The Bully

The Bully

The bully is threatened
By something he doesn't understand
He has two strong legs and healthy heart
Yet his fear makes him use his hands.

Hands that could lift another up
And help a weaker child to stand
Are used to create fear in another
Instead of to make a friend.

Legs that for running to aid another
Could be so kindly used,
Are used to run away from responsibity
And to take the bully to someone to abuse.

A heart that should be full of compassion
Has no room for the love it could contain
For somehow through lack of gentle nourishment
Only hardness and anger does it contain.

For those who have been the victim
Of the bullies that run free
Know that every single act of theirs
Does our Father see.

Father, help the little ones
At whom the bullies laugh and tease
Wrap your arms around them, hold them close
And their hurting hearts please ease.

Thena


Dear Son of Mine

I've watched you my dear son
As you have fought back the hurt and tears
As you have marched out boldly
In spite of your inward fears.

I have hurt with you when things were bad
And my heart has been broken
And filled with anguish for you
When I have seen your heart so sad.

Your spirit and your faith have kept you strong
And some others may be turned off by your inner light
That so sweetly shines from your spirit
For they have only known darkness as in night.

Know that I am so proud of you
And the way you persevere
The way you let your light keep shining--
You grow more wonderful every year!

Just rememeber my dear one that
God has gone before and will prepare the way
For you to get through with this in flying colors
And yours will be the victory some sweet day.

Others have gone through this kind of thing
And great moral battles they have won
The greatest example of this victory
We see in God's only beloved son.

Thena

written for someone in 2005 but thought it might mean something to someone.

Prayer for Sick Friend

There is such power
That we all share
It comes from God
In the form of prayer.
When two or more gather
And in God's will agree
There is an wonderful blessing
That you will surely see.
You need never feel alone
For God is always there
He's never far away
He's just as close as prayer.
He bids us share with each other
The power that He gave us
And tell them of the loving Son
Whom He sent to save us.
It is my joy and pleasure
To lift your name in prayer
Trusting in the Father above
Because of the faith we share.
Thena

Sunshine and Roses
I'm a fan of sunshine
I love roses too!
Love the way they glisten
In the morning dew.
I'm not afraid of raindrops
And can even enjoy a storm
But I love to be here with you
Where I feel safe and warm!
I love you in the sunshine
As we enjoy the view
Of the tiny jeweled roses
In our garden outside the door.
And when you protect me from life's storms
I love you even more.
I will love you forever
Forever and a day
For with you, my sweetheart
The sun never goes away.
Thena

Little Squirrel Verses

Every time I see a pretty squirrel
Scamper past me on a trail
I look for distinctive markings
On the face or bushy tail
In hopes that one lucky day
A beautiful creature I might find
That would remember being
A pampered baby squirrel of mine.
Thena

Run little squirrel
Scamper up the tree
I will be here watching
For you have a fan in me!
Thena

I saw two little squirrels
Playing on my lawn
I feed them some nuts thinking
"Tomorrow, they'll be gone."
For the next weeks they came
Seeking food from me
And then one day they returned
With their brand new family!
Thena

I love little squirrels
I feed them when I can
I know they don't realize
They can be a pain to man!
They just know they need to eat-
Don't mean to damage property or crop
And I'm sure that if they knew
How costly they can be to us
They would surely stop!
Thena

Where are you going little squirrel?
If I followed you,
What would I see?
Is your nest on the ground
Or is it in a tree?
I love the way you look
With your little bushy tail
And your cute squirrelly ways
Make me smile without fail!

Thena

One little squirrel
Said to the other
I love you bunches
Just like a brother
But you must learn
As you climb the trees
To get a good grip
Or be blown away
By the breeze.
Thena

Look at the squirrel
A wonder of nature
And a lovely sight to behold
They gather acorns
As if they were gold.
They love the corn feeders
And hang on tight
And I've never seen a squirrel
Tease another into a fight!
Thena

The squirrel is such a happy sort
Who loves to run and play
He never seems to tire
Of gathering nuts along the way.
Thena

Look at the frisky squirrels
Playing in the park
They seem to love the sunshine
For I never see them when it's dark.
thena

How admirable is the little squirrel
So adorable in its little furry suit
I feel it must take a lot of guts
To spend your day surrounded by nuts!
Thena

If the squirrel could talk to me
I wonder what he would say-
Perhaps he would invite me
To come outside and play.
We would zip along the sidewalks
And climb up in the trees
Where we would rest a spell
As we enjoyed the breeze! Thena

When God Gives Us a Gift

When God gives us a talent
He doesn't take it back
Just concentrate on what you have
Not what you think you lack.
Use to the fullest what He gave
And He will give you more
You never know what things
The Father has in store.
His storehouse is full of gifts
And He gives them freely to us each day
Some He sends without our asking
And others in answer to the prayers we .
Thena

