Delightfully Digital

Prayers for Hatii

If you are praying for Hatii, please post a note below. I know the precious folks in the rubble won't see it but friends and family all over the world might see that we are concerned and are praying for their loved ones.

You would think I might be sad that the news brings me to tears but they are a reminder to me that no matter how much heartache and trouble people go through, this type of calamity still stirs up the compassion that still rests in our hearts.

Fires , floods, hurricanes and even wars have not emptied our hearts of that compassion. Hurting hearts reach out to other hurting hearts as God holds each one in His embrace.

Pray for our country, our military, our economy, all of our country's needs and add to your prays...those who live in or have loved ones in Hatii .

Rain

God sends rain
To water the earth
To give plants and flowers
A beautiful birth!

God sends rain
To fill the sea
To provide the fish
For you and me!

God sends raindrops
And storm clouds our way.
Then sends a rainbow of color
To brighten our day.

God sends rain on His world
To wash it clean again
And after its lovely bath...
He dries it with the wind.

Thena

A Weighty Matter

A Weighty Matter

I awoke this morning

And examined a new diet

I thought to myself

It wouldn't hurt to try it!

As I glanced at the tidy packages

From the first to the last

I was ready to begin

With powdered “Lose Weight fast.”

I unzipped a tiny package

And poured in some water

(It would barely suffice

To hydrate a baby daughter).

It occurred to me as I stirred

And stirred it again

(Trying to find something

To remove at least one chin...)

That if this food was so perfect-

Each drink I must make

How come Eden's garden

Didn't come with a shake?

Green veggies and rosy apples,

Plump pears, bananas and more

All kinds of sweet fruit

I can get fresh from the store.

But nowhere do I see in the packages

Ere I peek inside them

Any luscious sweet nourishments

There's no place to hide them!

So, I've reconsidered just have fast I must lose

Along with the weigh loss method to choose.

I will just march along slowly wearing a grin

And accept all of photos with at least one double chin.

I will eat my veggies

My fruit plump and ripe

And when I can't have bacon

I'll try not to gripe.

I will cut down on sweets

And try to be good

About exercising each day

While eating those things I should.

So bye bye powered stuff

Sold in tiny packets

I tried that route

And I just couldn't hack it.

I need crunching and chomping

And flavor and taste

Otherwise lunchtime

Would just be a waste!

I love aroma and flavor-

Steam rising up that just won't stop:

I need seasonings and salads

With croûtons on top.

I need the nutrients

That God put in our food

Along with the flavors

That makes it so good!

But if all of that fails

And my frame is not svelte

If my cheeks are still plump

And my ankles still “swelt”...

I will work from home

And not venture out any more

But just treat all of my photos

With Adobe CS4...

Thena

I' m Back!

I guess we all go through times when our blogs are neglected as life gets fast and furious. It's not how I pictured retirement (or is it semi retirement when I have been constantly busy with writing projects AG (After Governement work).

Well, I hope to be more diligent and get back to sharing with family and friends on my blog.

My Best Christmas Gift - A Simple Christmas Story

I got a small package in the mail today...a flat 8.5 x 11 envelope actually. I was surprised to see the return address was from PA and was that of a former pastor from years ago. When I opened it up, it took my breath away for a moment.
There was a note explaining that this poem and 5.00 bill that I had given as an offering in 1983 was being returned to me to pass down as part of my inheritance to our daughter.
The pastor stated that she could not bring herself to actually use it and wanted to return it to me with the same joy it was received many years ago.
Although I meant what I said when I gave it as an offering from my heart, I must say that her thoughtfulness and the receipt of it brought me to tears. To hold something in my hands that Mom had handled so many years ago was special and I felt it had an extra
connection to Heaven and back.

Here's the poem if you want to read it.

Mom’s Gift to Me

I have here in my pocket
A crumpled $5.00 bill.
Now, that may not seem exciting-
But perhaps my story will.

My Mom went on to Glory,
Her lord she went to see,
And among her earthly possession,
She left this bill to me.

Now there was no big estate to settle.
Her children numbered three
And in her hand written will,
Her money went to me.

Her wallet was in her purse
Filled with pictures to the brim,
Kids, husband and grandkids,
Oh, she was so proud of them!

Mom always said
That she was rich
In ways that counted most.
She taught us kids about
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

She always seemed to be there
Whenever we had a need.
She taught us as little kids
How to pray and intercede.

She said she didn’t really care
If we were president or not
Just as long as we were our best
At whatever job we got.

She didn’t have much money
She had no wealth of fame
But she taught us the Power
Of using Jesus’s Name!

She had no position
Of rank or authority
She was under no feeling
Of superiority.

She wasn’t a college graduate-
She was educated in a country school
Where daily they read God’s Word
And recited the Golden Rule.

So I kept this bill
To remind me
Just how much she cared
But the thing I remembered most today
Was how she always shared.

This bill was all she left me
In cash that could be spent
It isn’t even pretty
It’s all crumpled up and bent.

I need this bill no longer
For I realized that it’s true
That she left me something more important
My love, Dear Lord, for You!

This last thing
That I’ve held out
I give to you, now, Lord
Without one doubt.

For Mom is in Heaven
Right there with you
And I think her money
Should be there too.

So Pastor, enclosed please find
One five-dollar bill
Use it to do
The Father’s will.

Oh, Father, I wish
That Mom could see-
I would like to think
She would be proud
…………..of me…

Thena Smith’
9-4-83

I Awoke This Morning With a Prayer

I awoke this morning with a prayer
Asking God to keep you in His care
Wrap His arms around you today
Sending all illness far away.

As I awoke I felt a tear
That slipped down my face as I could hear
The little whisper in my heart
That knows when you hurt, even though we're apart.

But then God showed me
How by His love and grace
He would keep you in His embrace
And wipe the tears  off your  dear face.

And then I heard a little song
That had been there all along
A song God has placed in your spirit
Ready to cheer you whenever you need to hear it.

God knows all you've been through
And knows the things that trouble you
But there is comfort to be found
And in God's timing joy will abound.

God loves you and is with you
And He will be there to guide you
His arms will be there to lean on

For He is always right beside you.

Just reach out to Him for comfort
And know that He is there
You never have to search for Him
He's as close as a whispered  prayer.

Love,
Thena

Hope your year is going great so far!

HAPPY 2010!