Note: My wife Ann is a good writer. Read carefully some of her thoughts published 25 years ago in a book called, “Laughter, tears, feelings and memories.”

    “Dear Lord,
        Teach me to be trusting instead of doubtful – peaceful instead of quarrelsome – humble instead of haughty. Teach me to stop thinking I know so much more and better than others. Lord, help me to stop talking so much, and listen – to the quietness around me – to the quiet peace that encourages growth – as a tiny seed just planted, or a child, just conceived.
        Help me to listen with quiet expectancy for a knock on the door. The arrival of one I love – or a telephone call. A quiet awareness – patient and eager – waiting for you to teach me. Lord, teach me to let my mind rest, and cease my useless worries. Stop me from asking so many questions. Help me to sit quietly in the early morning hours, before the sunrise . . . when your small creatures are beginning to awaken – teach me to sit quietly alone with you – as a mother sitting with her sleeping baby – smiling. Listen to soft breathing – or a child gently stroking a kitten – listening to its purr.
        Help me to learn to sit quietly on the porch – and rock – learn to hear the chirping of the baby house wrens – waiting to be fed. Or walking by the lake trying to feel the gentle breeze across the water – causing it to sparkle like a million stars. Hear the crickets answering each other’s call. – or the croaking of the rain frogs after the storm -Still my heart with the rustling of the leaves in the wind.
        Lord, teach me to wait patiently in this journey through life – help me to know that “all things will happen for my good” – because I love you. Help me to know that the reason for each new happening will come clear to me. Please Lord, help me to grow without complaining – as a rambling rose – going wherever you want me to go – or as a bit of dandelion fluff blown in the wind. Lord, help me to lean on you – to always turn to you who gives all of life – purpose. Because of you I find love and life.
        There are so many things that I don’t understand – don’t know – don’t like – want – but don’t have – have, but wish I didn’t. Lord, in spite of happiness I’ve found, happiness I’ve enjoyed – happiness marred by suffering – Lord, for the good things I’ve had – for the things I will have – for what I have been – and what I am now – for stumbling and falling – I thank you Lord.
        Thank you for the flowers, the fresh vegetables, for the birds, robins, bluebirds – the cotton-tailed rabbits – the rivers – for music – for art – for friends – for the beautiful trees – for the grass – the kittens – for dogs – for butterflies – for stars – for sunshine – for water to drink – for soil – for laughter – for the love of my husband – for mothers – brothers – sisters – nieces – for nephews – for sisters-in-law – for sons and daughters – for daughters-in-law – for sons-in-law – for grandchildren – sisters in the Lord, for health, for life.
        Thank you for seeing – all those I love – my grand children smiling – running with outstretched arms – to greet me with their hugs and kisses – hearing the night noises – the children’s laughter – my husband’s gentle and urgent kiss – his hand on mine. May I remember the taste of freshly churned butter – melting on hot homemade biscuits – The smell of sweet honeysuckle in the spring – the odor of the first “made from scratch” cake – the girls have just taken out of the oven – Yes, Lord, thank you for the five senses – and for trusted friends – faith – beauty – hope – goodness – generosity – mercy – joy – peace – creativity – imagination – tenderness – kindness – gentleness – For all of these wonderful blessings, Lord, I thank you.
        But above all these – I thank you for love; you are love, in Jesus name, Amen.”

    (note) May I add to this most beautiful writing, one of my favorite poems, “THE WORLD IS MINE” (author unknown).
    “Today upon a bus I saw a lovely maid with golden hair, I envied her, she seemed so gay, I wished I were as fair. When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle. She had one foot and wore a crutch, but as she passed, a smile. O God you forgive me when I whine, I have two feet, the world is mine.
    When 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 to folks like you, you see he said, “I’m blind”. O God, you 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; he seemed he knew not what to do. “Why don’t you join the others dear?” and then I knew he could not hear. O 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, O God, forgive me when I whine, I’m blessed indeed, the world is mine.”