Be The Best

If you can't be the pine at the top of the hill
Be the scrub in the valley, but be

The best little scrub on the side of the hill
Be a bush if you can't be a tree

If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass
Doing something for somebody's sake

If you can't be a muskie try being a bass
But be the liveliest bass in the lake

We can't all be captains, some have to be crew
There is something for all of us here

There is big work and little for people to do
And the task we must do is near

So if you can't be a highway then be a great trail
If you can't be a sun be a star

It isn't by size that you win or you fail
Be the best at whatever you are

The Clothesline

A clothesline was a news forecast
To neighbors passing by.
There were no secrets you could keep
When clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link,
For neighbors always knew
If company had stopped on by
To spend a night or two.

For then you'd see the fancy sheets
And towels upon the line;
You'd see the company tablecloths
With intricate design.

The line announced a baby's birth
To folks who lived inside,
As brand new infant clothes were hung
So carefully with pride.

The ages of the children could
So readily be known,
By watching how the sizes changed,
You'd know how much they'd grown.

It also told when illness struck,
As extra sheets were hung;
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,
Haphazardly were strung.

It said, "Gone on vacation now, "
When lines hung limp and bare.
It told, "We're back! " when full lines sagged,
With not an inch to spare.

But clotheslines now are of the past,
For dryers make work less.
Now what goes on inside a home
Is anybody's guess.

Today...

I wish you a day of ordinary miracles----

A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself.

An unexpected phone call from an old friend.

Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.

I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in...

The fastest line at the grocery store.

A good sing along song on the radio.

Your keys right where you look.

I wish you a day of happiness and perfection---

little bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny

The Second Ten Commandments

1. Thou shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.

2. Thou shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.

3. Thou shall not cross bridges before you come to them,mfor no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this.

4. Thou shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway.

5. Thou shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.

6. Thou shall not borrow other people's problems. They can better care for them than you can.

7. Thou shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill, it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happeningin your life and be happy now!

8. Thou shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. It is hard to learn something new when you are talking, and some people do know more than you do.

9. Thou shall not become "bogged down" by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action.

10. Thou shall count thy blessings,never overlooking the small ones,
for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one

A New Pair Of Shoes

On a cold day in December, a little boy, about 10 years, old was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?"

"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply. The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel.

By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?"

As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's Wife?"

My Little Brother

Growing up with a brother who was 7 years older was difficult. Scott was my idol and it hurt a lot not to be able to go the places he did or hang out with his friends. I was always the dorky younger brother who tried so hard to just fit in. All I ever wanted was for him to be proud of me.
So, when Scott announced that he was going to work the summer teaching mentally challenged kids and asked if I'd like to volunteer, I jumped at the chance to spend the time with him. I was 14 and the only volunteer at the program. Everyone else was 21 and above, either earning college credits in Special Education like my brother, or trying to make a few bucks for the summer.

We had approximately 30 students, ranging in age from 8 to 21, with the majority being my age. I had never had much exposure to the world of the mentally challenged and was a bit taken aback on my first day. Wheelchair after wheelchair rolled off the bus, each with its own special passenger, smiles brighter than the sun in summer. Parents dropping off their bundles of joy, each one filled with the same excitement I felt my first day of school.

And then there was Mikey.

Mikey was 9 years old, tall, thin, and severely emotionally disturbed. He stood alone in the corner, weaving back and forth, afraid. It was as if he was invisible to all the other students and counselors. I walked over to him, reached out my hand and he began to scream. I remember the look of embarrassment in my brother's eyes. I wanted to crawl under a rock and just quit. I backed away and tended to the other students.

Every morning Mikey would get dropped off by his mother, and every morning he would go to the same corner where he spent most of his day alone. Even other students would avoid him, not wanting to listen to the screaming or tantrums he would throw.

Each afternoon the counselors would have their students pair off and do different activities. And each afternoon Mikey would remain in the corner, watching. Feeling more comfortable, I approached the director and asked her about Mikey. She explained that he has been coming to the program for the past couple years and this was how he spent his days and no one had the time needed to spend with him. I asked her if I could be assigned to him. She didn't respond at first and I could see the whole, "You are only 14 years old! What can you do?" look in her eyes.

