Christmas imperfection

Following is a beautiful reflection written by Windy. It touched me.

Do you wish for perfection?

"We may not be perfect, things and people may not be perfect, situations or events may not be perfect… and yet, isn’t that a great part of what the celebration of Christmas is all about?

A loving father looked upon his beautiful creation–his children–yet realizing their own faults and shortcomings and that emptiness and longing for love and forgiveness that each one had, he sent his Perfect son, Jesus to a world full of imperfections.

The woman who would be his mother was in a pretty imperfect state to have a baby.

The timing for his birth couldn’t have been more imperfect.

A stable to call his first home, a manger as his first crib, tattered cloths as his first garments, and animal noises as his first lullaby. Nothing close to perfect I would say.

Yet the biggest miracle of Christmas is that He broke through those imperfections, He used them as a testimony that God doesn’t need perfection to bring his love, hope and salvation to the world. In fact, from what I see, He is quite fond of using odd and totally bizarre circumstances and turning them into something beautiful, something everlasting. I guess I could some that all up as: God loves to use broken things."

Darkness into light

I’ve found a refuge from life’s cares in Jesus,

I’m hiding in His love divine;

He fully understands my soul’s deep longing,

And He whispers softly, “Thou art Mine.”

Only Jesus! Only Jesus!

Only He can satisfy;

Every burden becomes a blessing,

When I know my Lord is nigh.

I’ve found a precious joy in knowing Jesus,

Never dreamed of in this world of woe;

No clouds, however dark, can dim the radiance

Of the heavenly light He doth bestow.

I’ve found a blessed hope divine in Jesus,

’Tis a Day Star ever shining bright;

It fills my earthly way with heavenly glory,

And it turns life’s darkness into light.

True love story

"For You knew that Heaven’s touch

On this poor world would mean so much
So You lived and died, and rose to glory
To begin life’s deepest true love story"
-Bonita Hele

"Dear restless heart"

I hadn't found a poem that fit my life, feelings and needs so perfectly till now.

Dear restless heart, be still; don’t fret and worry so;
God has a thousand ways His love and help to show;
Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know.

Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God’s Own smile,
His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;
Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.

Dear restless heart, be brave; don’t moan and sorrow so,
He has a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;
Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.

Dear restless heart, recline upon His breast this hour,
His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;
Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.

Dear restless heart, be still! Don’t struggle to be free;
God’s life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;
Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.

—Edith Willis Linn, “Streams in the Desert”

By faith not sight

This poem moves me, encourages me. It makes me think of "The book of Eli" movie - cause he walked solely by faith-...and then the countless of others who went on even though the winds blew against them.

Sometimes I'm sad, I know not why
My heart is sore distressed;
It seems the burdens of this World
Have settled on my heart.

And yet I know ... I know that God
Who doeth all things right
Will lead me thus to understand
To walk by FAITH ... not SIGHT.

And though I may not see the way
He's planned for me to go...
The way seems dark to me just now.
But oh, I'm sure He knows!

Today He guides my feeble step
Tomorrow's in His right ...
He has asked me to never fear ...
But walk by FAITH ... not SIGHT.

Some day the mists will roll away.
The sun will shine again.
I'll see the beauty in the flowers.
I'll hear the bird's refrain.

And then I'll know my Father's hand
Has led the way to light
Because I placed my hand in His
And walked by FAITH ... not SIGHT.
--Ruth A. Morgan

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Beautiful Afternoon

Oh, it’s just the little, homey things,

The unobtrusive, friendly things,
The won’t-you-let-me-help-you things
That make the pathway light.

And it’s just the jolly, joking things,

The laugh-with-me-it’s-funny things,
The never-mind-the-trouble things
That make our world seem bright.

For all the countless, famous things,
The wondrous, record-breaking things,
Those never-can-be-equaled things
That all the papers cite,

Can’t match the little, human things,
The just-because-I-like-you things,
Those oh-it’s-simply-nothing things,
That make us happy, quite.

