When you are hurting and in distress
And think no one cares
You have no idea how many saints on earth
God has lifting you up in their prayers.

As Long as I'm in God's Hands

As long as I'm in God's hands
I will not worry and fret
For He formed me in the womb
And has not failed me yet.

As long as I'm in God's hands
No enemy can win over me
For God holds me close to Him
And will bring me victory.

The world around me may crumble
Governments rise and fall
But no matter what man may say
God is the ruler over all!

Daily I will pray to Him
For the strength I need to stand
And daily will I praise Him
That He keeps me in His Hand.
Thena

A Blessing for Pet Lovers

God bless folks who love
And treasure as they deserve
Those precious pets one never forgets
...And comfort them when the time comes
That the sweet one will be taken home
Not to wake up to another earthly sun.
God bless the child that loves a pet
And knows that it is true
That a little dog's heart is full of love
Created especially for you.
God bless the folks that lose a pet
No matter what the cause may be
But God bless the folks who love them enough
That from pain they set them free.
God Bless the folks and wipe their tears
And let them understand
That their sweet pet is Heaven's sweet guest
And plays now in an awesome land.
Thena

I prayed for you today
Maybe not by name
But I asked God to bless each friend
And let it be just the same
As if I mentioned every single one of you
When I asked that God would touch and heal
To fill your hearts with His love
And His best plans for you reveal.

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!

I Have So much to do Before Christmas

I have things I must do before Christmas
Don't ask why I have procrastinated thus far
If we weren't picking guests up at the airport
I think I'd hide the clutter in the car...

I have laundry to do before Christmas,
Beds to change and puppy dogs to train
I think I would put my scrapping stuff on the patio
If the weather man promised me it wouldn't rain...

I have groceries to buy and cookies to bake;
I have dusting to do and rugs to clean,
And when I shoo the pups off the freshly cleaned sofa
They think that I'm just being mean...

I have packages to mail before Christmas
They should have gone out last week
But I didn't have enough packing peanuts
And didn't want the gifts to break...

I have so much stuff to do before Christmas
That I fear my brain I might unduly tax
So I think the best thing for me to do
Is to sit in my Lazy Boy Recliner and relax...

Thena

These Baby Hands

These Baby Hands

As a mother of a newborn baby
Cradled in the manger for a bed
I wonder what thoughts
Were going through Mary’s head.

Did she count the fingers and the toes
On the perfect baby at her breast
Knowing just the extent
To which she had been blessed?

As she held those tiny hands
And kissed each precious finger
Did she celebrate only that moment
Or on the future did her thoughts linger?

Did she foresee the nails
That would pierce his grown up hand
Or did God not show her how He would save us
Would that be more than a mother could stand?

As the angels celebrated the Holy birth
Did they know the day would come
When they would see the cruel tree
That would hold God’s only son?

I celebrate the baby Jesus
I celebrate the one He grew to be
I celebrate the King of Kings
Who came to set us free.

I celebrate His first coming
As a baby so tiny and mild
Born as an infant to Mary
Who raised this special child.

I watch for His coming again
And it is my daily prayer
That when He comes to us again
I will be worthy to meet Him in the air.

Thena

I Enjoy Doing Nothing With You

I enjoy doing nothing with you
But please don't take this wrong
You are such a special friend
That we can sit in silence
Without a thing to do
And nary a word spoken
And our friendship won't suffer
Nor will it be broken.
So when I have nothing to do
I enjoy doing it with you!
Thena Cullen Smith

My Socks Don't Match

My socks don't match!

My socks don't match!
Do you think anyone will care?
They don't match each other
But they match my other pair.





My shoes don't match
One is a flat and the other is a stack
One of them is blue and the other one is black
I don't remember buying them...
But I must have liked them a lot
For they look exactly
Like another pair I've got...

Tears

Tears are a gift from God
To help us when we're sad
And to show our joy
When something makes us glad.