"Sure, go ahead. What could it hurt?" she finally replied.

So each morning Mikey would come in and I would be waiting for him. He would walk over to his corner and I would tag right along, standing or sitting next to him for hours, not saying a word. He would scream and everyone would look, but I would just stare straight back at them, determined not to quit. This went on for two weeks. I knew all the counselors were talking about me to my brother. This was not what I had envisioned my summer to turn into. It was suppose to strengthen the bond between my brother and I, not make it weaker.

Then something happened that changed my life forever. I overslept one morning and my brother had already taken off to work. I jumped on my bike and rushed to the school, embarrassed for over sleeping and worried I would be in trouble. I walked into the classroom and the room went silent. "Oh no," I thought.

That's when I heard it. Someone was clapping their hands. I shrugged it off as a student just expressing their excitement. Then someone else began clapping. Another student, I thought. No, it was one of the counselors. What was going on? Then it erupted. Everyone was clapping. Were they all being sarcastic that I was late?

It was at that moment that I locked eyes with my brother. He was clapping the loudest out of everyone and smiling at me. I just stood there puzzled until the Director of the program approached me and explained that it had to do with Mikey. Apparently when Mikey arrived that morning and couldn't find me he went around from table to table, counselor to counselor, asking, "Where's Paul? Where's Paul?"

The Director informed me that those were the first words Mikey had spoken in the past couple years. I didn't know what to say.

I could feel my eyes beginning to fill with tears. I looked over to Mikey in his corner and he was smiling, pointing to me and saying, "Paul! Paul! Paul!"

I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Scott. "This is my little brother," he kept reminding everyone with pride in his voice. It was then I began to cry.

The next year I was hired to be a counselor. I was only 15 and had to get a worker's permit. I was in charge of my own group of students and had a college girl as my assistant.

As for Mikey, his family moved out West and I was saddened by the fact that I would never see him again. I hoped that he was all right and thought of him that whole summer.

The last day of the program I received a postcard from California. In barely legible handwriting were the words "Hi Paul." It was from Mikey. I knew he was going to be okay.

This piece was written by the late Erma Bombeck after she found out she was dying from cancer.

IF I HAD THE CHANCE TO LIVE MY LIFE OVER

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television-and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later.
Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's"...More "I'm sorry's" ...But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it... live it... and never give it back.
Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God has blessed us with.

And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.

Life is too short to let it pass you by.We only have one shot at this and then it's gone.

I hope you all have a blessed day.

"THE JUNE BUG"

Tiny little June bug, across the open meadow flying.
Constantly on the move, a life that's death defying.
Trying to escape the birds, during the day in flight.
Then the bats radar, who hunts them late at night.

Nearly missing a cars windshield, as he crosses a road.
Then the long sticky tongue, of a very hungry toad.
Nearly crushed by a shoe, as he sat on the ground.
A boys string, where in circles he would fly around.

Always hiding and dodging, just so his life to live.
He's not in any hurry, his last breath to give.
He's lasted half the summer, and is now very quick.
As a fast learner, he knows about every trick.

Then late one night, he was searching for his food,
and was feeling very happy, in a careless mood.
He came to a house, a strange light he decided to tap.
Over to it he flew, the last sound he heard was zzzap.

The Bricks of Life

About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child darted out, but a brick sailed out and-WHUMP! -- it smashed into the Jag's shiny black side door! SCREECH...!!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown.

Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?!"

Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"

"Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed
around the parked car. "It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE -- a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention.

The Boob Poem

For years and years they told me,
Be careful of your breasts.
Don't ever squeeze or bruise them.
And give them monthly tests.
So I heeded all their warnings,
And protected them by law.
Guarded them very carefully,
And I always wore my bra.

After 30 years of astute care,
My gyno, Dr. Pruitt,
Said I should get a Mammogram.
"O.K," I said, "let's do it."

