Here's to the People

Here's to people who are kind
Friends of yours
And friends of mine
Here's to people who really care
Friends with whom you are free to share
Your innermost thoughts, hurts or fears
And who stay to wipe away your tears.
Here's to people who share your joy
And don't feel the need
To be fake or coy
Those folks who are the same each day
In how they act and what they say.
Here's to good friends and family too
Whose manner is kind and love is true!

There was something here
That I once said
But now you will see
This is here instead.
I double posted
And alas and alack
I don't remember
How to take it back!

Sweet Memories

We make diaries and scrapbooks
CDs, cassettes and tapes-
All sort of wonderful and lovely keepsakes.
Fire, floods and hurricanes
Sometimes rush in and destroy
Time and again
All of those treasures
We created for family and friends.
That's why each memory of loved ones
Is so special and rare
As is each moment of life that we share.
How blessed are we to keep each special part
Of our most special memories
Stored safely in our heart.
We can replay each moment
Of life, love and laughter
And share with those we love
Memories of those still with us
And those who have gone before
To the reward God has prepared for us.
Each sweet voice we can remember
As we drift off to sleep
When we have these to comfort us
We have no need to count sheep.
Thena Cullen Smith

Staycation

Some of us will stay at home
Instead of flying off in the blue
To find the perfect holiday
And something cool to do.
But do not fret for we who stay at home
Vice going to Naples, France or Rome
For each moment will be a minor celebration
As we happily indulge in our staycation...
We will save on gas and hotel bills-
Wont have to let TSA check our pills
No postcards to buy and forget to mail
No custom tax to pay for things on sale
Just fun at home with family and friends
And a simple shift in thought
When our staycation ends...

The Parade (Independence Day)

The floats are lining up outside
Military marches by with pride..
Clowns on unicycles ride
Flamingo costumed ladies march side by side
No need, my little pups to run and hide
Don't you remember that today
We celebrate in a special way?
Let me lift you up so you can see
The beginning of the parade that will soon be
Marching down the main street of town...
Each flag, each soldier, each red nosed clown.
I know the noise may hurt your ears
But let me erase your puppy fears
For this is a sound that is special, you see
Each horn, each song, each beat of the drum
Reminds me that our land is free
And Dear God, may it forever be...
Thena

God's Gifts

Sometimes I see all of the awesome talent
Surrounding me here and there
The talented musicians and artists
And beautiful people everywhere
At times I feel a bit inhibited
And I'm tempted to feel blue,
That they can do so many things
That I'm not able to do
But then I realize that each gift
God bestows on His creation
Is a precious special one
Deserving of celebration
And while we may not each one
Have every gift that others may possess
God has given to each one
The gift that suits us best!
Thena

The Way I See You

When I awake because of your snoring
I'm just thankful
That my life is never boring.
When you help me get up the steps
Because of the strength I lack
Or when you tie my sneakers
When I'm having trouble with my back,
I see you with my dimming eyesight
But it only registers in part
Your image that I see most clearly
Is the one stored in my heart.
Thena

For My Husband

Hand in Hand we walk together
Through our married life
I'm so glad that you're my husband
So proud to be your wife.
I could never have chosen anyone
I could love more than I love you
From the moment that we met
There was something pure and true
That showed me that it was for real
This love I felt for you.
When our life on earth is over
And we join those gone before
My love will not diminish
I will just love you even more.
Thena

This Moment Will Not Come Again

Take the time to show your love
For family and for friend
For this moment, this bit of life
Will not come again.
Don't fret about the mistakes
That you made yesterday
Or the failures of the day before
Seek forgiveness if you wronged another
Hurt a friend, family or brother.
Make it right, do what you must do
But don't let guilt and discouragement
Be the ruler over you.
Make the most of each hour of the day
Be loving, gentle, kind and pray
For all of those God sends your way.
Enjoy this moment and in each find delight
Bask in the sunshine and enjoy God's light.
Enjoy each treasure that God will send
For this Moment will not come again.
Thena Cullen Smith

The What Ifs

From time to time they hit me
Like a rock upon my head
I can feel them the moment
That I get up from my bed!

It isn’t that monster from childhood
That brings the “oh no” from my lips
But that dreaded of all grown up fears-
The terrible “What Ifs”.