Tears are cleansing agents
Of body, soul and spirit
Releasing our emotion
where we can see and hear it.

God sees every tear drop
Perhaps He catches them as they fall
Is that why the ocean is so full
Would it hold them all?

Don't try to hide your tears
And never be ashamed to show
Your love, joy and happiness
They are gifts from God, you know.

Don't hide your tears of hurt
Or anguish, pain and grief
Just let them flow
Trust God for blessed sweet relief.

For God created each of us
And knows every thing we do
Don't hesitate to seek His forgiveness
For nothing under the sun is new.

Worry not about what people will think
IF they heard you confess an evil deed
For God knows all of our sins already
And His forgiveness is all you need.

A Blessing

God bless you and keep you
Forever in His care.
He loves you
And protects you
And blesses the talents you share.
He lifts you up like the eagle
When you are tired and worry
Stay steady in Him
He will nudge you when you should hurry.
And will lead you to the places
Where you are needed to be
By our Awesome God
Creator of earth, sky and sea
While others may look at you
And see just an ordinary woman or man
You know that you are a masterpiece
Created by God's loving hand.
Thena Cullen Smith

God Bless Our Troops

God Bless Our Troops

I see the happy reunions on TV
Families reunited, together again at last
The way they were meant to be
And then I hear that some must return
Somehow a few weeks home
They were able to earn.
Lord, bless these days with loved ones
And let special memories be made for each one
And soon let them all return home safely again-
Each husband, wife,mom, dad, daughter and son
Thena Cullen Smith

Sometimes the Light Hurts Our Eyes

Sometimes the Light Hurts Our Eyes

My lights in my workroom had grown dim
With a number of bulbs burnt out
But having problems with my eyes
That it was my vision's fault, I had no doubt.
But once my vision was repaired
I saw how dark the room had become
And replaced each of the burnt out bulbs
One by one by one.
The room grew so bright, that to my surprise
I found at first I had to shield my eyes
For they were so accustomed to the gloom
They were pained from the brightly lit room.

Sometimes in life we get used to the darkness
That gets worse and worse each day
Only our Father can take that gloom away
He brings such brightness such truth and love
That shines from Him who Created Heaven above.
At first we may want our eyes to hide
Least He shine that light inside
Revealing all our faults and fears
But first He wipes away our tears
And bids us come and enjoy Sonshine and Peace
For His love and mercy is real and will never cease.

I pray my eyes never again go back
Into the world so dim and black
But that His light through me would shine
For I am His and He is mine.
Thena Cullen Smith

Christmas Baby

Little baby in the hay
Manger as your bed
So many years ago
Sheep and cattle saw you rest your head.
Today the manger scene is replayed
In cathedrals magnificent as can be
As folks gather from miles around
The Holy family they wish to see.
It reminds us how you came to earth
A gift from God above us
To save us from all of our sins
Because of how He loves us.
Thena

Happy Birthday

A picture is worth a thousand words
At least that's what I've heard
But I have no photograph to send
That says Happy Birthday to a friend
So I hope this little verse will do
And express my birthday wish to you!

When Loss of a Loved One is Fresh

When Loss of a Loved One is Fresh

It’s hard to face the day without someone we love-
So hard to see that empty chair,
And know that they will never again be there.
It’s hard to see the world go on as usual-
Laughing and smiling and singing and having fun
Going on just as if the world hadn’t crumbled for you
Leaving you so very lonely, sad and blue.

It’s hard to find things that matter
As much as they did yesterday or the day before.
It’s as if nothing will be fun anymore.
How can you ever smile or laugh or sing,
Or enjoy sunshine in summer or flowers in spring…

At first it seems as if life as you knew it
Has stopped and has been stilled forever.
You may be aggravated at all the sympathetic glances
And understanding looks, reverting to your photos and books
As you try to absorb every wonderful moment from the past
Fortunately this will ease and will not last.

