A Never-Ending Poem

Statue at Maria's House in St. Augustine

I started this poem many years ago, lost it, then rediscovered it a few days ago.

This morning I added to it, and I shall add to it throughout my life...a never-ending poem of gratitude.

Inspired by these words:

"Call a man ungrateful and you can call him no worse."

Matthew Henry

A Never-Ending Poem of Gratitude

Perhaps it may seem small to some,

This life I that I am living,

But God and Time have blessed me with
These reasons for thanksgiving.
And if it's just minutiae

To any eyes but mine,

I'll gather here what I hold dear,

Preserving, line by line,

Little shafts of splendor

That have lit my world a while ~

My husband's glance across a room;

My grandchild's four-toothed smile.

The soft eyes of a cocker

That reflect the bond we share;

The dance of waves upon the shore

That holds me captive there.

Old photographs of loved ones

That negate the fleeting years;

A poem that captures loveliness

Before it disappears.

A pair of humble feet adorned

With lace-like seaside foam;

Hearing Allen's truck pull in ~

God brought him safely home.

Smelling Carla's homemade bread,

Then drenching it in butter;

Knowing God will hear the prayers

A broken heart may utter.

Stars that shine above me 

On a clear and silent night;

Forgiveness from another

That sets our world aright.

New bookstores and old bookstores

With human thought aflame;

Rocking chairs that ease the cares

Of any human frame.

Having a Bible of my own,

Penned by the heart of God;

Having someone read my poems

And not think I'm so odd.

Reading a book while snuggled up

In the span of an old armchair;

Sitting alone on a weathered porch

And finding God is there.

Living to see another Spring

When all the world's abloom;

The "oldies" shared with Allen 

As we dance across the room.

The gift of a letter from a friend,

Erasing  years and miles;

A small child's open-heartedness

That charms me and beguiles.

Butterflies and lightning bugs

Darting through the air;

Knowing someone cared enough

To hold me up in prayer.

(to be continued, of course!)

The Spirit of Christmas

I was shopping the other day and all of the carts were taken.

I saw an elderly lady checking out, so I walked up to her

and asked, "Could I wait for your cart?"

She seemed to hesitate a bit, and then nodded her consent.

She was going through her wallet,

and then she asked the cashier if this was the right card

(for that store).

The cashier said yes, and then the little lady turned to me

and tried to hand me her card.

I was falling all over myself, saying

"No! No!  I wanted to wait for your c-a-r-t!!"

Bless her heart, she was willing!

And that's the Spirit of Christmas, I'd say! 

Missing my Beach World

But I know it will be there when I return.

Always and always it has awaited my return

and welcomed me with back with open arms.