Hi. During some difficult times I always take a look at this poem that a close friend gave me many, many years ago. The paper is old and tattered but the impact will live on forever. I am posting it here in hopes that it may bring someone a feeling of hope and peace as it has done for me so many times.
Enjoy! Jen

THE MONUMENT

GOD
BEFORE HE SENT HIS CHILDREN TO EARTH
GAVE EACH OF THEM
A VERY CAREFULLY SELECTED PACKAGE
OF PROBLEMS.

THESE,
HE PROMISED, SMILING,
ARE YOURS ALONE. NO ONE
ELSE MAY HAVE THE BLESSINGS
THESE PROBLEMS WILL BRING YOU.

AND ONLY YOU
HAVE THE SPECIAL TALENTS AND ABILITIES
THAT WILL BE NEEDED
TO MAKE THESE PROBLEMS
YOUR SERVANTS.

NOW GO DOWN TO YOUR BIRTH
AND TO YOUR FORGETFULLNESS. KNOW THAT
I LOVE YOU BEYOND MEASURE.
THESE PROBLEMS THAT I GIVE YOU
ARE A SYMBOL OF THAT LOVE.

THE MONUMENT YOU MAKE OF YOUR LIFE
WITH THE HELP OF YOUR PROBLEMS
WILL BE A SYMBOL OF YOUR LOVE FOR ME.
YOUR FATHER.


Blaine M. Yorgason


Even for those who don't believe in the big guy upstairs, it is still thought provoking.
If you have a note or poem that may bring others hope, inspiration, lift their spirits or even make them laugh or smile, why not post it on this thread and we'll all have a place to go and loose ourself in positive thought. I look forward to hearing from you.

That's ok GM- we still love you! Hopefully you will one day be able to feel and express the same to those around you.

Ahh, it pains to be unloved is more the truth. To be truly loved is life-giving. I am sure you know the study of the orphan children who were not picked up, held or loved and even though they were fed and clothed and sheltered, they died. A fundemental need, love is - and no not painful. Painful is passion and obsession and infatuation for these will not and can not last, and when confused with love it only causes heartbreak. The truest love of all is from a parent to a child and those of us who have experienced that are the most blessed, wouldn't you agree JenH?

Jen,

Thanks for sharing that poem with us. There are so many things that happen in life, some because of choices we make and others totally out of our control, that can cause us to often wonder about a loving "big guy upstairs." As accepting or rejecting that concept is a very deep, personal matter, I'll just make the comment that everything we've endured in life serves to mold us into the individuals we are today. Some become bitter. Some become withdrawn. Some do their best to look beyond themselves to find purpose and meaning through a flawed and painful past. The hardest lessons to endure are the ones that hurt those we love because the lack of control we have in those situations magnifies our distress. In the end, we alone determine our own behavior. We determine our reactiveness, or responsiveness. Aren't we lucky that when things spin out of control, we still control ourselves? It may take the passage of time before that truth can be exhibited but, like all truths, it is immutable. I'm thankful for that truth.

Lynn

Thanks both Barb and Lynn. We can all learn from each other and from our own mistakes and achievements. I feel that everything happens for a reason although we don't always understand the reason at the time, but we always find out. I also believe that no matter how bad your past was it made you what you are today, and as long as we are happy with who we are today, our past has served us well. As long as we learn from all of our experiences, both positive and negative, we are progressing. Love who you are and share that love with others. Jen

'Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.'
Kahil Gibran

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
Wishing you all health and strength, Jen and Bre especialy.
Love
Louise

Thanks for posting this thread..and I appreciate what everyone has contributed!

I also think that we keep getting smacked with the same old patterns/problems/sitations, until we GET whatever little lesson life has to teach us. To do that, we have to look at ourselves, instead of constantly pointing fingers elsewhere.....it would be nice to think we all learn at the same rate and 'grow together' but it doesn't seem to work that way .

As Lynn said, "I'll just make the comment that everything we've endured in life serves to mold us into the individuals we are today. Some become bitter. Some become withdrawn. Some do their best to look beyond themselves to find purpose and meaning through a flawed and painful past."

and, "In the end, we alone determine our own behavior."

Responsibility for our behaviour and choices is something that a lot of people never get - sadly....
but even just watching or seeing this teaches others, so even that has some purpose.

All the best,
Lisa

Some thing from me. I wrote it years ago to lift my own spirits when I was feelinh low. I hope these few lines can also help someone else too.

My Desire

I have
A desire
That is with me
Even when
Sorrow surrounds me.
Like a bright ray
Through an overcast sky
Like a dewdrop
On a desert dune
Like a bonfire
On a chilly night
Like a beautiful rose
In this thorny life
-It walks with me
Holding my hand
My desire
To live life
-With an optimism.

…………Dr. B.

And of this one I don't know the poet. But its one of my favourites. It made me realise how important little things can be in life...

SLOW DANCE


Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight,
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won’t last.

Do you run through each day on the fly,
When you ask, “How are you?”, do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in bed,
With the next hundred chores running through your head?
You’d better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won’t last.

Ever told your child, “We’ll do it tomorrow.”,
And in haste not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die,
Cause you never had time to call and say “Hi”?
You’d better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through the day,
It is like an unopened gift…thrown away.
Life is not a race, do take it slower,
Hear the music, before the song is over.

---Anonymous

I thank each one you for your expressions and add that the difficulties in my life have made me who I am now.

This is my story:
Persistant Roseasa - under Skin Diseases on this BB

From Stormy Weather to Sunny Days

I was caught in a storm with a broken heart,
Some events in my life had torn me apart,
The wind and the hail had devastated my mind,
Comfort and love I needed to find.

There were dark clouds and I could not see,
But faith in Almighty God I used as a key,
For above all the clould there had to be a silver glow,
In my life I would seek it out and then I would know.

Help I wanted and pleaded for,
Because I felt so very sore,
I searched here and I looked there,
I knew the answers lay somewhere.

Then slowly in the sky I could see some light,
But it's golden, not silver and ever so bright,
The cloulds have left and so have my fears,
I've stoped sighing and dryed up my tears,
I feel the warmth of the beaming sun,
And now my body enjoys some fun.

As the days have become sunny with a gentle breeze,
I can distinguish the flowers,
the grass and the trees,
Behind me is left as beautiful rainbow,
Reflecting the skills
and the knowledge I'll take where I go.

I am so thankful
for these precious treasures I've received,
Almighty One that you gently showered on me
because I believed.