We who as humans are so connected to ones we love,
Have a way of welcoming new friends into our lives-
Even with the loss of husbands or wives
And though we never forget the ones for which we grieve
Our loving Father will this pain relieve
And in life, love and happiness, again we can believe.

Keep looking up if you are in despair
With a heart that is lost in pain
Trust in God to bring you that sweet relief
And that before too long, you too will smile again.

Thena

I Just Gave My Dog a Bath

I just gave my dog a bath
And since she is clean and wet
I guess that means to most
That the bath was a great success.

I washed her little fur covered frame
From face to tail end
And she was so cute all sopping wet
She really made me grin.

I rinsed her off so gently-
What a picture she would make!
And I was surprising fairly dry
Until she began to shake!

Thena

God Bless Those whose Loved Ones Are Missing

God bless those families who have empty chairs
That greet them at the holiday meal
Bless them with Your gentle touch
And let them know that You are real.

Dry the tears that softly escape
From those trying so hard to be brave for others
And comfort those who morn
For fathers and for mothers

Touch those who are missing sons and daughters
And surround them with those who care
Those who understand their loss
And who are willing their burden to share.

Bless all who gather together
And comfort all of those who weep today
Help us to be there for those who need us
All this in Jesus' Name we pray.
Thena

This Time Last Year...

Some folks are in that place
So difficult to withstand
"This time last year
I could hold my loved one's hand."

This time last year you were together
And life was the way it was meant to be
You laughed and talked and enjoyed
Each day's golden opportunities.

The calendar pages have turned
And time has moved on
While to you it seems as if only yesterday
Your loved one was called away.

We who love you know that today
Might be difficult to get through
Please forgive us if we can't find the words
That you would like to hear us say.

Please know that we love you
And we sincerely care
And throughout this special day
We have remembered you in prayer.
Thena Cullen Smith

I'm Going to Be Happy Today

I'm going to be happy today!
No one can take my joy away
No matter what they may do or say
I'm going to be happy all day!
I'm going to be joyful this morning
And smile throughout the day
And I'll be filled with delight
From morning until night
And speak peace with the words I say.
I'm going to be loving today
To friends who come my way
I'll be kind to all relatives of mine
And react with love without delay.
I'm going to have an exceptional day
Just you want and see
I'll be so outstanding and non demanding
That you will be proud of me!
I spent so long planning my day
That the morning has flown away
So much to my sorrow
I will start this tomorrow
And nothing will get in my way...

Thena

Lord, I'm just a gentle poet-

Lord, I'm just a gentle poet-
In a world that is moving so fast
Rushing toward temporal things that will not last.
How can I as one who is not physically strong,
And not counted as intellectually gifted,
Do my part to change a wandering path,
Or help heal a wounded and damaged heart?
I know that you have those who help
Whose intellectual abilities are among the brightest
And whose footsteps are among the lightest
In races on earth and in flights to space
And I'm just an aging little face
That sometimes can only offer a poem and a smile,
In hopes they bring comfort for a short while,
Or a silly little riddle to bring a tiny grin
To someone who longs to smile again.
Thena

Happy Birthday Dear Friend

Happy Birthday to my friend
On this your special day
May God rain down blessings from above
And bless you in a special way.
May your day be filled with joy
And your years to come be blessed
With love and peace in your heart
And all the things you love the best.
May you continue in His path
Doing the special things you do
Knowing that the Lord above
Is blessing others lives through you.
Love,
Thena

The Art of Life

Our lives are like an art gallery
Where scenes from our lives are hung.
Jesus can walk along with us
And remove the hurtful paintings –one by one.

Along each wall are pictures
of each painful memory and tear,
But as we walk along with Him,
They start to disappear.

One by one those sad things
Are taken from the wall
And with each goes the painful memories-
Jesus takes them all.

As we walk each day with Him,
New paintings will appear
To line the empty gallery walls-
In colors bright and clear.