What if I had done this differently
What if the sky should fall
What if I should have answered my phone
For that last landline call…

What if I had gone to work earlier
What if I had not stopped to complain
What if I had spent more wisely
And not let funds go down the drain…

But today I have determined
To let them bother me no more
I know that God forgives my mistakes
And has good things in store.

So when those “what ifs”
Try to sneak up in my mind today
I just say a little prayer
And send them on their way!
Thena

Funny, I Don't Remember Getting Old...

Looked in the mirror
And what a surprise
A little ole lady
Was starring right into my eyes.
I faced her in the mirror
And spoke in a voice so bold
"I'm sorry, do I know you?
I don't remember getting old..."
She had on my blouse
And she was using my toothpaste
So I thought I must do something
To settle this post haste.
So I brushed her hair
And put lipstick on her face
(Didn't want her to appear
As a person in disarray or disgrace!)
I left the room and looked back
Expecting to see
Some old lady standing there
But she must have left with me!
Thena Cullen Smith

Father God, Please don't let a day go by Without my friends being sure that I care And let me never forget To lift them up to You in prayer

A Prayer for Those Abused

God bless those who are living in fear
 Who cry out for help
And wonder "Does anyone hear?"
 Bless those who live in an abusive home
 With parents or spouse they fear
Please wrap Your arms around them
Let them know that You are near
. We hear about these cases every day
But sometimes we neglect to pray
We ask You now to free each child
Each spouse old or young
Send to them this very day
Someone who can make the pain go away,
 Someone in authority as an answer to our prayer
 Who can bring sweet release and comfort there.
 We know not the names or the places
And haven’t seen their frames or faces
But we know we must do our part
 And pray for those who You place on our heart.
 Amen

A Teen Girl’s Quilt

 She got the quilt as a child
To celebrate her first big girl bed
And sat on it each day to color, play dolls
 And later as she did homework and read.
Her friends sat on it with her
 As they told childhood secrets
 And then shared the joys
 That comes with giggling about
 Those creatures known as boys!
 It was there to lend comfort
When the door had to be slammed
 To show rebellion or disgust
 Or that her feelings she didn’t trust.
 She buried her face in its softness
To stifle laughter when friends slept over
 And parents had called out already
 That she should go to sleep
 Fun and frivolity would keep…
 And to find comfort from her fears
As it gently absorbed the moisture from her tears.
 She took it for granted until the day
 When her sweet friend showed it was wearing away.
To preserve it she hung it on her wall instead
 Of leaving it unprotected on her bed
. And then the night before her wedding day
 Her mom went into give her a good night kiss
And saw this precious grown up miss
Snuggled up once again
Underneath that quilt
That had been such a special friend.
 Thena

I Love Peeps

I love my yellow chickie Peeps
I love the bunnies too
I like them best when they get stale
And let their flavor through
I have them for lunch and dinner
But I share this little fact
I don't eat them for breakfast-
Just as a pre breakfast snack...
Thena

Spiffy Dresser

I got all dressed up
To look my spiffiest
Put on my outfit
That was my niftiest
Pulled on my spanx
To give me a waist
And used new fashion trends
To show my good taste.
Went out the door
Got in my cute little car
To drive off to my meeting
Which wasn’t too far.
As I sat down in my seat,
Put my hand to my hair
Only to find out
I’d left one big pink curler there…
THENA

Whatever the Question Calvary is the answer.

Whatever the Question
Calvary is the answer.
There the price was paid
For the forgiveness we have today
No need to delay
To come to the one who died for us
No need to hesitate or fear
He waits there for us
And our prayers for forgiveness
He hears.
Thena

What Love Is

Love is not Romeo and Juliet
Dying together in their youth
But love that lasts until youth is gone
And still singing together love's sweet song.

Love is helping remember things
That each spouse needs to know
Loving to be near each other
And daily telling them so.

Loving is helping with a walker
When frail limbs need help to move
Just as tenderly and lovingly
As when you danced to your grove.

Love is putting eyedrops in eyes
When the hands tremble or shake
Gently helping lift a spouse
As if they might break.