So here’s to all the little things,
The everyday-encountered things,
The smile-and-face-your-trouble things,
“Trust God to put it right,”

The done-and-then-forgotten things,
The can’t-you-see-I-love-you! things,
The hearty I-am-with-you! things
That make life worth the fight.
—Grace Haines

Love means believing in someone

Love takes time. It needs a history of

giving and receiving, laughing, and crying.

Love doesn’t promise instant gratification,
only ultimate fulfillment.

Love means believing in someone, in something;
it presupposes a willingness to struggle,
to work, to suffer, and to rejoice.

Love is doing everything you can to help
others build whatever dreams they have.
Love is doing everything you can to help
others build whatever dreams they have.


Love is on a constant journey to what others
need. It must be attentive, caring, and
open, both to what others say and to what
others cannot say.


Love will never reject others. It is the
first to encourage and the last to condemn.

Love is a commitment to growth, happiness,
and fulfillment of one another.


-Adapted from Barb Upham

You

By Edgar Guest

You are the fellow that has to decide
Whether you'll do it or toss it aside.
You are the fellow who makes up your mind
Whether you'll lead or will linger behind
Whether you'll try for the goal that's afar
Or just be contented to stay where you are.
Take it or leave it. Here's something to do!
Just think it over --- It's all up to you!

What do you wish? To be known as a shirk,
Known as a good man who's willing to work,
Scorned for a loafer or praised by your chief,
Rich man or poor man or beggar or thief?
Eager or earnest or dull through the day,
Honest or crooked? It's you who must say!
You must decide in the face of the test
Whether you'll shirk it or give it your best.

Nobody here will compel you to rise;
No one will force you to open your eyes;
No one will answer for you yes or no,
Whether to stay there or whether to go.
Life is a game, but it's you who must say,
Whether as cheat or as sportsman you'll play.
Fate may betray you, but you settle first
Whether to live to your best or your worst.

So, whatever it is you are wanting to be,
Remember, to fashion the choice you are free.
Kindly or selfish, or gentle or strong,
Keeping the right way or taking the wrong,
Careless of honor or guarding your pride,
All these are questions which you must decide.
Yours the selection, whichever you do;
The thing men call character's all up to you!

This is how I feel

By Esther Frenette

Distance may keep us away,

and oceans may throw us apart,

but i think of you every day,

I know I should trust my heart.

I dream of you every night,

your laugh, your touch, a smile.

this feeling has to be be right,

you gave my life a new style.

I wish I could hold your hand,

to tell you how i feel about you.

spare the distance, oceans and land,

show you how love stories are true.

You bring out the best of me

something no one ever could do

somehow you made my blindness see

and I want to be the same to you

You gave me a reason to try

and I found out that it was real

although I really don't know why

but I love you, and this is how I feel.

Thoughtlessness

By Edgar A. Guest

A little bit of hatred can spoil a score of years
And blur the eyes that ought to smile with many needless tears.

A little bit of thoughtlessness and anger for a day
Can rob a home of all its joy and drive delight away.

A little bit of shouting in a sharp and vicious tone
Can leave a sting that will be felt when many years have flown.

And just one hasty moment of ill temper can offend
And leave an inner injury the years may never mend.

It takes no mental fiber to say harsh and bitter things;
It doesn't call for courage to employ a lash that stings.

And cruel words and bitter any fool can think to say,
But the hurt they leave behind them takes years to wipe away.

Just a little bit of hatred robs a home of all delight,
And leaves a winding trail of wrong that time may never right.

For only those are happy and keep their peace of mind,
Who guard themselves from hatred and words that are unkind!

See it through

By Edgar Guest

When you're up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it's vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!

Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don't let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you're beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don't give up, whate'er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!

