Cause for Celebration

Cause for Celebration

What a lovely way to celebrate today
The miracles that God sent our way.
Every time we look at you
Today and your whole lives through
Will be a celebration.
We dedicate you back to the one who
Gave us the precious gift of you
And as we sing together as we do
This special act of faith and love
Baptism that confirms our belief in God above
Realizing that each day He sends our way
Is cause for celebration.
Thena

First Snow

Look at her face
With eyes all aglow
Pondering in awe
The experience of snow!

Tiny flakes falling
Straight from the sky
Fall first on her head
And then into her eye.

But she doesn't fret
And she lets us know
That the sky is delightful
As it releases 'her' snow.

Thena

Nursing At My Breast

Nursing At My Breast

My motherly heart was softened
More than I could ever realize
With the first look I took
Into my newborn's eyes.

My nuturing love is in full bloom
And I am my motherly best
When I am craddling my child
Who is nursing at my breast.

Thena

A Prayer Quilt

A Prayer Quilt

A quilt is such a special thing
And gives the heart a lift
But this one is very precious
Because it is a prayer quilt.

With each delicate stitch
In its softness there
Is offered up
A heartfelt prayer.

And when you rest
At the end of the day
May many blessing s
Come your way.

Thena


May God bless you and keep you safe from harm
And may this prayer quilt keep you warm.
For in every single moment spent
And in every stitch a prayer was sent
Asking God to send your way
Multiple blessings every day.

Heart Song

Heart Song

My heart has a voice
That it uses to sing
It knows the words
Of love songs and things...

It knows the words
To songs of friends
It knows songs of blessings
Without any end...

But sometimes in times
Of hurt and distress
My heart forgets the song
That it once knew the best...

And in those trying times
Lord, I turn in faith to you
And ask You to restore my song
And let my heart sing anew.


Thena Smith

Behind Each

Behind each book
There is an author
Behind each design
Is a designer
Behind each quilt
Is a quilter
Behind each sermon
Is a pastor
Behind each creation
That is made Is a heart that may be tender
And perhaps a bit afraid.
Afraid they might be a failure
At what they love to do
But willing to take that chance
And offer their heart to you
For behind each product
Is a heart that can be
Hurt to it's very center
By remarks from you and me.
Where would we be without the contributions
That those who God great talent has given
What would our world look like
Without those folks so driven.
For although beauty of our earth
Was done by God's own hands
He so lovingly bestowed talent I
nto His most precious creation -man.
And He must watch us from His Heaven
And beam with Fatherly pride
As He sees those who use the talents given
From their hearts He placed inside.
Let us enjoy the beauty God gave us
In the form of earth, land and sea
But appreciate the gifts of others
At every opportunity.
And remember that behind each one
Each precious work of artwork, poetry or prose
Is a person, is a heart, is a spirit......... All of those.
Thena

A Brother Like Non Other

A Brother Like Non Other

I always knew you were special
And that you loved me unconditionally
But I am awed by the realization
That you would give your life for me.

You gave me life from your bone marrow
And although it did not mean your life as such
I knew that were your life at risk
You would still have done as much.

I am filled with such emotions
That come from the bottom of my heart
And as for the words to thank youI don't know where to start.

I'm sending you this little verse
In hopes that you will see
Just how much I love you
And that you mean the world to me.

God bless you and keep you
Safely in His care each day
And reward you for your unselfishness
Sending peace and joy your way.

Thena

Now That I Know You

For my friend whose son is autistic

Now That I Know You (Autism)

When we learned that you were autistic
And this problem had a name
Our lives became a bit different
And never would be the same.

This was not a discipline problem
Or something we could will away
This was the way life would be
This was to be our every day.

A bit of time has passed now
And we have learned so much from you
We never take for granted
Any accomplishment we see you do.

We have learned to disregard the stares
Of those who do not understand
And the remarks that strangers make
Who seem to think things are out of hand.

We have tried to learn to think a bit like you
And we try our best to get into your mind
We've learned how to be firm with you
And yet not seem to be unkind.

We have learned exactly what love must be
The kind of love that exists unconditionally
And not to judge people on how they look
And not trust everything you read in a book.

Not every one reacts the same to every trial
And God sends us a miracle in every child
No matter what the problem or disability
Each one is a breathing blessing for us to see.

I've loved that touch of a little hand
That asks for help in walking or to stand
And prayed that each glance upward of a little face
Would be an invitation to a cuddle or embrace.

I've learned that being excluded from a little one's thoughts
And feeling left out of his world can cause such pain
But with God's help we can keep on trying
And praise Him for every bit of progress that we gain.

If by some miracle you could leave the problem behind
And be completely whole without a hint of that disease
Oh what a blessing it would be
And how this miracle would please.

But it would be for you that I would welcome it with open arms
Not because of anything that I might have gone through
For even though my life has been different from this plight
Because of who you are, I've learned so much from you.

