I asked God for...

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey...
I asked for health, that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things...
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise...
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God...
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things...
I got nothing I asked for - but everything I had hoped for;
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed!

Before I Was A Mom

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,

the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

A Lesson in Smiling

A Lesson in Smiling

God Said:

Let Me brush away that frown

from your forehead

It doesn't belong there

It is like a wisp of hair

that has fallen out of place

There is no place for a frown

on your brow

Let go of the past,

and you will not know frown

Be puzzled at life,

but befuddlement

does not require a frown

What if all the puzzles

had beautiful resolutions

would you then frown?

Be serious about your smiles

They are such a boon to mankind

Smile at the next stranger you see

Smile at all ,

no matter what misdemeanor

may have done

Smile at all your loved ones

no matter how you may feel

You are being true to yourself

when you smile

You are not smiling to incur favor

Your smile is not false

You are smiling in order

to increase the world order

A smile will open your heart

A smile of good intent from you

will create more smiles

Well, if you cannot smile

in this minute,

perhaps you can laugh

at yourself,

laugh at how seriously

you are taking yourself

and events in your well-worn path

from house to work

and the grocery store

Why not walk through

every room of your house

and smile in recognition of a world

that God has created

and set before you

You do create your world quite a bit

I suggest you create

it with a smile

Surely there is something

to smile about

Give that something

the recognition it deserves

Even when you slip

in the mud on the street,

you have to smile, don't you?

Wherever you land, you can smile

Today I give you a lesson in smiling

No longer are you to be a grump,

even when you are by yourself

It is a natural thing to smile

Remember how happy you were

when you saw your

baby's first smile?

Once you were that baby

with a first smile

May your smile have been adored,

and nothing since

taught you to stop

the joy of your smile

Be smiling still

Alert other hearts

that smiles are here to stay

As you smile,

you teach others that this

is a friendly world

Make the world friendly

In whose presence

will you smile today

where you may never have before?

What corner of the world

are you going to brighten today

with simply a smile?

I think you will find

that you have more than

one smile to give

I think you will find that

one smile leads to another,

and another,

until your smile

has been passed around the world,

lighted up hearts,

and taught other beautiful souls to smile