*** A poem about sharing our life with others - when we are both in need - to receive the greatest gift.
Walk The WorldThe young ones were curious about life that was.The grandmother began the remembering of a long life.She told them stories of how sweet life can be.She told them stories of how tough times were too.The old woman leaned back in her comfortable chair,Closed her eyes for a moment and her face grew sad.She remembered the jobs disappearing and the fear.She told how her neighbors worked fewer and fewer hours, Worrying about how they would feed their children.
The old woman opened her eyes and spoke softly,“I remember friends moving away because times were tough.They couldn’t afford their homes anymore and they cried.The sheriff and the bankers threw them out on the street.It was a terrible sight to see, wondering too if it would happen to me.”“Back then life was so grim, people everywhere living in fear.It got to the point that every single penny was far too dear.The bills kept piling up high in tall stacks. We didn’t know what to do.We quit spending on anything, nothing misspent, but for food and rent.”
The old woman was remembering their grandfather, her husband.She smiled fondly, feeling his warm heart touch, hugging herself.She leaned forward to continue her story as the children sat at her feet.“There was this one birthday of mine when times were tough.Your grandfather always liked to buy grand gifts for me and celebrate.I told him not this time but to save our little money for important things.He said he agreed and I went to sleep reassured and not expecting anything.”“I was happy just being able to pay our bills back then and nothing else mattered.When I woke up on my birthday morning and went into the kitchen there it was.There was a packaged gift with a birthday card sticking out of the top.I remembered thinking about trying not to worry about what he spent.It was a beautiful card with a bear and a honey bee that meant so much to me.I smiled and we enjoyed his excitement at giving. Then I peered inside the gift bag.I never laughed so loud in my life. He bought me the gift of my favorite cookies!Cookies! Imagine that as a birthday gift? Cookies! I was so relieved he kept his word.”
The children asked her why grandfather gave her cookies and she replied,“Why, it’s because our love was sweet no matter how tough the financial times.Your grandfather was an optimist who loved life and loved being in love.I thought it was a perfect morning on a perfect day and that was enough for me.The mail arrived and there was this wonderful birthday card from someoneI had not heard from in many long years, a childhood close friend I enjoyed.How unexpected and delightful it was to hear from them after such a long time.It brought me great joy at being remembered at this especially tough time.”“Then your grandfather decided to take me out to a small lunch but I hesitated.He knew what I was thinking. He reminded me there are others in need besides us.He reminded me the only way to know the need of another was for us to walk the world.At the humble restaurant we shared a meal between us so we could tip the server.As I looked about me I could see the need of others and knew what to pray.One lady was trying hard not to have a panic attack while with her family in public.Most of the people in the room did not look healthy and I realized they were getting sick.But did you know the prayer of a stranger can prevent serious illness for you?”
The children were amazed that one person could have that much power if they prayed.The old woman talked on about how the perfect day was not yet finished for her.“When we were about to leave the restaurant another waiter arrived with a dessert.In all the times I had been at this restaurant, no one had ever done this on my birthday.Our waiter knew it was my birthday and it was a special sweet gift from him at no cost!It’s like he knew we were there to pray for him and the others to gain back their health.He was saying thank you when we expected no thanks or recognition for our deeds.We smiled and enjoyed our gift and, oh, it tasted so very good with that whipped cream.”