Not busy for love and friends

Valentine´s has gone by and I didn't even write anything here! Do forgive me, Ive had no time for my blog lately, as incredible as that could sound to some genuinely busy people.
Some long-life friends have come to visit! Mary Dear, her mom Sweetie, and Faithy. Their names describe them so well. Which means that if you meet Mary Dear, she´ll be a dear friend in no time; if auntie Sweetie sees you, you´ll be showered with sweetness right away; and if aunt Faithy comes along, you´ll come in contact with a rock of faith.
Here goes a poem dedicated to friendship, which makes the heart merry, warm, strong and healthy with laughter.

Love and Friendship
Emily Brontë

Love is like the wild rose-briar,
Friendship like the holly-tree—
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?

The wild-rose briar is sweet in the spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?

Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now
And deck thee with the holly's sheen,
That, when December blights thy brow,
He may still leave thy garland green.

with Mary Dear

The things that haven´t been done before

By Edgar Guest

(Tap, tap. Uhhhh I don´t mean to stop you from continuing to read but, I warn you that this is yet another poem to add something to my recently born blog. I don´t mean to bore you to death either, dying is not a nice prospect when you dear reader can live, even if you get the feeling that you might be better off dead. I assure you though that every piece of poetry is worth your time, some way or another :D -This one is included in the not-long list of my favorites)

The things that haven't been done before,
Those are the things to try;
Columbus dreamed of an unknown shore
At the rim of the far-flung sky,
And his heart was bold and his faith was strong
As he ventured in dangers new,
And he paid no heed to the jeering throng
Or the fears of the doubting crew.

The many will follow the beaten track
With guideposts on the way.
They live and have lived for ages back
With a chart for every day.
Someone has told them it's safe to go
On the road he has traveled o'er,
And all that they ever strive to know
Are the things that were known before.

A few strike out without map or chart,
Where never a man has been,
From the beaten path they draw apart
To see what no man has seen.
There are deeds they hunger alone to do;
Though battered and bruised and sore,
They blaze the path for the many, who
Do nothing not done before.

The things that haven't been done before
Are the tasks worthwhile today;
Are you one of the flock that follows, or
Are you one that shall lead the way?
Are you one of the timid souls that quail
At the jeers of a doubting crew,
Or dare you, whether you win or fail,
Strike out for a goal that's new?

By Francis William Bourdillon (1852 – 1921)

The night has a thousand eyes,
And the day but one;
Yet the light of the bright world dies
With the dying sun.

The mind has a thousand eyes,
And the heart but one:
Yet the light of a whole life dies
When love is done.

"More strong than time" by Victor Hugo

Since I have set my lips to your full cup, my sweet,
Since I my pallid face between your hands have laid,
Since I have known your soul, and all the bloom of it,
And all the perfume rare, now buried in the shade;

Since it was given to me to hear on happy while,
The words wherein your heart spoke all its mysteries,
Since I have seen you weep, and since I have seen you smile,
Your lips upon my lips, and your eyes upon my eyes;

Since I have known above my forehead glance and gleam,
A ray, a single ray, of your star, veiled always,
Since I have felt the fall, upon my lifetime's stream,
Of one rose petal plucked from the roses of your days;

I now am bold to say to the swift changing hours,
Pass, pass upon your way, for I grow never old,
Fleet to the dark abysm with all your fading flowers,
One rose that none may pluck, within my heart I hold.

p.s. I assure those of you that are too greatly affected by a man´s looks, that his heart was youthful throughout his life, only until the last few years when all he had was a an ailing daughter considered to be insane. Dear french author if it weren´t for thee I would not be so encouraged to study the XIX century´s histoty.
I love people with an imagination.

A friend -by Edgar Guest

A friend is one who stands to share
Your every touch of grief and care.
He comes by chance, but stays by choice;
Your praises he is quick to voice.



No grievous fault or passing whim
Can make an enemy of him.
And though your need be great or small,
His strength is yours throughout it all.



No matter where your path may turn
Your welfare is his chief concern.
No matter what your dream may be
He prays your triumph soon to see.



There is no wish your tongue can tell
But what it is your friend's as well.
The life of him who has a friend
Is double-guarded to the end.