Lord, help me paint new pictures
In colors bright and true,
And in the center of each one,
Lord, let everyone see You!

Thena Cullen Smith
5/14/82

For Someone Who is Hurting

If you are feeling lost and alone
With feelings that are approaching despair
Lift your prayers to God
And know that He is always there
Waiting for you to call on Him
Whether it be night or day
He can lift you up and heal your pain
And make you whole again.
Thena Cullen Smith

Happy Birthday Dear Friend

While with stars and Starlets
Plastic surgery is the rage,
Some ladies, like you, have birthdays,
Yet never seem to age!
You just get more beautiful
In every single way
Though it's hard to believe
You've had another birthday!
You say it's today-
so it must be true
So with lots and lots of love
We say Happy Birthday to you!

Take a Photo of Mom Day

Ladies, make sure your family takes your photo
While you are young and in your prime,
Even though you may say you are too busy
And don’t want to take the time.
Have someone snap your photo
To record you with your family,
For it’s important that your photo
Is there for everyone to see!
Make sure they snap that picture
When you are on vacation,
And record yourself in photo
At each birthday and holiday celebration.
Let each precious year be recorded
Without negative deliberation,
For only in your later years
Will you realize the
“gravity” of the situation!

Thena

You Need a Smile

If you need a pick me up- smile
And as you smile for awhile
Let your smile tickle your face
and let the corners of your lips
Wiggle Into a giggle
And once you giggle
Which is half of a laugh
Just let your self feel the joy
That comes after
And then comes -laughter!
And it's that laughter
That we are after!
Thena Cullen Smith

A couple of birthday verses

Some of your friends will send serious cards
While others will opt for funny
Some may send a classy gift
And others decide on money
But poets like me send little verses
That may simply say
My very best wishes I send
For a wonderfully Happy Birthday!


I had the date marked on my calendar
Marked that date in red
But without my glasses
Couldn't read what it said!
Fortunately FB reminded me
(Just hope it was in time)
That today was the birthday
Of a friend of mine!
Happy Birthday!

Alvin

Alvin was a tiny cat-
The runt of the litter
But he was a cutie pie
Not an angry cat or bitter.
"Let's take him home
And fatten his bones"
We said to each other
And I became his nuturer
Alvin's human mother.
We fed that cat and
loved that cat,
keeping him alive
Until instead of a couple of pounds
He now weighs 25!
Thena

Keep Looking Up

Keep looking up!
It's not as bad as you fear
You are not alone
For God is always near
Ready to help you
When you feel ready to fall
All you have to do is to trust, believe
And on His Name to call.
You may wonder if He is there
But He can see your heart
And hear the softest whisper of a prayer.
Thena

God Bless the Police Officers

What would our community do
Without our men and women in blue?
They patrol the streets to keep us safe
And to violent offenders
They oft times give chase.
They drive by our homes both day and night
And it’s these officers we call when we have a fright
From prowlers that we hear outside
And noises that cause us to want to hide.
Although we may not like to see their lights
Flashing behind us when we drive
They enforce the rules of the road
That help to keep us all alive.
We are grateful to the officers
The men and women who wear a badge
And whose lives are sometimes in danger
As their jobs they do
While protecting folks like me
And folks like you.
Thena

The Policeman

There’s a man in our neighborhood
That no one wants to meet
By having him flash his lights behind them
As they are driving down the street.
But he’s one first one whose number
They search for when in serious trouble
For they trust that he will come
And will get there in a hurry.
From guarding the folks at special functions
To arresting those who commit a serious crime
He’s the one that people trust to do the job
And I’m glad he is a personal friend of mine.
Thena

Lord Bless The EMT


What would we do without them
They do so very much
And yet get so little praise
Many an EMT
Has prolonged someone's days.
They know how to do the things
That can save a life on the go
And that we appreciate them
We should let them know.
Thena



Thank You EMT


Thank you EMT
For the care you give your patients
Who soon will be on their way
To the hospital for care
But need help right away.
I hope you know you are special
And appreciated for all you do
That's why this little verse
Was written just for you.