Love is listening to each other
When the story has been told before
While looking at them with eyes which though dim
Show that they are the ones you adore.

Love is patient and kind
And does not go away when times are rough
But draws true lovers closer together
As though they can not be close enough.

Love is there when life is at its end
On this fragile earthly plane
Love is looking toward eternity
When you will see your love again.

Thena

Got to Praise Him!

Off to church this morning
I've got to praise the Lord
He has given me so many blessings
And promises a Heavenly reward
For all of those who love Him
And seek to do His will
That is why I praise His Name
And why I always will.
He saved me from the depths of sin
Sent His Son to die for me
So many years ago
On that awful, horrible tree
And takes the time to show His love
For the likes of you and me.
That's why have to praise Him
And will forevermore
He is the one died for me-
And the One I'm living for!
Thena

Procrastination

Procrastination

I awoke on Monday
With a poem about procrastination
Filling up the brain space in my head
But since it was early-I went back to bed.

Tuesday would be soon enough.
To write, I would not forget,
But when Wednesday came around
I had not written it yet.

Thursday, I postponed it,
I put off the little task
And when Friday came around
(Do you really have to ask?)

Today is Saturday
And to define procrastination
In a few chosen lines of verse
Is the choice for me to do
Without taking time to rehearse.

No more avoiding the challenge,
No more deferring it in any way
I will do this thing-
And not wait another day.

Alas, it has been so long
Since I recorded my intention
That I seem to have forgotten
The actual definition!!

Thena

Our Gifts

Sometimes when I feel that I am lacking
In the ability to use God given skill
I pray and ask Him to guide me
And keep me in His will.

In times when I feel discouraged
And think perhaps my brain is too small;
I am reminded that God doesn't play favorites
And wants to bless us all.

He does give us each different gifts
Different talents and ability.
My goal is to use to its utmost
The ones He chose for me.

I ask Him to not let me be discouraged
Or covet someone else's gift instead
But to let me be a blessing using my gift
As by our Creator I am led.

Trust in God to bless your life
As you look to Him each day
And He will increase your gifts
As you seek His will and pray.

He has not forgotten you
Nor kept back forgiveness for any frailty
But surrounds you each day with love
Helping to make you what He knows you can be!

Thena

Don't Give Up

Don't give up!
Don't give out!
Faith in God
Is what life is about!
Things may be difficult
The future may look dim
But God is our hope
Just look to Him.
He doesn't promise
That life will be pain free
But He promises us the blessed hope
Of life with Him eternally.
The best exercise
That we can all daily share
Is bending our knees and folding our hands
As we go to Him in prayer.

My cat is a brilliant cat

My cat is a brilliant cat
In fact she has me trained
To meet her every need
At first her job was difficult
But she was able to succeed!

Does God Have a Sense of Humor

Some people think Christians
In order to be faithful and true
Must be very quiet
Solemn and dignified
In all they say and do.
They question if God
Has a sense of humor
And debate if it is true
For they know as our Creator
He has so awfully much to do.
But I stand before you
As an example for all to see
He must have a sense of humor
For He lovingly created me!

Thena

Old Age Has Snuck Up On Me

Old age has snuck up on me
When I wasn’t looking
Perhaps whilst I was sleeping
Or maybe when I was cooking.
She has placed some aggravating
And confusing things for me to bear
Such as the loss of muscle strength
But a preponderance of strange and useless hair!
Sadly when I comb my head I find it thinning there!
I have new meds to take each morn
With some to take at night
I only hope my mind holds up
Letting me get the directions right!
The directions on each bottle
Although sometimes confusing
Provide daily exercise for me
With their “Shake well before using!”
I’m not complaining about it
So please don’t get me wrong
I just want you to be prepared
When these symptoms come along!
Don’t fuss or fret about it
And don’t try to fight
For with all the hindrances involved
There are some things which bring delight.
People give you latitude
When you don’t get something right.
They exchange a wink or two
At things you may say or do
Not realizing that though your ears are bad
The lenses in your eyes are new!
Thena

Happy Happy Birthday (New Year)

Happy Happy Birthday

Happy Happy Birthday
What can I say
But fortunate is the person
Whose birthday is today!
A chance to start the year anew
A clean slate of a year
Especially for you!