"Stand up here real close" she said,
(She got my boob in line),
And tell me when it hurts," she said,
"Ah yes! Right there, that's fine."

She stepped upon a pedal,
I could not believe my eyes,
A plastic plate came slamming down,
My hooter's in a vise!

My skin was stretched and mangled,
From underneath my chin.
My poor boob was being squashed,
To Swedish Pancake thin.

Excruciating pain I felt,
Within it's vise-like grip.
A prisoner in this vicious thing,
My poor defenseless tit!

"Take a deep breath" she said to me,
Who does she think she's kidding?!?
My chest is mashed in her machine,
And woozy I am getting.

"There, that's good," I heard her say,
(The room was slowly swaying.)
"Now, let's have a go at the other one.
Have mercy, I was praying.

It squeezed me from both up and down.
It squeezed me from both sides.
I'll bet SHE'S never had this done,
To HER tender little hide.

Next time that they make me do this,
I will request a blindfold.
I have no wish to see again,
My knockers getting steamrolled.

If I had no problem when I came in,
I surely have one now.
If there had been a cyst in there,
It would have gone "ker-pow!"

A PARENT'S PRAYER!

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my sanity to keep.
For if some peace I do not find,
I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.
I pray I find a little quiet
Far from the daily family riot
May I lie back--not have to think
about what they're stuffing down the sink,
or who they're with, or where they're at
and what they're doing to the cat.
I pray for time all to myself
(did something just fall off a shelf?)

To cuddle in my nice, soft bed
(Oh no, another goldfish--dead!)
Some silent moments for goodness sake
(Did I just hear a window break?)
And that I need not cook or clean--
(well heck, I've got the right to dream)

TO A PHENOMENAL WOMAN
by Maya Angelou

When I was in my younger days,
I weighed a few pounds less,
I needn't hold my tummy in
to wear a belted dress.

But now that I am older,
I've set my body free;
There's comfort of elastic
Where once my waist would be.

Inventor of those high-heeled shoes
My feet have not forgiven;
I have to wear a nine now,
But used to wear a seven.

And how about those pantyhose--
They're sized by weight, you see,
So how come when I put them on
The crotch is at my knee?

I need to wear these glasses
As the print's been getting smaller;
And it wasn't very long ago
I know that I was taller.

Though my hair has turned to gray
and my skin no longer fits,
On the inside, I'm the same old me,
It's the outside's changed a bit.

But, on a positive note...
I've learned that no matter what happens,
or how bad it seems today,
life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by
the way he/she handles these three things:
a rainy day, lost luggage, and
tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that regardless
of your relationship with your parents,
you'll miss them
when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living"
is not the same thing as making a "life."
I've learned that life sometimes
gives you a second chance.

I've learned that
you shouldn't go through life
with a catcher's mitt on both hands.
You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart,
I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pains,
I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out
and touch someone.
People love a warm hug,
or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget
how you made them feel.

A FRIEND LIKE YOU

If I am thankful for one thing,
I know that this is true;
I'm thankful God has blessed me,
With such a friend as you.

He has given to my life,
Blessings I cannot explain;
For I am least deserving,
And yet His love remains.

Still He saw fit to send you,
When He knew I needed a friend;
He set our paths so they would cross,
On a journey with no end.

So, I am thankful in this life,
For blessings tried and true.
But most of all I am thankful,
That God sent a friend like you.

Allison Chambers Coxsey

"Battle Call"

Thunder rumbling, across the hills,
bright flashes, lighting the sky it fills.
This time nature's, not the one to blame,
it's the sound of rockets, and their deadly flame.

Young men and women, off fighting tyranny,
in a far away land, to set it free.
Brave young soldiers, one and all,
answering their countries,battle call.

Many countries, now joined as one,
fighting together, to get the job done.
Freedoms high price, some warriors will pay,
battling the enemy, both night and day.

Young men and women, off fighting tyranny,
in a far away land, to set it free.
Brave young soldiers, one and all,
answering their countries, battle call.

Yes, brave young soldiers, answering the battle call,
we pray for you, both one and all.