Thena

A Poem a Day

Hold Me
I'm fighting for my life
And the fight is not easy
And at times the sight of me
Is hard for my friends to see.

I know that you remember me
As strong and healthy and feisty
And may not be prepared for the fact
That cancer has not treated my body nicely.

But join me in this fight today
To make every moment count
And when you come to see me, please stay
Even though you may be tempted to turn away.

I know that my hair has chosen to leave
But that no longer causes me to grieve
This outer shell doesn't impress me anymore
For I know that God has something better in store.

Do not turn away in shock or distress
Do the things with me that we've always done best
Tell me about your life and share with me tonight
And when you leave please hold me tight.

Do not be surprised if it seems I will not ever let you go
For each day that I am here is precious to me
And I want to hold close and memorize
Each precious face I see.

So come and vist and know that I understand
How hard it might be when first you take my hand
Or see my body that is now so fraile
And your eyes may tear and words may fail...

But know that I understand
But I need you even more today
And I have accepted what I've been given
And I will be beautiful and healthy once again .......in Heaven.

Thena

A Poem a Day

Family Name

My father took it seriously
As had the ones before him
To keep his name unblemished
As did the ones who bore him.

He kept his name unblemished
And maintained it spotlessly
So that it would be a treasured gift
When he passed it down to me.

I think of this when I am tempted
To do something that is in bad taste
It keeps me out of trouble
And prevents me acting out in haste.

I remember all the ones before me
Who handled their name so respectfully
And I would not want our family name
To come to dishonor with me.

Thena

Litttle One

Sweet little baby snuggled in your bed
I say your name to you
As I pat your tiny head
And I ask God's blessing upon you
As so peacefully you sleep
And that honor for this family name
Throughout your life you'll keep.
It has been unblemished
Though trials have come its way
And your daddy proudly gave it to you
On your naming day.
Sleep sweet little one
We are so glad you came
And proudly we bestow on you
Your daddy's family name.

Thena

A Poem a Day

Beauty

I have my Mother's eyes
And my Father's dimples
The only thing that is mine
Seems to be this awful pimple!

I have my Aunt Ruth's cowlick
And my Grandmother's nose
I am fortunate enough
To have my own taste in clothes!

So it isn't my own fault
If by your standards I'm no beauty
For to carry on the family traits
Seems to be my duty!

Thena

A Poem a Day

For Those in Pain

Just a little note to say
God sent me to you today
With a loving little note
And also a hug or two
To let you know that He is here
And how much He loves you.
He knows your heart is hurting
For He sees inside
He knows the sleepness nights you've had
And about the tears you've cried.
We do not understand the "why"
And wonder at the "how come"
As we look at the miracle
Of your precious little one.
Wrap this little one in love
And treasure them each day
For they are a treasure
That God has sent your way.
There will be times of trial
When you wonder what you should do
But know that at the end of the day
God will have seen you through.
Rejoice in each milestone reached
By the little one in your care
And know that those who love you
This excitement of yours will share.
For each moment of realization,
Each completed and learned task
And each precious word spoken
Brings rejoicing to a mother's loving heart
That is hurting but not broken.

Thena

A Poem a Day

Today I'm feeling feisty
Today I'm feeling brave
But I'm also feeling old
So I guess I will behave!

I feel like jumping on the bed
Or running down the hall
But the floors are rather slippery
And what if I should fall!

Maybe I could play a prank
And call someone on the phone?
But the only number I can recall
Sadly is my own!

So much for feeling playful
And wanting to have some fun
I think my days of mischief
Probably are done!

Thena

A Poem a Day

For Our Special Graduate

If your mom were here to see you
She would be so proud of you today
And we know that from Heaven
She sends her love your way.

We've created this little album
That you can hold and touch.
To remind you of your senior year
And the folks for whom you care so much.

No album about your year
Would ever be complete
Without a photo of the one who loved you most
And whose heritage made you so unique.

I don't know the rules of Heaven
But if God lets Mom's glimpse their kids here below
Your mom is beaming proudly
Because she loves you so!

Thena Smith


Dear Daughter

If your mom could give you a message
On this very special day
Knowing of her unconditional love
I feel I know what she would say.

She would tell you how much she loved you
And that she loves you still
That eternity alone can hold a mother's love
For that is the Father's will.

She would tell you that she is proud
Of all you say and do
And that she would not want her leaving
To take the joy of living out of you.

Someday when you meet her there
You can speak again face to face
As you are mother and daughter reunited
Lost in one great big heavenly embrace.

Thena

First Time I Saw the Ocean

The first time I saw the ocean
I gasped in pure delight
For stretching out forever
Was such an awesome sight.
I was envious of the ones
Who saw it every day
And marvelled at the confidence
Of the little kids at play.
I stood and looked at it awhile
Not wanting the moment to end
For I felt a sense of belonging
As if the ocean were my friend.

Thena