Have You Earned Your Tomorrow?

• Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
• Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
• This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through;

• Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

• Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along?
• Or a churlish sort of “Howdy” and then vanish in the throng?
• Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way,

• Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

• Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that’s slipping fast,
• That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed?
• Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;

• Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

• Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?
• Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
• As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say,
• You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?

~ Edgar A. Guest

Getting Old

“…all the years I used to carry don't feel quite so heavy anymore…”

~ Unknown 

Change Your Ending

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.

~ C. S. Lewis

I Wish You Peace

I wish you peace when times are hard

The light to guide you through the dark

And when storms are high and your, your dreams are low

I wish you the strength to let love grow

I wish you the strength to let love flow

~ The Eagles

When You Get to Know a Fellow

When you get to know a fellow, know his joys and know his cares, 

When you’ve come to understand him and the burdens that he bears, 

When you’ve learned the fight he’s making and the troubles in his way, 

Then you find that he is different than you thought him yesterday. 

You find his faults are trivial and there’s not so much to blame 

In the brother that you jeered at when you only knew his name. 

You are quick to see the blemish in the distant neighbor’s style, 

You can point to all his errors and may sneer at him the while,

And your prejudices fatten and your hates more violent grow

As you talk about the failures of the man you do not know,

But when drawn a little closer, and your hands and shoulders touch,

You find the traits you hated really don’t amount to much.

When you get to know a fellow, know his every mood and whim,

You begin to find the texture of the splendid side of him;

You begin to understand him, and you cease to scoff and sneer,

For with understanding always prejudice’s disappear.

You begin to find his virtues and his faults you cease to tell,

For you seldom hate a fellow when you know him very well.

When next you start in sneering and your phrases turn to blame,

Know more of him you censure than his business and his name;

For it’s likely that acquaintance would your prejudice dispel,

And you’d really come to like him if you knew him very well.

When you get to know a fellow and you understand his ways,

Then his faults won’t really matter, for you’ll find a lot to praise.

~ Edgar A. Guest

I'm Thinking About You

I want to tell you

in a few words

what I could not tell you

in too many

I want you to know 

that it will be hard 

to live without you

again

You will always be the one 

I'm thinking about

when somebody asks me 

who I'm thinking about

Merrit Malloy, The People Who Didn't Say Goodbye

My Choice

And I choose to be alone

Rather than wrapped in arms I could never need.

~ Merrit Malloy

Epitaph

When I die give what's left of me away

to children and old men that wait to die.

And if you need to cry,

cry for your brother walking the street beside you.

And when you need me, put your arms around anyone

and give them what you need to give me.

I want to leave you something,

something better than words or sounds.

Look for me in the people I've known or loved,

and if you cannot give me away,

at least let me live in your eyes and not in your mind.

You can love me best by letting hands touch hands,

and by letting go of children that need to be free.

Love doesn't die, people do.

So, when all that's left of me is love,

give me away.

 ~ Merrit Malloy, Things I Am Meant to Know

Give a Dog Your Heart

A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he will give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?

~ John Grogan, Marley & Me