Poems and Stories

Recipe for Living

dingdans — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:29:32 +0000

Some things a man surely know,
If he is going to live or grow;
He needs to know that life is more
Than a man lays by in store,
That more than all he may obtain,
Contentment offers greater gain.

He needs to feel the trail of mirth,
To sense the beauty of the earth,
To know the joy that kindness brings
And all the worth of little things.
He needs to have an open mind,
A friendly heart for all mankind.

A trust in self – without conceit –
And strength to rise above defeat.
He needs to have the will to share,
A mind to dream, a soul to dare,
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Insight

dingdans — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:44:25 +0000

Often when it seemed I found
Goodness here, there, all around,
I saw on closer scrutiny,
The goodness came from inside me.

Why did the whole world seem to smile?
Because I laughed with is awhile,
Why was all earth so bright with sun?
Because my light heart gave it one.
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You will never be SORRY

dingdans — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:16:09 +0000

For thinking before acting…
For hearing before judging…
For forgiving your enemies…
For being candid and frank…
For helping a fallen brother…
For being honest in business…
For thinking before speaking…
For being loyal to your church…
For standing by your principles…
For closing your ears to gossip…
For bridling a slanderous tongue…
For harboring pure thoughts…
For sympathizing with the afflicted…
For being courteous and kind to all…

Lesson in this Poem for me:
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To The Quitter

dingdans — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:26:35 +0000

The world won’t care if you quit
And the world won’t whine if you fail;
The busy world won’t not notice it,
No matter how loudly you wail.

Nobody will worry that you
Have relinquished the fight and gone down
For it’s only the things that you do
That are worth while and get you renown

The quitters are quickly forgotten;
Of them the world spends little time;
And the few ever care that you’ve not
The courage or patience to climb.
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Rest

dingdans — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:25:22 +0000

Are you very weary?
In some quiet corner, fold your hand and sit.
Do not let the trials that have grieved you all the day
Haunt this quiet corner; drive them all way!

Let your heart grow empty of every though unkind
That peace may hover round you, and joy may fill your mind.
Count up all your blessings, I’m sure they are not few,
That the dear lord daily just bestows on you.
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Hold Fast Your Dreams

dingdans — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:11:40 +0000

Within your heart
Keep one still, secret spot
Where drams may go,
And sheltered so,
May thrive and grow-
Where doubt and fear are not.
Oh, they keep a place apart
Within your heart,
For little dreams to go.

Build a Box of Friendship

dingdans — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:06:37 +0000

Into a box of friendship
To insure that it is strong
First a layer of respect
On the bottom does belong.

Then to the side attach
In the corners where they meet
Several anchors full of trust
Devoid of all deceit.

The height of friendship can be
Measured by the sides of four
So make them all a larger cut
And the box will hold much more

Now fill it up with courtesy
Honor and esteem
Understanding, sympathy
And passion for a dream
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Fortitude

dingdans — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:41:17 +0000

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep and you weep alone.
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
Sing and the hills will answer;
Sight it is lost on the air.
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice and men will seek you;
Grieve and they turn and go.
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.
Be glad and your friends are many;
Be sad and you lose them all.
There are none to decline your nectar wine,
But alone you must drink life’s gall.

(more…)

Forgiveness is Sweet

dingdans — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:08:47 +0000

It was so hard to forgive
Those who hurt and did me wrong,
The one who lied and those who tries
To snuff out my victor’s song

I took the shame and sorrow
They heaped upon my soul,
I bent and broke in pieces
No longer strong and whole.

My self esteem was zero,
I felt worthless, stained with dirt,
I bowed beneath the burden
Unsure, defamed, and hurt.

But then I met the savior,
And saw the way he came
To man king meek and lowly,
Shaped of a different frame

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ENDURING THE STORMS OF LIFE

dingdans — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:20:40 +0000

Sometimes it’s hard to take
The bitter with the sweet
To face the raging storms of life
And not give up in defeat.

Sometimes we rely on worldly things
To help us reach our goals
We build our hopes upon the sand
And the storms beat on our souls.

But if we put our trust in God
We’re building on His rock
And all the storms of life can’t harm
Anyone who’s in His flock.

We will endure the storms of life
With faith and trust in His love.
For He will set His lighthouse
To guide us from above

Then whatsoever challenges we face
Whatever be our plight
He will guide us safely home
If we only follow in His light.
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