And joy is everywhere; it is in the earth’s green covering of grass; in the blue serenity of the sky.
joy
“Echoes of Love’s House” Poem by William Morris
ECHOES OF LOVE’S HOUSE
Love gives every gift whereby we long to live:
“Love takes every gift, and nothing back doth give.”
Love unlocks the lips that else were ever dumb:
“Love locks up the lips whence all things good might come.”
Love makes clear the eyes that else would never see:
“Love makes blind the eyes to all but me and thee.”
Love turns life to joy till nought is left to gain:
“Love turns life to woe till hope is nought and vain.”
Love, who changest all, change me nevermore!
“Love, who changest all, change my sorrow sore!”
Love burns up the world to changeless heaven and blest,
“Love burns up the world to a void of all unrest.”
And there we twain are left, and no more work we need:
“And I am left alone, and who my work shall heed?”
Ah! I praise thee, Love, for utter joyance won!
“And is my praise nought worth for all my life undone?”
“Someone Like You” Poem by James Foley
“Some one like you makes the heart seem the lighter,
Some one like you makes the day’s work worth while,
Some one like you makes the sun shine the brighter,
Some one like you makes a sigh half a smile.”
Excerpt From
Some One Like You
James W. Foley
Something to Think About
Go for long walks,
indulge in hot baths,
Question your assumptions,
be kind to yourself,
live for the moment,
loosen up, scream,
curse the world,
count your blessings,
Just let go,
Just be.
Carol Shields
When was the last time you “wasted” a day and relaxed, totally relaxed? It takes a heap of courage to let everything go for 24 hours. Here’s a challenge for you and me, let’s take a 24 hour be kind to myself break and as Carol Shields says, “Just let go, Just be.”
“Forever Dance” Poem about Joy by Hafiz
Forever Dance
I am happy even before I have a reason.
I am full of Light even before the sky
Can greet the sun or the moon.
Dear companions,
We have been in love with God
For so very, very long.
What can Hafiz now do but Forever
Dance!
Hafiz
Today’s Quote on Love by Virginia Satir
I want to love you without clutching, appreciate you without judging, join you without invading, invite you without demanding, leave you without guilt, criticize you without blaming, and help you without insulting. If I can have the same from you, then we can truly meet and enrich each other.
Virginia Satir
My Faith in the Future Affirmed
A Story of a Walk, a Father, Two Children, and a Bird
It’s Sunday. I went for a long walk in a nearby park. A walking, jogging, bike riding paved trail runs through miles of south Texas landscape. The former ranch is now covered with prickly pear cactus, yucca, cedar trees, and live oak trees. A sign at the trail head warns travelers to watch out for mountain lions, feral hogs, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and dangerous insects. The warning does not stop people from using the trail.
At the midpoint of my walk, I spotted a father and his two children, one boy, one girl stooping near the edge of the trail. Their three bicycles lay nearby just off the path. The children appeared to be between eight to ten years old. The boy was the younger child.
As I approached them, the boy turned and looked up at me. He said, “This baby bird is hurt. Do you know how to help him?”
The boy’s father and his sister looked at me. In front of the small boy was an open water bottle and straw. He was using the straw to transfer water from his bottle to the bird’s mouth. I told them them they were doing the best they could and making the baby bird feel comfortable.
I walked on filled with renewed hope for the future. When young children care deeply for the environment and its living creatures, there is hope for the future. I promised myself to learn from them and practice the lessons they taught me.