Thena

She's a Dreamer

"She's a dreamer. they said,
Whose eyes often have a far away look
And whose hands are oft times busy
Scribbling down little notes."
And from time to time
(Although they do not know it),
Others see the results
Of her dreams and all the things she wrote.

Husbands Are God’s Gift

Husbands are such a wonderful gift
Only they can give our hearts such a lift
When our days are going badly
And our hearts are reacting sadly.
Only they know us so well
That they know our heartaches
Even before we tell.
They seem to know our heartfelt prayer
Even before we have the courage to share
Husbands hold such a special place
In our lives, our home and our family
That it must bring God joy to see
And I praise Him for the one He gave to me.
Thena

A Love Song

Sometimes I hear in my heart, a love song
And I sing it loud and strong
When suddenly I realize
That you are there singing along.

Sometime I feel a sadness
Over a loss of friend or family
And suddenly without warning
You are there to comfort me.

God is the one who made us
And I have to believe He knew
That the love song that is within my heart
Was meant for me to sing to you.
Thena Smith

My Puppy Surfs the Web

My pup is on the internet
She surfs the web each day
I have to check her Facebook page
To see what she wants to say.
She signed up on some message boards
Using my board ID
And now the folks on those groups
Think that she is me!
She shops a lot at Pets are Us
And Amazon as well
But hubby says she spends less than I
So he doesn’t want me to tell.
Thena

I Went Fishing

Today I went fishing
And caught a little fish
She was such a tiny thing
I put her in a dish
Mommy asked how I caught a fish
And were there any more
Then I told her about the big ole tank
At the pet section in the store...
She made me take my fishy back
And then we bought the fish
Along with some food, a big glass bowl
And other things for which she might wish.
I guess that I should admit to her
About the other thing I "caught"
So that she knows the rules I now appreciate-
Oops! We're headed back to the store to confesss:
Mommy just found the snake...

Before You Stop to Smell a Rose

If you stop to smell a flower
With a lovely bloom so sweet
I pray you will enjoy the fragrance
So uplifting and unique
But I feel that I must caution you
Lest you do not see
That at times the sweetest rose
Can house a most ungracious bee!

Thena Cullen Smith

I Saw You Smile

I saw you smile today
A sweet smile when you glanced my way
Even though how much I needed it
you didn't know
Unless God told you so
And caused you to smile a smile
Which I would see
And which would mean so much to me.
I saw you smile today
And it caused me to smile as well
And others may have needed that smile
That I sent their way
And it may have been multiplied
All throughout the day.
Thena Cullen Smith

Pray for Change

So many times when I pause to pray
"Lord change them" is what I want to say
But frequently when I bend my knee
He shows me that the change I crave
Should begin with me.
Thena

Your Words

Your words can make or break someone's day
Think before you speak
And weigh the words you say
For we can create memories in haste
That never go away.
Thena Cullen Smith

Family Reunion Prayer

God Bless Family Reunions
Where families gather in Your Name
Honoring You, Creator of the Universe
The One from Whom we came.
Bless each parent and each child,
Each brother and sister guide
Each Grandmother and Grandfather
Hold closely near Thy side.
Prepare us as we live our lives
In the families which we've been given
To bless You, Father, Lord of all
As You prepare us for our family
Which we will join in Heaven.
Thena

Family Reunion

In our family
Like any other
We love each mother, father, sister and brother.
Even if at times we hit a snag
We never let disagrements drag
But try to see that each conversation
Right from the start
Lifts our family up
And never wounds a heart.
We love each other
And consider our family our treasure
A group filled with love
Beyond all measure.
Each reunion is a special time for each one
TO show our love for each other and have lots of fun.

