Strength Verses Courage

It takes strength to be firm.
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard

It takes strength to conquer.
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain.
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in.
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend's pain.
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide your own pains.
It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse.
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone.
It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love.
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live

Attitude

Attitude

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or...
I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or...
I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases
wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble about my health or...
I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I
was growing up or...
I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns or...
I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friends or...
I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work or...
I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.

Today I can complain because I have to go to school or...
I can eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of
knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or...
I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my
mind, body, and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped.
And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me.
I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

--Author Unknown

Ever-Becoming You

Ever-Becoming You

You are ever-becoming you. There has not been a time
in your life, nor will there ever be, when you have been,
or will be, complete. You will never be perfect. There is
pain and joy in being fully aware of this and in applying
it to your everyday consciousness.

It is through the reality that you are constantly in the
process of ever-becoming MORE YOU that life unfolds
for you in ways that are out of your control. Flow with
that. Just flow...

Things scare us. Thing hurt us. Experiences often bring
us down. It all has purpose. It all has meaning. There IS
a reason for everything. Trust that, if nothing else.
Understand that, if nothing else.

Learn to welcome the pain that is part of "ever-becoming" you.
This pain is about growth. This pain is the guardian of your
authenticity. This pain teaches you that you Really are Strong
and that you can cope.

Often, life is like treading water. It can get tiring and feel
overwhelming. It can hurt and leave you feeling lost.
That's okay. Remember that as you tread, and are hanging
in there, life, from time to time offers us those wonderful
bright sunny days. The days when we get to take a break
from treading water are the days that life gifts us with peace.
It is on these days that we get to sail. We experience and feel joy.
We are rewarded for the work that we do in the trenches of
most of our days.

Life is a journey, not a destination. Take pride and pleasure,
even in and through your pain at the realization that you are
ever-becoming the YOU that destiny gave the gift of this life to.

Don`t You Worry

There`s a town called Don`t-You-Worry On the bank of River Smile Where the Cheer-ups and Be-Happy Blooms sweetly all the while. And the Nev`ER-Give-Up and Patience Point their faces to the sky. In the valley of Contentment In the province of I-Will You will find this lovely city, At the foot of No-Fret hill. There are thoroughfares delightful In this charming town. And on every hand are shade trees Named the Very-Seldom-Frown. Rustic benches quite enticing You`ll find scattered here and there; And to each a vine is clinging Called the Frequent-Earnest-Prayer. Everybody there is happy And is singing all the while, In the town of Don`t-You-Worry, On the banks of River Smile. Written By: I.J.Bartlett

Im Still Hot

New Beginnings

New Beginnings To believe is to know that every day is a new beginning. It is to trust that miracles happen, and dreams really do come true. To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds, to know the wonder of a stardust sky and the wisdom of the man in the moon. To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart, the innocence of a child's eyes and the beauty of an aging hand, for it is through their teachings we learn to love. To believe is to find the strength and courage that lies within us. When it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again. To believe is to know we are not alone, that life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it. To believe is to know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen, and all our hopes and dreams are within reach. If only we believe.