“Your grandfather and I returned home to marvel at our day of unexpected surprises.We talked about how we received more than we gave and it didn’t cost much either.Suddenly, there was this sense of Peace all around us and inside our hearts too.We realized we didn’t need to worry any more about losing our home or job.We now knew it was more important to walk the world and give to the need of others.All that we were, and all that we were to become, crystallized on that one perfect day.Little did we know God was training us to handle great wealth to give to others.That’s when we began planning for our future foundation for charities.We lived the life of the needy and now truly understood the needs of others.The birthday celebration was a perfect day because we chose to walk the world.Now it’s your generation’s turn to walk the world, pray powerfully for others and give.”Denny LyonCopyright 30 July 2010All Rights Reserved
*** Also to enjoy: 17 Short Beautiful Love Poems*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates! *** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:The Social Poets - news, politics
The Soul Calendar - science, astronomy, psychology
Visual Insights - photos, art, music
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations - spiritual quotes, philosophy
Poems From A Spiritual Heart - poetry
The Healing Waters - health news
Dennys People Watching - people in the news
Dennys Food and RecipesDennys Funny Quotes - humor
Photo CreditsChild walking in the grass by Victor Bezrukov @ flickrGrandparents out in the boat by Let Ideas Compete @ flickrCloseup child's face by Pink Sherbet Photography @ flickrWhite doves flying by Muffet @ flickrGrandma's hands by hweiling @ flickrOld woman's hand by Ricky @ flickr
Vision of The Gardener Prophet
The gardener stood at the window in the heat of summerGazing at the huge weeds growing stronger and larger,Sprouting up proudly as tall and wide as the shrubs,Crowding the beauty, smug, knowing they didn’t belong. What was not theirs they chose to steal and own out of spite.
The gardener felt helpless, unable to tend the garden,For the summer heat was too strong to work outside.Day after day the gardener watched the weeds take over,Praying for the beauty to survive the onslaught andThen a break, a pouring rain came to drench the garden.
The gardener hurriedly went out into the cooling wet airAnd began pulling the shallow roots, those showy weeds.The gardener prayed as she pulled and threw them away.The gardener prophet knew these weeds sprung up to stop her workAs she prayed for all the people of the world to do better.
The gardener prophet prayed as she worked, knowing that“As below on Earth, so above in Heaven,” hoping this gardenWould influence and clean humanity of the great suffering.She toiled with the stubborn and contentious weeds for hours,Refusing to give in and allow beauty to wither and die.
Deep in thought, hunting down the very smallest new weeds,Suddenly she looked up and there was an Angel appearing.The Angel looked at her work in the garden and said,“Tell the people their suffering has been heard in Heaven.The culling of humanity begins not in 2012 but now in 2010.”
The gardener prophet wiped her eyes of the spattered mud.Patiently, the strong Angel waited for acknowledgement.“The Universe is speeding up the time table,” the Angel announced.“Humanity is past due to reach the next level of development.“Knowledge and wise teaching have spread the world to generations.
“Contentiousness, lack of compassion, greed and stubbornness“Grow as weeds all over the world in every society and religion.“Beauty struggles to survive, grow and thrive, yet can wither and die.“The world is now again too full of those who choose to destroy, not build.“And now Death comes stalking them two years early to clean the garden.“Only Beauty is meant to walk the earth and thrive in the garden of Life,”Spoke the Angel softly, and then the vision slowly faded from the gardener prophet.
Denny LyonCopyright 6 Aug 2010All Rights ReservedPhoto Credits - All photos are from my garden and are by Denny Lyon, available under Creative Commons copyright with Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives license.3 chocolate mint flowers in brush stroke effect Photo by Denny Lyon @ flickrField of discarded weeds Photo by Denny Lyon @ flickrHuge dragonfly on window screen in glowing edges effect Photo by Denny Lyon @ flickrBouquet of antique roses in colored pencils effect Photo by Denny Lyon @ flickrChocolate mint flowers favored by hummingbirds, colored foil effect Photo by Denny Lyon @ flickrPurple leaves Photo by Denny Lyon @ flickrBlue plumbago shade plant Photo by Denny Lyon @ flickrBumblebee on lilac chaste tree blossom Photo by Denny Lyon @ flickrAntique roses in saturated color Photo by Denny Lyon @ flickr*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates! *** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:The Social Poets - news, politicsThe Soul Calendar - science, astronomy, psychologyVisual Insights - photos, art, musicBeautiful Illustrated Quotations - spiritual quotes, philosophyPoems From A Spiritual Heart - poetryThe Healing Waters - health newsDennys People Watching - people in the newsDennys Food and RecipesDennys Funny Quotes - humor
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