All For the Best ~ Edgar Albert Guest

All For the Best

Edgar Albert Guest

Things mostly happen for the best.
However hard it seems to-day,
When some fond plan has gone astray
Or what you’ve wished for most is lost
An’ you sit countin’ up the cost
With eyes half-blind by tears o’ grief
While doubt is chokin’ out belief,
You’ll find when all is understood
That what seemed bad was really good.

Life can’t be counted in a day.
The present rain that will not stop
Next autumn means a bumper crop.
We wonder why some things must be–
Care’s purpose we can seldom see–
An’ yet long afterwards we turn
To view the past, an’ then we learn
That what once filled our minds with doubt
Was good for us as it worked out.

I’ve never known an hour of care
But that I’ve later come to see
That it has brought some joy to me.
Even the sorrows I have borne,
Leavin’ me lonely an’ forlorn
An’ hurt an’ bruised an’ sick at heart,
In life’s great plan have had a part.
An’ though I could not understand
Why I should bow to Death’s command,
As time went on I came to know
That it was really better so.

Things mostly happen for the best.
So narrow is our vision here
That we are blinded by a tear
An’ stunned by every hurt an’ blow
Which comes to-day to strike us low.
An’ yet some day we turn an’ find
That what seemed cruel once was kind.
Most things, I hold, are wisely planned
If we could only understand.

Source

The Gift

What a wonderful gift it is to wake up knowing we have a full day in front of us. We’re not entitled to this day. It is a gift. We are alive. We have a chance to do something with this day. What kind of footprint do you want to leave on this day? How will you affect those whom you interact with this day? Will everyone you meet be better off because you passed their way? We can take in the wisdom of the Roman philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.
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Today’s Thought: Knowing the Difference Makes a Difference

When we attempt to control things, events, or people we can’t control we become frustrated. Our frustration often turns to anger and we say or do things we later regret. The Serenity Prayer offers a way through this conundrum.

“God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Today’s Thought: Words of Wisdom

A savvy country gentleman gave me a piece of advice that worked wonders for me. Early in my career I was in a breakfast restaurant sitting alone in a booth working on the second of my two breakfast tacos. The place was crowded and this big, gray haired guy comes up to my booth and says, “Mind if we share the booth?” I nodded. Ten minutes later we knew each other’s names and were talking. I should say I was doing most of the talking and he was doing most of the listening. I kept talking while he drank his coffee and ate. When I was talked out, he jabbed his fork at me and said, “Ray, I’ll give you two pieces of advice after all of your complaining. First, suck it up and stop complaining. Second, wish in one hand and poop (he didn’t use the word poop) in the other. See which one you get first.” I stared at him and then broke into a large grin. I said, “Sam, I needed that.” From that moment on I did a lot less complaining and lot more work. It was the prescription I needed.

Today’s Thought: Mom’s Wisdom

My mom taught me many life lessons that remain with me. She taught me how to hold a fork and knife, to be polite, to pray, to learn something new everyday, and more importantly she taught me kindness. I am grateful for her, her wisdom and love. She’s been gone for a while, but she’s never too far away from me. If your mom is alive stay in touch with her, let her know you love her. You’ll never regret it. What life lessons did she teach you?

Today’s Quote: Something to Think About

“There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Today’s Thought: Live With Confidence

It’s raining as I write this post. The roads will be slick for a bit then the oil will wash off. If you’ve never lived in south Texas you might not be expecting to slide through an intersection. I can happen if it hasn’t rained for a while and you happen to be out and about when it starts. Life is like that. Sometimes the unexpected events pop into our lives. They fall on a spectrum from a wonderful surprise to something quite the opposite. Whatever it is, we have to react to it if we’re to have any control over the eventual affect of the surprising event on us. If we trust ourselves, have self confidence and a solid foundation, we will make it through. Whatever comes your way today, and I hope it’s all good, you already have the strength and wisdom to deal with it. Go forward with confidence.

Today’s Poem: The Little Box by Vasko Popa

The Little Box

Vasko Popa

The little box gets her first teeth
And her little length
Little width little emptiness
And all the rest she has

The little box continues growing
The cupboard that she was inside
Is now inside her

And she grows bigger bigger bigger
Now the room is inside her
And the house and the city and the earth
And the world she was in before

The little box remembers her childhood
And by a great longing
She becomes a little box again

Now in the little box
You have the whole world in miniature
You can easily put in a pocket
Easily steal it lose it

Take care of the little box

Source

Today’s Poem: Song of the Flower XXIII by Khalil Gibran

Song of the Flower XXIII

Khalil Gibran

I am a kind word uttered and repeated
By the voice of Nature;
I am a star fallen from the
Blue tent upon the green carpet.
I am the daughter of the elements
With whom Winter conceived;
To whom Spring gave birth; I was
Reared in the lap of Summer and I
Slept in the bed of Autumn.

At dawn I unite with the breeze
To announce the coming of light;
At eventide I join the birds
In bidding the light farewell.

The plains are decorated with
My beautiful colors, and the air
Is scented with my fragrance.

As I embrace Slumber the eyes of
Night watch over me, and as I
Awaken I stare at the sun, which is
The only eye of the day.

I drink dew for wine, and hearken to
The voices of the birds, and dance
To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.

I am the lover’s gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness;
I am the last gift of the living to the dead;
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.

Source

Today’s Inspiring Quote: How to Deal with Thoughts

Leave your front door and your back door open.
Allow your thoughts to come and go.
Just don’t serve them tea.

Shunryu Suzuki

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