Thena Cullen Smith

Happy Birthday Dear Friend

Some people are so special
That we have to stop and say
Just how great we think they are
When it's their birthday!
Some people give to others
So much of themselves each day
That we have to search our hearts
For something special enough to say
I wish I could find a word to write
To adequately our wishes express
But I guess I will have to say
Happy Birthday dear friend
Hope this birthday is the best!
Thena

Goodbye Sweet Friend



It was your time, sweet furry friend
It was your time and we had to let you go
But it was not because we loved you any less
Just that for you we wanted what was best.
We could not stand by and watch you suffer
As daily you tried so valiantly
To do as you used to do
And to be what you used to be.
It was so hard to let you go
And my grieving days are not yet through
For no matter how many years may pass
There is a place in our hearts reserved just for you.
Thena

For Friends who lost a pet

Loss of Dog


Our Yogie lost her battle today
So quietly she passed away.
People said she was a lot like me
Well, as much as a doggie could be.

She stole my heart so instantly
When first I saw her and she saw me
From day one until she lost her fight
She daily brought us such joy and delight.

The day came when there was no doubt
Of the difficult task that I must do
No one had to tell me it was time
For in my heart, saddly, I knew.

But mercifully God saw fit
To let her be at home and sleep
In her favorite bed
For her heart's last beat.

I'm sadder than I thought I could ever bear
And tears flow, oh so frequently
As special memories come flooding back
Of just how much she meant to me.

God bless my little Yogie
And please keep her close
For of all the doggies I've ever had
She's the one who loved me most!

Thena

Birthday

Hey! It's your birthday!
I hope you celebrate
Enjoy the day with friends
And stay up very late!
Eat your cake and icecream
Let family do your wishes
Have a wonderful birthday meal
And let others do the dishes!

Missing You

I will have happy times
My whole life through
But I will never stop
Missing you!
I will celebrate and enjoy
The things I love to do
But I will always wish
You were here to enjoy them too.
I will not always wear a happy face
For at times I will be blue
But I will always smile
When I think of you
And will always love you, my dear friend
For friendship is eternal and doesn't ever end.
Thena Smith

Missing You (Mom and Dad)

Missing You

I will have happy times
My whole life through
But I will never stop
Missing you!
I will celebrate and enjoy
The things I love to do
But I will always wish
You were here to enjoy them too.
I will not always wear a happy face
For at times I will be sad
But I will always smile
When I think of you
And will always love you,Mom and Dad.
Thena Smith

Getting Older

Being Older

My eyesight is getting worse
And steps are getting slow
Sometimes I forget the names
Of people that I know.
My medicine cabinet is so full
That it has begun to overflow.
But I don't always need books
Or TV to entertain and delight
I can replay wonderful memories
Far into the night.
When I go to bed and cannot sleep right away
I just decide on a year of memories
That I want to replay.

Prayer for a Lost Pet

Fred has gotten out
And hasn't come back home
Please watch over her, Dear God
For she is out there all alone.
I know you love our animals
For You created them, each one
And it is my plea that you bring Fred home
Before the day is done.
She adds such happiness
And joy to our day
And it hurts my heart so very much
That she's not at home today.
If anyone has found her
Please have them return her to me
For I'm sure in my heart
That's where she really wants to be.

Old Age

Old age didn't come
With a BANG, or a CRASH or a ROAR
It crept in more like a s n o r e
And each day it creeps a bit m o r e...
Thena

Mea "Cuppa"

Mea "Cuppa"

I'm a poor little spider
Out to explore
Found a home
With an open door
Sat down to enjoy
A bit of a rest
And my swimming ability
Was put to the test.
Fell into a cup
Of coffee so black
That my spider senses
Never came back.
Listen to my story
And learn from me
Don't ever get close
To Al 's cuppa coffee!

Nothing Brings out the Silly


Nothing brings out the silly
In a man all grown
Than having little kids
And then grandkids of his own!