Memorial Day

A Memorial Day Thank You

Thank you to each one
Who has a husband, wife,daughter or son
Fighting in a land across the sea
To provide freedom for you and me.
Thank you to those who serve
In our own land or far away.
Thank you from our hearts
On this somber celebration day.
Thank you to those who fought long ago
For the freedoms we sometimes take so casually
Those who gave their lives while still so young
To keep this nation free.
Thank you to those who were husbands and dads
Those who were daughters, moms and wives,
Who so long ago in our history on foreign soil
Gave that ultimate sacrifice...their life.
Thank you to each sweetheart
Who kissed their loved one goodbye,
And who must everyday watch anxiously
And try not to worry and cry.
Thank you to each mother
Of daughter or of son
Who sent them off when duty called,
And considered it a sacred one
Thank you to grandparents
Who had to watch those they love so much
Go off to fight in a foreign land,
And who long for just one more touch.
Thank you to the parents who taught their children
That our nation deserves their loyalty,
And the dedication and sometimes sacrifice,
If we are going to remain brave and free.
And thank you to God above us
Who watches over us and loves us,
And gave us the land that we adore,
A land with freedom worth fighting for.
Pray to God that our flagWill today and always proudly wave
Over our America, land of the free,
Our beloved America,Home of the Brave!

(from Military Moments by Thena Smith)

For Son on Wedding Day

Years ago when I was young
And prayed for a son of my own
I prayed not only for the infant
But for the son when grown.
I prayed for his health and strength
For faith and courage too
And the Father heard my prayer
And sent me the precious gift of you.
As you grew up in wisdom and stature
I watched you with adoring eyes
And that you turned out so wonderfully
Was certainly no surprise.
And from the time you arrived to share
The home we made for you
It was my daily fervent prayer
That God prepare the perfect wife for you.
Again I sit with tears of utmost joy
As I see God's gift to my dear boy
And I will praise Him all my life
For the wonderful lady he sent
To be your bride and loving wife!
Thena

A Mother's Prayer for Daughter in Law

A Mother's Prayer
I prayed for you
Before I ever met you
And once I saw you
I knew I would never forget you.
There was something about you
That was special and rare
But I didn't know yet
That you were the answer to my prayer.
You were the answer to the prayer
For the one my son would wed
I prayed for you from the time he was born
And this is where my prayers led.
I prayed for your health
Health of body, soul and spirit
And I knew always in my heart
That God, our Father, would hear it.
And now I know just who you are
And how you found your way
Into our hearts and homes and lives
And to your wedding day.
I have put together this little book
To show you how much we care
How proud we are to celebrate together
The answer to a mother's prayer.
Thena

The Tomb is Empty

On the tombstones of
All men on earth
Is the date of date
As well as date of birth
All through History
Men could see
When one was born--
And when they ceased to be.
But the tomb of Jesus
This Savior of mine
Is an easy one to find
For the tomb of Jesus
God's only Son
Is easy to recognize...
It is the empty one!
It is empty!
The tomb is empty!
And on that glorious Easter Day
The stone had been rolled away!
And God placed an angel there to say
"He is not here for He has risen!
" Praise the Lord the tomb is empty!
Thena Smith
---------------------------------------
What was it Lord
That made you go
To Calvary so long ago...
To give your life
On that cruel tree?
"Dear Child," He said
"It was for thee."
Thena Smith

Two poems written by request

Honoring Grandfather

Today I share with others
And remind myself as well
Of my dear and special grandfather
Who I loved more than words can tell.
His faith in God was not lessened
Because he could no longer hear
For long ago he stored those truths
In his heart to keep them near.
He met his lifelong sweetheart
When she was just a kid
But they knew they would someday marry
And that is what they did.
They had 6 children who gave them 12 grandkids in all
And 22 greatkids answered to his loving call.
His talents on this earth were many
And he was always ready to help a friend in need
His heart was blessed with happiness
When he helped others to succeed.
Grandma is not the only one who will miss him
Now that her Floyd has gone away
But she, along with all of us who love him
Know we will be reunited with him someday.
Until then, let us not dwell on being sorrowful
Or dwell on the sadness in our hearts today
But be thankful for the precious times we had together
And memories that will not fade away.
And though he had 84 years here
How short, today, that seems to be
But thankfully there is a Heaven to welcome him
Where we shall all have eternity.

