Life's Challenges - Poems - Be Thankful

Appreciate What You Have

Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with
golden hair. I envied her - she seemed so
gay - and wished I were as fair. When
suddenly she arose to leave, I saw the
cruel braces as she hobbled down the aisle;
a victim of polio was she. But as she passed
-- a smile!
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two straight feet. The world is mine!

And then I stopped to buy some sweets.
The lad who sold them had such charm.
I talked with him. He said to me, "It's nice
to talk with folks like you. You see," he said,
"I'm blind." Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes. The world is mine!

Then walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play.
It seemed he knew not what to do.
I stopped a moment, then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word
and then I knew.... He could not hear.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two ears. The world is mine!

With feet to take me where I'd go,
with eyes to see the sunset's glow;
with ears to hear what I would know --
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I'm blessed indeed. The world is mine!

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Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something.
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations.
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge.
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary.
It means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also
thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they
can become your blessings.

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Lord Forgive Me When I Whine

Today, upon a bus, I saw a lovely girl with golden hair, I envied her... She seemed so happy... and I wished I were as fair. When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle; She had one leg and used a crutch; but as she passed... a smile! Oh dear GOD, forgive me when I whine, I have two good legs. The world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy. The boy who sold it had such charm. I talked with him. He seemed so glad. If I were late, 'twould do no harm. And as I left he said to me, "thank you." You have been so kind. It's nice to talk with folks like you. For you see, he said, "I'm blind." Oh, GOD forgive me when I whine, I have two eyes. The world is mine.

Later, while walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes so blue. He stood and watched the others play. He did not know what to do. I stopped a moment, then I said, "why don't you join the others, dear?" He look ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear. Oh, GOD forgive me when I whine, I have two ears. The world is mine.

With feet to take me where I'd go, With eyes to see the sunset's glow, With ears to hear what I should know... Oh, GOD forgive me when I whine. You have truly blessed me. The world is mine...

Author Unknown

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Blessings

"Forget about the days
when it's been cloudy,
but don't forget your
hours in the sun.

Forget about the times
you've been defeated,
but don't forget the
victories you've won.

Forget about the mistakes
that you can't change now,
but don't forget the lessons.

Forget about the misfortunes
you've encountered,
but don't forget the
times your luck has turned.

Forget about the days
when you've been lonely,
but don't forget the friendly
smiles you've seen....

Forget about the plans
that didn't seem
to work out right,
but don't forget to
always have a dream."

Author Unknown

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Always Remember

Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.

But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.

Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.

But don't forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.

Always remember to forget
The troubles that have passed away.

But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

Proverbs 10:7 "Good people will be remembered as a blessing, but the wicked will soon be forgotten."

Author Unknown

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The Blessed Test

I woke up this morning and knew that today,
the sun would not be shining and the clouds would be gray.

As I stepped outside, rain fell upon my head.
My car wouldn't start so I walked to school instead.

I forgot all of my assignments, I failed all of my tests.
I dropped my head in disgust and asked the Lord for one request.

"Lord, why is it that things won't go my way?"
He gently replied, "Dear child it is because you didn't thank me yesterday.

I woke you up and enabled you to see the sun again.
I gave you shelter, protected your family, and even let you make a new friend.

I blessed you far greater than I ever had before.
But you were too busy to thank me once more.

You didn't feel sick because I maintained your health.
You had money in your pocket because I maintained your wealth.

You had shoes on you feet and clothes to wear, too.
You had plenty of food to eat, and what did you do?

You ignored me and went about your tasks.
But when you wanted something you never hesitated to ask.

I was there when you needed me, and that wasn't too long ago.
But when things started going your way, it was me you did not know.

As if that weren't enough, I provided your favorite luxuries.
This was something I didn't have to do-they weren't even necessities

And when it was time to get on your knees and show your gratitude,
You decided that after such a fulfilling day, you weren't in the mood.

So I decided to give you just a little test.
To show you how it would feel to stop being blessed."

I began to realize what the Lord was saying.
And when I got home, I fell to my knees and started praying.

He said, "My child, you have learned and you know I do forgive.
But remember to remember this day as long as you shall live."

I love filling your life with joy, and your pain I'll alleviate it.
But just a simple thank you would show how much you appreciate it.

Author unknown

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My Cup

I've never made a fortune
and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much
I'm happy anyhow.

And as I go along life's way
I'm reaping better than I sow,
I'm drinking from my saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches
and sometimes the going's tough,
But I've got loving ones around me
and that makes me rich enough.

I thank God for his blessings
and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

There were times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin,
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and sun peeped through again.

So Lord, help me not to gripe
about the tough rows that I've hoed,
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings,
I'm already blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Author Unknown

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One Guy Didn't

Three guys were tried for crimes against humanity.
Two guys committed crimes.
One guy didn't.

Three guys were given government trials.
Two guys had fair trials.
One guy didn't.

Three guys were whipped and beaten.
Two guys had it coming.
One guy didn't.

Three guys were given crosses to carry.
Two guys earned their crosses.
One guy didn't.

Three guys were mocked and spit at along the way.
Two guys cursed and spit back.
One guy didn't.

Three guys were nailed to crosses.
Two guys deserved it.
One guy didn't.

Three guys agonized over their abandonment.
Two guys had reason to be abandoned.
One guy didn't.

Three guys talked while hanging on their crosses.
Two guys argued.
One guy didn't.

Three guys knew death was coming.
Two guys resisted.
One guy didn't.

One.
Two.
Three guys died on three crosses.

Three days later.
Two guys remained in their graves.
One guy didn't.

Author Unknown

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Who Packed Your Parachute

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.

Charles Plumb, a US Naval Academy graduate, was a jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, you're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied.

Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."

Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man.

Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: A white hat, a bib in the back, and bell bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said good morning, how are you or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor."

Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory-he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.

His experience reminds us all to prepare ourselves to weather whatever storms lie ahead. As you go through this week, this month, this year...recognize people who pack your parachute!

Author Unknown

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