Grandkids can turn a grown man to mush
Just by smiling a tiny smile
They can ask for ice cream when it's snowing outside
And get him to walk a mile!

They can get him on all fours
Pretending to eat grass and hay
Most gramps have been the horsey at times
And never would say "neigh".


Thena

Bless My Child Who is Ill

Father, we trust You
More than our words can say
And love you above all others
We know You understand
The aching hearts of mothers
Who watch their child
Go through hurt, disease and pain
And long so very much
To have them whole again.
I ask You Father to heal
This little one who is so ill
And let them grow up as fine adults
Whose joy is to do Your will.
We ask that Your healing power
To this child You would send
And we will give you all the praise
In Jesus Name
Amen

I Saw a Commercial on TV

I Saw a Commercial on TV

I saw a commercial on TV
That promised to erase those lines
That were showing up on my face
(Although my friends said I looked just fine)

Then I found a crème at the store
That promised to erase 10 years
By just applying it each day
Beginning right below my ears.

My friend brought a free sample of numerous oils
So promising that I got ‘em
That promised to renew my complexion
Making it soft as a baby’s bottom.

The list went on and on that way
With wonderful products to make me
Look younger and younger
Every single day.

To me they all sounded promising
And each impressed me uniquely
But I ordered every single one
And I fear I shall disappear completely!
Thena

Dear Hubby or Dad

Dear Hubby/Dad

I went to buy a card for you
To tell you how great you are
But of all the verses I found
You are much better by far.
I searched the racks in store after store
Until not one was left
And not a single card I found
To adequately say what I felt.
Therefore it looks as if you have no card
To wish you a Happy Father’s Day
But be assured the search for next year’s card
Is already under way!
Happy Father’s Day!
Thena

No Father's Day Card

Dear Dad(or Hubby)
There are no cards
Left in the Store
So I can't get one anymore
The only thing
I know to do
Is to write a note
Saying "I Love You"
And promise next year
To be on time
To buy a card
To give to you
Perhaps it would be wise
For me to buy two!
Thena

Missing You

I will have happy times
My whole life through
But I will never stop
Missing you!
I will celebrate and enjoy
The things I love to do
But I will always wish
You were here to enjoy them too.
I will not always wear a happy face
For at times I will be sad
But I will always smile
When I think of you
And will always love you, Dad.
Thena Smith

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

I love my husband Lord
I love my father too.
But on this special day, Dear Lord
I'd like to honor you!

I love you so very much Dear God
That I just want to say
How much I want to praise you Lord
And Happy Father's Day!

Thena

In Times of Grief

In Times of Grief

Ah how blessed is the sweet relief
Of absolute complete belief
In God the Father our Creator above us
How awesome to know how He doth love us!
No pain, no anguish or despair
Can destroy the power of one whispered prayer.
No evil exists that can take away
The power of the simplest prayer believers pray.
Oh how blessed is the love I feel
How sweet to know that God is real!

Thena

God Understands

God understands when we are sad
When things go wrong and times are bad,
He understands our doubts and fears
And hears our cries and sees our tears.
Let Him lift you up when those doubts arise
And wipe the tears from your weeping eyes.
Draw close to Him and trust that God above
Is the Lord of all and is a God of Love.

Sometimes Moms Graduate

Sometimes Moms Graduate

Sometimes moms work in offices
Or even fly a plane
Some moms might be plumbers
And open up clogged drains
While sometimes they go back to school
To exercise their brains
And sometimes moms graduate
And everyone can see
That they went back to school
And got their degree!
Congratulations Mom!
Thena

Graduate Mom

Congratulations Mom!

