THANKFUL FOR THE SIMPLICITY OF LOVE

 

Today I’m thankful for the simplicity of love:

For our path ahead is smooth…

If our purpose in life is

to love

to love

to love

to be kind

to heal

and to soothe.

WHEN DID THE WORDS CHANGE?

 

 ‘Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red, brown, yellow, black and white

All our precious in his or her sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world.’

I remember singing this song in catechism class

after which…with our teacher we’d discuss.

She said since we are all God’s children

he or she loves each and every one of us.

As we’d sing she would call us each by name…

saying God made us all a little different…

but he, or she, loves us just the same.

Our teacher was adamant in her faith, her beliefs and her assumptions…her conclusions…

She said this song has no fine print, no hidden clauses

no exemptions…no exclusions!

She said this is a song about love and how love is the key

the cornerstone of all life, of all religions and spirituality.

She taught us how singing is both a spiritual and beautiful way to pray….

and I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if we substituted Jesus

with Brahman, Buddha, Allah or Yahweh. 

She said we should feel love when we sing this song

and I’m sure all Gods would agree

our goal in life should be to spread this love for all the world to see.

But something’s happened to the song we sang when we were innocent and young

the words have lost their meaning…or perhaps the song’s no longer sung.

We are still those same children of the world…

Red, brown, yellow, black and white…

but along the way we’ve stopped seeing each other as precious in our sight.

To those of you who believe in religion…who believe in a God

but no longer believe the words to this song are true….

Look in the mirror…

the problem is not with your religion 

or your God…

The problem is with you.

THANKFUL FOR THE WISDOM OF OUR ELDERS

Today I’m thankful for the wisdom of our elders…

We should thank them ever day…

while remembering:

their wisdom does us no good

unless we heed the words they say.

 

YOUNG AND OLD

 It’s funny when we’re young and we think we know it all

we don’t always listen to what our elders have to say…

Often we don’t realize they gave us good advice…until we’re old and gray.

And when we repeat that good advice…once we’re old and gray

the young people, who now know it all, don’t always listen to what we have to say.

Still we try to impress upon them the things we’ve come to know…

Like how none of us are perfect and how it’s good to take things slow.

Like how a smile can change a person’s day…to never to ridicule…

how some religions can be wonderful…while others can be cruel.

Like how a kind word, a hug or touch can wipe away a tear….

how joy is often waiting on the other side of fear.

Like how we should listen and learn from nature…and all read a little more

how it’s okay to love our soldiers…while at the same time hating war.

Like how dogs pass away too early and our children grow up too fast

both reasons to always do our best…and make each moment last.

Like how there is more love than hate in this world 

How not one family member…not one daughter not one son…

should have their life or innocence ended by a bomb…or the bullet of a gun.

Like how kindness, love compassion and acceptance is what we were created for…

and knowing everyone is wonderfully different…we should practice each a little more.

Like how hatred, prejudice and resentment would all melt into the sea 

the moment we come to realize we are all one family.

So all you young ones out there…listen to the words of your elders…

Please don’t, like we did, wait!

because…by the time you’re old and gray…it might just be too late.

THANKFUL FOR METAMORPHOSIS

 

Today I’m thankful for metamorphosis

and all the changes in us that signify…

when we’re ready to take our rightful place

among the butterflies

BUTTERFLIES, CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

 

We recently purchased and planted milkweed…not only is it pleasing to the eye 

but we had the intention, with the milkweed, of attracting monarch butterflies.

We planted them in our back yard because we didn’t want to miss

one day, one moment…once stage…of their metamorphosis.

 

There is nothing more beautiful in nature than to see with our own eyes

The transformation from egg, to caterpillar to chrysalis…and finally butterfly.

As we watched this wonder of nature…from our front row, ringside view…

we couldn’t help thinking about our own children…and our grandchildren too. 

From inside the womb, where they were lovingly carried until they saw the light…

to when they crawled around like caterpillars…eating everything in sight.

From the chrysalis stage they exited grown up and mature…all in the blink of an eye…

to when they finally spread their wings and they began to fly.

Our children and grandchildren went through their own metamorphosis…

and now that they are grown

we see each has developed a unique personality…and a beauty all their own….

Every stage was vital as they transformed right before our eyes…

something they share in common…with the monarch butterflies.

TRHANKFUL FOR MIRACLES

 

Today I’m thankful for how life is made up of a multitude of little miracles.

how every day our creators find ways to free them…

and how lucky we are for they have also freed up…

our ability to see them.