Thena

Saying Good Bye

Saying Good Bye is never easy
And our hearts are heavy today
As we gather here with those who love my Grandfather
And share our grief that he has been called away.
It is difficult to keep our tears from flowing
And to keep our spirits from sinking as we gather
But we remember that he would want sorrow for us, never!
Floyd had many names in this community
And wore many hats as he went about his day
But whether as husband, father, dad or grandparent
He wore each one in a very special way.
Children, know that he loved you;
Grandkids, you were special delights,
And greatgrandkids, I hope you know
That you were like his shinning lights.
His great joy was in helping others
In any way that he could do it
If someone gave him a task to perform
He could hardly wait to get to it.
Camping and the great outdoors
Were a joy to him from the time he was young
Perhaps that love of nature
Is where his appreciation of woodworking was begun.
We say goodbye now only briefly
As we entrust him to Heaven into God's loving care
Singing softly the songs the Father gives our hearts
Whose words remind us that someday we will join him there.
Thena

Getting Old

Tonight I heard from Sandra
My chum from high school years
The one I shared my secret crushes with
And confided my girlish fears.
"We are getting old" she said
In her email I just received
I checked to make sure it was meant for me
Since it was so hard for me to believe!
Why it was only yesterday
That I ran up and down the stairs at school
And vented to my girlfriend, Sandy
About some silly dress code or rule.
"Has your hubby retired?" she asked
And I answered that we both had recently
Ceased to be obligated to go to work each day
And felt so relaxed and free!
Suddenly it hit me full force
Like a snowball hard and cold
I was still a youngster
But the rest of my classmates were getting old!
Thena

Does Heaven Hold a Flock of Butterflies

Does Heaven Hold a Flock of Butterflies
(a four year old in Heaven)

Does Heaven hold a flock of butterflies
That flitter flower to flower
A sweet meadow where a little boy
Could chase them hour by hour?
Is there a special room for trains
And toys that little boys like
Do they have skateboards to ride
And for toddlers, are there trikes?
And when I join you there someday
Will you have aged at all?
Or will my same bright eyed four year old
Answer this loving mother's call?
I do not know if we stay there
The same age forever more
I only know Heaven will be sweeter
Than anything we've known before.
And if I see a toddler
Come running to welcome me home
Or if I see a grown up young man
I'll recognize him as my own!
Thena

The Hunter

The Hunter

He hates to get up for work
And daily has to rush out the door,
Dreams about the day
When he does that no more.

Sometime complains of energy's lack
Falling arches or painful back.
Can't seem to remember important dates
But for special seasons, he waits and waits...

He's up bright and early or
In the middle of the night
Dresses by the stars
Or the dimmest of lights.

Cold doesn't matter
And distance doesn't count at all
This is the hunter
Answering the call!

He sits in silence
And waits for his prey
Once in his sight
It doesn't get away.

Once the hunter's instinct was so important
To feed and clothe us all
Nature has instilled this genetic trait in hunting men
And they must answer its call!
Thena Smith

Daddy Went A-hunting

Daddy went a-hunting
A hunting he did go
Daddy came home again
Without a deer you know!

Dad went a- fishing
To catch for us our dinner
If we ate what daddy caught
We all would be much thinner!

Daddy went a- hunting
This time it was for quail
But everytime he tried to shoot
His gun did seem to fail!

Daddy is a true sportsman
He loves to hunt and fish
And that someday he will come home with game
Is Daddy's fondest wish!
Thena Smith

Hubby shot a turkey
And brought it home to eat
It really was delicious
A really tasty treat!
I am so very proud of you, I said
And though it wasn't very clear
I know I heard him say
"I was shooting at a deer..."

Thena

Telling Our Story

Telling Our Story

We have a story that is unique
It is told in our eyes
And our voices when we speak.
It is written in our hearts
And flows out in gentle ways
When we are with those special ones
Who bring joy to our days.
We must not be afraid to tell it;
It is too special not to share.
And if we aren't the ones to do it
Our story won't be there
To inspire and encourage
Or to bring laughter to a face;
It won't be there to encircle loved ones
Like a gentle fond embrace.
Not every day was perfect,
Nor was every moment sublime,
But it is a wonderful story
And it is yours and mine.
Thena

You Are My Hero

Everyone needs a hero
To look up to each day
A person who is there for them
In their own special way.

Some people are national heroes
Seen on the television screen,
While others quietly live for others
As a wonderful, loving human being.

You may not have won blue ribbons
And wear no medals on your chest
But you will always be my hero,
And because I know you, I am blessed!

Thena

In Honor of Virgina Tech

We will recover
But we will not be the same.
We will grow stronger,
But we will never forget
each missing name.
We will carry on;
we will prevail.
We will fight
for the good and true.
But we will not forget;
we will never forget
The tragedy we’ve been through.
It is in our hearts and minds;
it is with us every day.
It will get better with time
but the memory
will not fade away.
We must go forward
in our daily quest,
For those we’ve lost
and honor in our memories
Would want for us nothing less.
Thena

What I Want to Be

We plan when we are children
And dream of what we want to be
It begins almost as soon
As we leave our mothers' knees.
But when we get older
Our prayer becomes a plea
That we would become
What God wants us to be.
Thena