
I beg of You remember me
My face is not my crucial part
I offer You my loving heart.
It beats so hard I cannot hear
My puzzled thoughts are rife with fear
My cause is just, my trust is true
Accept my faith, it came from You.
I am alive and well
And oh, such truth to tell
I seek one last foray
Into the fading gray.
Too soon the dark must call
While nighttime covers all
Obscuring all the rest
To take God’s final test !
The times have come the times have gone
Some times were good and some forlorn
The heart remembers with a smile
The days that made our lives worthwhile.
The gentle deeds and loving word
Our ears with gratitude have heard
Are not forgot but linger long
And in our minds repeat the song
That angels in the clouds on high
Will echo till the day we die
That God is love not foolish pride
And comforts us from deep inside !
I have placed my life in God’s hand
Hoping to glimpse the promised land
Like Moses on that magic spot
Who saw the place but entered not.
Just the distant sight of it all
Is enough to lift lifetimes pall
For in the end when truth is known
Each of us reaps what we have sown.
The God I know is good and kind
The world outside is deaf and blind
The rules of life are cast aside
And compromised by greed and pride.
The little that we know and fear
Won’t aid us as the time grows near
To make that one decision bold
Wherein the final truth is told.
God’s love will triumph over all
When bugles sound the last roll call
I’d like to be excluded from
Anathemas old curse and sum !
A hopeful dream has piqued my mind
If I seek God what shall I find ?
A treasure trove of caring thought
With acts of love in kindness taught
Great patience gathered all around
While simple truths and peace abound,
The joy that bides with one each day
And faith that carries fear away
The gentle calm believing brings
And happiness where gladness sings.
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Claire V. Bogdanos 