I am a fan of poetry. It is beautiful.
"Myself"
I have to live with myself, and so
I want to be fit for myself to know,
I want to be able, as days go by,
Always to look myself straight in the eye;
I don't want to stand, with the setting sun,
And hate myself for the things I've done.
I don't want to keep on a closet shelf,
A lot of secrets about myself,
And fool myself, as I come and go,
Into thinking that nobody else will know
The kind of man that I really am;
I don't want to dress up myself in sham.
I want to go out with my head erect,
I want to deserve all men's respect;
But here in the struggle for fame and pelf,
I want to be able to like myself.
I don't want to look at myself and know.
That I'm bluster and bluff and empty show.
I never can hide myself from me;
I see what others can never see;
I know that others may never know;
I never can fool myself, and so,
Whatever happens, I want to be
Self-respecting and conscience free.
--Edgar A. Guest.
"The Pearl"
Each of us desire beauty in our life.
But, often we see only chaos and strife.
Frustration sets in as we seek for order,
Unable to see past the walls of our self-proclaimed border.
Longing we seek for the Masters hand,
Desiring only a glimpse of His all-knowing plan.
Our loving Father will always come to our aid.
It pains Him to see us feeling alone and dismayed.
Fortunately His eyes see beyond our frame.
He knows what we need and in the end what we'll gain.
So with patience we must act upon what we know to be right
Until the Father graces us with further light.
When irritations come, give thought to the oyster
Whose example of patience can give cause to bolster.
A single grain of sand, though uncomfortable it may be,
Time and consistency develops a beauty unseen.
A pearl that is priceless beyond all measure.
Comparably, trials, through sacrifice, become our greatest treasure.
Through our trust and good works God can fashion a pearl,
And a path once unclear He begins to unfurl.
--Blaine Ladd
"I Will Not Fail Thee"
A baby was born
On a starry night.
They named him Jesus
and called him the Light.
He illuminates the way
on earth, where we are.
His life was perfect,
but he left with a scar.
He suffered much pain
For the sins we commit.
All he asks is our heart;
Our will to submit.
A covenant he makes;
A gift that is free.
Our savior, he promises,
I will not fail thee.
That night in the garden
I saw your sweet face.
I felt all your worries,
Your fears, and disgrace.
I conquered it all
So that you might live.
My peace and my comfort
Unto you, I give.
Fear not my sweet child,
And hear my plea,
Have faith in my Grace
For I will not fail thee.
Through the spirit
I know that this message is true.
I have felt of his love
Ans his assurances too.
Sometimes we walk blindly
not know before
Of the blessings ahead
And the truths in store.
So humbly I plead
A favor for me,
Trust when he says
I will not fail thee.
--Joanie Panganiban
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 forgetfulness. 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 or your
Love for me,
Your Father.
--Blaine M. Yorgason
"Someone is Watching"
Someone is watching
and that's a fast.
Someone will copy
The way you act.
So make this your motto
and put it to use.
Be someones example
and not their excuse.
--Kathy McDonald
