You never tire of me though the situation may be that dire,
And you, my Lord, never hire me out to an insolent squire,
And my soul is diffident before you, my bows in adoration
As my hands offer libation in an oblation of heart worship,
Of my gratitude in an attitude of love ‘n joyful resignation
Without hesitation in acknowledgment of your salvation,
Because you never tire of me in whom you light your fire
For the streams and hillocks and sweet dreams,
Fountains of water, and flowers and mountains
That rise, and blue skies, how could I despise?
For fireflies, moonlight at night, and the stars
That shine from afar; for my friends and family
So near and dear, where is there room for fear?
For perfect love from above casts out all fear!
For riverbanks and the quiet time, I give thanks;
For sunrays and bays and child’s play in the day,
And ballets and bouquets, how could I be hateful;
No! I am grateful … grateful for this and more…
And so I say, ‘Good Morning Life! Good Morning!’
Note: First published on March 12, 2017
I thank Sol for shining so brightly,
And Luna lighting the sky nightly;
I thank the canopy of heaven so blue,
And clouds and rain they bring anew’
I thank all the birds that daily sing,
With the deep, soulish joy they bring;
I thank the soft, chill breeze blowing
In Fall, teasing another winter showing;
I thank all living creatures, far and near,
Those who bring fear, and those so dear;
I thank love and beauty ever present,
Hidden sometimes, but never absent;
I thank thanksgiving in ever-gratitude,
And the pleasantries it brings, sings
∈∋∈∋∈∋∈∋∈∋∈∋ with joyful attitude.
I cannot think of a better challenge than the ‘Be Thankful Challenge,’ which I received from My Silly World, a wonderfully interesting and inspirational blog. Please, by all means visit this site!
The Rules
– Share this image in your blog post.
– Write about 5 people in your life you are thankful for.
– Write about 5 things in 2015 that you are thankful for.
– Spread the love and challenge 5 other blogs to take part.
Five People For Whom I Am Thankful:
Five Gratitudes From Year 2015:
Here is where I will deviate and challenge all of my blog-buddies to take the Thank-Challenge! For what are you thankful? Let us know … let the world know!
![bloggeraward[1]](https://noblethemes.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/bloggeraward1.jpg)
Well, to say the least, I’m truly humbled and honored to have received the ‘Blogger Recognition Award,’ and I heartily thank Amina Berg for her nomination of my site. Quite some time ago, I did receive an award, but as Amina said in her own comments, this is still rather new to me … and, well, exciting! After all, who doesn’t like to be recognized? This is energizing and inspirational, all for which I’m profoundly grateful.
Consequently, I’m very happy to abide by the “rules of the game,” so to speak, and make my own nominations. I’m only sorry that I’m limited to 15… It almost seems unfair that I should leave out anyone who has contributed so much to my life, and believe me, many blog articles and poems have made a tremendous impact!
First, however, I understand I’m supposed to say a few word about how I began blogging, then offer some advice to new bloggers.
How I started blogging
Actually, I began writing seriously when I was in the eighth grade, when we had no Internet and, of course, had heard nothing of “blogging.” My greatest hope then was to have a letter to the editor actually published in the local newspaper! When that happened I was exhilarated! So when technology advanced and we entered cyberspace, surfacing the “Net,” an entirely new world opened up to me. At first, I started my own (free) web page. (Does anyone remember those days? The look and feel of it all was really tacky! LOL) This is where I first “blogged,” I suppose, even though it was not called “blogging.” Believe me, when I first tripped into Word Press, it was like a gift heaven-sent. I could actually have an open space, free (unless I wanted to add some features), and aesthetically appealing (or at least not tacky. LOL) Now I’ve been officially blogging for … hmmm, over three years? Well, quite a few years, and still loving it; probably loving it more now than when I first began.
Advice to new bloggers
Be authentic, genuine, true to who you are and what it is you really want to present. Take time; take care and, what might be very difficult, take critique with serious consideration. Work to improve, but don’t stress out… Have fun!
Again, as Amina said, there are many bloggers I’d like to recognize but the “rules of the game” limit us to fifteen. Be that as it may, I would like to pass along the ‘Blogger Recognition Award’ to the following blogs/bloggers:
… AND here are the rules for the “Blogger Recognition Award”:
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Never one day passes that I do not remember my parents and breath a prayer of gratitude. Two individuals joined together in loving intimacy and gave rise to my unique life. My father and mother carefully and affectionately prepared for my birth, fashioning for me a very special place in their home and hearts. And this doting mother and father, from whom I quite literally originated, were there with open arms to welcome me into the world; to care for me and to nurture the life they each had given me. How, then, could I fail to be thankful? The greatest blessings with which I have been blessed are all ultimately rooted in the lives of those two precious souls… And so once again I say, “thank you.”
“My heroes are and were my parents. I can’t see having anyone else as my heroes.”
– Michael Jordan, 20th Century American Athlete
“Love your parents and treat them with love and care. For you will only know their value when you see their empty chair.”
– Anonymous
There is no blindness greater than the blindness of a thankless heart that simply refuses to see any reasons at all for gratitude. Much to my own shame, great portions of my life have been wasted in just this sort of self-imposed darkness, and tragically those who loved me the most were often the ones hurt the most by my own self-centered grievances. But if I “once was blind,” in the words of that ancient hymn, now I really do see; I see light on the far horizon. Light growing in the darkness, driving away the shadows, revealing in greater and ever greater clarity those blessings that have always been mine, and so many more that yet might belong to me if only I believe and reach out and lay claim to them. Yes, there are plenty of reasons to be thankful, and so I am thankful. And the more I live in this spirit of genuine gratitude, the more I seem to see; the less blind I seem to be.
“Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.”
– Aesop
“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.”
– John Milton
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