I am grateful for my lips
and grateful for my arms too
and I hope they will alway do…
what they were created and meant to do.
Our lips are meant for speaking words of love and kindness
and meant for kissing too….
Our arms are meant for welcoming others
for hugging when someone is happy
and hugging when someone is blue.
May we be blessed to understand….
especially on days we’re feeling blue…
exactly what a simple hug and kiss can do.
They help us connect to others
They’re like an umbrella in the rain…
They help reduce our stress
as well as eat our pain.
They remind us someone love us
They can help to ease our fears…
They let us know we’re not alone…
They can wipe away our tears.
I wonder in this time of upheaval
with people at each other’s throats
and countries waging war….
If this hatred for one one another would cease
If we hugged and kissed a little more.
He remembers everything about their first kiss
It’s a feeling that never goes away…
He remembers their first kiss…as if it happened yesterday…
And after all these years he still kisses her the same…
before each kiss he holds his breath
and with a smile…shuts his eyes…
and here's the reason why…
He closes his eyes when he sleeps…
to allow his dreams to come through…
and he closes his eyes when he kisses her…
because each kiss another dream come true.
He held his breath before their first kiss…
which he still does today….
because every time she kisses him…
she takes his breath away.
He understands how lucky he’s been…
that together in life they’ve been immersed
and he knows if there ever is a last kiss between them
it will be as beautiful
as exciting
and as beautiful
as the first.
I am grateful
for the variety of people whose path’s in life I’ve crossed
who were behind me those times I’ve succeeded…
as well all the times I’ve lost.
For every person along the way…every encounter…
I’ve gained new knowledge from…
and all have helped to strengthen me
for whatever is yet to come.
May you always remember this about people who hate you
on the basis of the color of your skin,
your sex, gender, sexual preference or religious view…
THE PROBLEM IS WITH THEM…
THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH YOU!
Although I find this difficult to do…
in the world I’m trying to create...
I will do my best not to return your anger with anger...
or return your hate...with hate.
I believe in human rights
the rights of everyone to be free
and I gladly lend my voice to the chorus
of peace and harmony.
Hate has tried to rule the world
from every demagogue, dictator and tsar.
When you take a look at history...
how’s that worked out so far?
Although it is often difficult to do
in this world I’m trying to enhance...
I will do my best to return your hate with love...
It’s the only way…peace will ever have a chance!
I am grateful for my ancestors….
all those who have sailed before me down life’s stream…
and I hope from where they’re watching…
I have exceeded their wildest dreams…
And I gladly take my place among them
as I sail down life’s stream…
as I watch my own children and grandchildren
exceed my wildest dreams.
May we be blessed to remember
all the ancestors we’ve come from…
and to live our life so they’ll be proud
of the person we’ve become.
No one really knows what happens after someone we love dies…
It’s something we try not to think about…and often don’t discuss.
but I like to think…from wherever they now reside…they’re watching over us.
Sometimes we feel their presence…and we know we’re not alone
other times we’re sure…as they make their presences known.
Those times we hear their voice…calling from another room
Or when just the thought of them can help to ease our gloom
Those times we see their spirit…if only for a little while…
Or when we really need it…we remember how they smiled.
Oftentimes it’s a surprise…they show up suddenly without a fuss
As we’re doing something that had a special meaning…for the two of us.
They may show up as a pelican…a bumble bee
a lunar moth or a butterfly…
We wonder in that moment…what and how and why…
As we wipe our tears and smile
we are calm, unafraid and happy they found a way
to come down for a visit…and brighten up our day.
Here to remind us the line between life and death is thin…
and how even those no longer with us…
have a way of looking in.
It’s funny how they appear to us…as a thought…a vision or a ghost…
when we least expect them…but…when we seem to need them most.
How they fill our heart with love…and how we’ve found
we sleep a little sounder…knowing they’re around.
It is reassuring to know they will never abandon us
that they still think about us too…
and comforting to know they are watching over us…
just like they used to do.
I am grateful for all the people in my life
who, whenever my wings have been broken
have come by to help my broken wing mend…
who through their love,
their caring and support
have helped me fly again.
May our hearts be lifted on the wings of hope
as we wish for a world where hatred, wars and killing will finally cease…
and may our spirits be lifted as well
on the gentle wings of love…and joy and peace.
We stopped in to see our grand niece…who recovering from hip surgery…
is a like a bird with a broken wing…
Lunch and some time together…we were more than happy to bring.
Her family and friends are all taking turns stopping in or coming by…
to spend some time and lift her spirits until she’s ready to fly.
What we discovered on this visit…both inspiring and electrifying…
Is how one broken wing can’t stop one’s hopes and dreams from flying…
As we ate and talked and laughed discussing many things
I thought how, at one time or another, we’ve all had broken wings.
And how lucky we are to have family and friends…who take the time to drop by
to lift our spirits until our wing is healed and we once again can fly.
How a broken wing, with the help of family and friends, isn’t as bad as it first seems
how if we’re patient with a little encouragement…
we’ll be back to flying with our dreams.
It made me think of all the people in the world with broken wings
and how If we treated them with the same kindness, love and grace…
we’d all be happily united into making the world a better place.
Because every moment we help anyone recover from a broken wing
when we offer our support…when we help them to survive
these are the moments in life we are at our best…when we truly feel alive.
And shouldn’t our goal in life…each day as we head out our front door
be to treat everyone like they have a broken wing…
and leave them a little better than the were the day before.
A little happier, like our grand niece, knowing someone cares…
knowing they are not alone…
and knowing they’re one day closer to when their wing is mended
and they are flying on her own…
