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Monday, June 14, 2010

Misguided Disappointment

Conflict is misguided disappointment
Disappointment turns into criticism
Criticism leads to contempt
Contempt leads to defensiveness
Defensiveness blocks communication
You can’t command a feeling
But you can command action and behavior.
How you act or behave
can be controlled by the individual


You may feel mad
but you don’t have to act mad
You may feel hurt
but you don’t have to act hurt
You may feel insulted
but you do not have to act insulted
You may feel unfairly treated but
you do not have to act
as if you are unfairly treated.

Strong Woman or Woman of Strength


A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything.
A woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.


A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her.
A woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone.


A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids them in the future.
A woman of strength realizes life’s mistakes can also be God’s blessings and capitalizes on them.


A strong woman walks sure footedly.
A woman of strength knows God will catch her if she falls.


A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face.
A woman of strength wears grace.


A strong woman works out to keep her body in shape.
A woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.


A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey.
A woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong! 

Friday, June 11, 2010

A Lesson In Angel Making

A Lesson in Angel Making
Written by Cricket Townsend


She never wanted a halo
nor sought a pair of wings.
For in her heart, 
she knew nothing in her life
deserved such a heavenly prize. 
For you see, 
she was merely human, 
too often she had failed,
many times had fallen
and had to start over
once more.


Still yet, a halo
was plunked 
on top her head,
the wings of the Divine
shoved beneath her arms, 
and gifts bestowed upon he
for all her angelic charm. 


She tried to explain, 
"These wings aren't meant for me."
"This halo?
"Well, its's just not my style."
But, her voice 
was like the wind. 
No one seemed to listen.


She wanted to deserve them, 
all the feathers and the glitter.
Maybe, she's get use to them
always getting in the way
So, she tried her best to fly, 
but never seemed 
to get too high. 
And, that halo?
Well, it never did work right.


It wasn't long
before those wings 
hung broken by her side. 
And, the halo
bent and twisted, 
landed on the ground.


In return for those
mistakes she made, 
the gifts once freely given, 
were swiftly taken back. 
For, only perfect angels
receive gifts like that. 
Now a fallen angel, 
she lifts her broken wings to fly, 
and tilts her tattered halo
toward those Golden Gates. 
For if indeed, 
her heavenly race 
she is to win, 
she wants to take that halo
and those broken broken wings, 
and return them to their home. 


The little fallen angel
knows not 
what waits beyond 
the Crystal Sea
But surely there won't be
another golden halo and 
another pair of wings. 
If the glorious finish line, 
she finally ever crosses. 
she wants so much to find
the only perfect One
somewhere waiting there. 
She only wants to tell Him
She's so very sorry 
for failing
in
oh, so many ways, 
and hand him
that poor halo 
and  those awful broken wings.


When she finally finds Him, 
and lays them at His feet, 
He Gently wraps her 
in His arms
and whisper in her ear. 
"It's okay my child."
"Those wings did not
come from here."
"And, that halo
wasn't even real"
"I never intended
for you to fly."
"I only meant for you to walk,
until you got back home to me."


So, what lessons can we learn
from this tiny tale I've told?
There are no mortal angels 
fly around this earth.
No, God's created beings
are only little children
who fall along life's way 
and rise to try again
another day.
Each meant to run a race
to reach their Makers home. 
And when they fall, 
as God always knew they would,
He picks them up;
dust them off;
stands them straight again;
and points the way once more
towards their heavenly home.


So, never make a mortal angel.
Sure, they'll wear the wings 
you give them and 
sport the halo
plunked on top 
their head.
But, they too
will surely fall, 
and beyond the Crystal Sea, 
Someone will haul away 
another tattered halo 
and one more pair of awful wings.


And just in case 
you haven't noticed, 
there is no need to 
make a mortal angel.
For God already gave us 
our own 
perfect Angel.
He died upon a rugged cross,
and to the final fall for all. 
He rose up from 
the darkest grave, 
So, we might start 
our lives brand new, 
He will never
disappoint you. 
His wings?
You see, 
they're genuine
angel's wings, 
and
they're really
truly awesome. 
And, His halo?
Well, I don't know why, 
but it always works just right. 

Lesson in Angel Making
Copyright by Cricket Townsend