• Brighten the Corner Where You Are

We cannot all be famous or be listed in "Who's Who," But every person great or small has important work to do. For seldom do we realize the importance of small deeds Or to what degree of greatness unnoticed kindness leads-- For it's not the big celebrity in a world of fame and praise, But it's doing unpretentiously in undistinguished ways The work that God assigned to us, unimportant as it seems, That makes our task outstanding and brings reality to dreams-- So do not sit and idly wish for wider, new dimensions Where you can put in practice your "GOOD INTENTIONS"-- But at the spot God placed you begin at once to do Little things to brighten up the lives surrounding you, For if everybody brightened up the spot on which they're standing By being more considerate and a little less demanding, This dark old world would very soon eclipse the "EVENING STAR" If everybody BRIGHTENED UP THE CORNER WHERE THEY ARE! by Helen Steiner Rice

• COMES THE DAWN

After awhile you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul. And you learn that love doesn't mean security, And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts And presents aren't promises. And you begin to accept your defeats with you head up and your eyes open. With the grace of maturity, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build all your roads on Today because tommorow's ground is too uncertain for plans, And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. After awhile you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much. So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure... That you really are strong And that you really do have worth. And you learn and learn and learn .... With every goodbye you learn.

-Veronica A. Shoftstall

• A Blameless Life

But the just man, though he die early, shall be at rest.

For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years.

Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age.

He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported—

Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul;

For the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind.

Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore He sped him out of the midst of wickedness.

But the people saw and did not understand, nor did they take this into account.

Because grace and mercy are with His holy ones, and His care is with His elect.

• Crossing the Bar

Alfred Lord Tennyson Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crossed the bar.

• Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

• Death is Nothing At All

Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well.

• A Parable of Immortality

by Henry Van Dyke "I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, 'There she goes!'

Gone where? Gone from my sight ... that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, 'There she goes!' there are other eyes watching her coming and their voices ready to take up the glad shouts 'Here she comes!'"

• When tomorrow starts without me,

and I'm not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes All filled with tears for me:

I wish you wouldn't cry The way you did today, While thinking of the many things, We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me, As much as I love you, And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too:

But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand, That an angel came and called my name, And took me by the hand.

And said my place was ready, In heaven far above, And that I'd have to leave behind All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away, A tear fell from my eye For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for, So much left yet to do, It seemed almost impossible, That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays, The good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared, And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday, Just even for a while, I'd say good-bye and kiss you And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized, That this could never be, For emptiness and memories, Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did, My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home. When God looked down and smiled at me, From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity. And all I've promised you. Today your life on earth is past, But here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow, But today will always last, And since each day's the same way There's no longing for the past.

You have been so faithful, So trusting and so true. Though there were times You did some things

You knew you shouldn't do. But you have been forgiven And now at last you're free. So won't you come and take my hand And share my life with me?"

So when tomorrow starts without me, Don't think we're far apart, For every time you think of me, I'm right here, in your heart.