Congratulations to You, Mom!
You have finished the task
You did it on your own
And for no favors did you ask.
You took care of us at home
Even as you burned the midnight oil
And we knew if we needed you
We just had to call.
You are an example
Of all I desire to be
and to say
CONGRATULATIONS
I want to take the opportunity
No go out and celebrate-
You have the summer free!
Love you Mom!
Thena

Senior Seniors

Senior Seniors

Congratulations! You did it
And it wasn’t always easy
Sometimes the very thought of class
Made you a bit queasy!
But you hung in there
With all of those youngsters
And tried your very best
To follow all those directions
And pass all of those tests.
Now you stand before your kids
In your cap and gown, proud as can be
For your graduation is an honor
And a major victory!

Those Who Would Have Graduated (Loss)

Those Who Would Have Graduated

Lord I send this little prayer Your way
For the families of those
Who would have graduated today.
Each milestone after the loss
Of someone we hold dear
Seems not to go away
But lingers year after year.
Some families have empty seats
at high school graduations
And no limos picked up their teens for prom
But the memories of these dates
And what should have been
Keeps lingering on and on.
Our hearts hurt for them
And we don’t know what to do
Except, Father, to lift them up to you.
Please wrap your arms around them
And with you love surround them
Not only on this day
But the whole year though
For no one loves us more
Than You.
Thena

Teacher

Dear Teacher
I will never forget you and how special you are
In the way you value us as students
But also as people just like you
Who need to be encouraged and appreciated
Not just lectured to.
I gained so much from sitting in your classroom
And listening to you each day
But it was the person you are inside
That taught me more than words can say.
Thank you for all you do to help us mature and grow
So that someday our dreams can come true.
Thena

My Favorite Teacher

My Favorite Teacher

As I graduate this year I will take with me
Many wonderful memories of people held dear
And that you are my favorite teacher
I’m proclaiming loud and clear.
You always understood me and what helped me grow
when I needed a bit more information
You just always seemed to know!
I hope that I can show this same amount of understanding
As I go out into the world and I hope to be
The same kind of teacher as the teacher who taught me.

Thena

Graduation Verses

Fellow Graduates

Look at us! We are no longer
The weaker or the stronger,
The less brilliant or the smarter.
We are not the ones who know the answers
Or wish we could hide at our desks
But we are the ones who made it!
We are the ones who did our best
We survived high school's trials
And passed its test!
We are graduates! We are free!
(At least until college in the fall
Want to go to the mall)
Thena

Congratulations Grad!

You did it! Just look at you!
You did what you knew
That you had to do!
You are brilliant!
You are smart!
You made passing into an art!
You survived high school
And now you are free-
Aren't you glad that
You listened to me?
Mom

Graduation

To Our Daughter

We were there with you in preschool
When you were so proud
To repeat the ABC's back to us out loud.
We applauded your sand box skills
And watched you through grade school,
As you learned how to survive and
How to remember each rule.
Junior high was both wonderful,
As well as traumatic,
As we went through growth,
And experiences quite dramatic.
Now you have conquered High School,
And you are here at our side.
Just to look at you
Feels our hearts with pride.
You are no longer a child
But soon will be an adult.
At the moment you are still willing to be
Comforted and encouraged,
And wrapped in our arms,
Before we send you on your way
To participate in Your Graduation Day.
Thena

Family

Family


God created the family
And entrusts it to us
For us to create and appreciate
And to lift each other up.
A family member is the one
Who lifts you up when you are down
And feel the sun will never shine
Nor will the rain clouds ever go away
Family love is true love
That is there to stay.
And is a gift to be treasured and protected
Every single day.
Thena

Going Through Stressful Times

Going Through Stressful Times

In times of extreme trial or stress
There is a feeling of helplessness
When troubles are accentuated
And though we try not to cry
We may be easily agitated
Though we may try to concentrate
On only the most positive of thoughts
It is not easy to be rid of the things
That have brought us down
And all too soon where once was a smile
Can only be seen a frown.
No one is keen on being sad
And we each seek to find joy and bliss
But into each life there will be rain
And moments such as this.
Our goal should be to find our way
As we trust God to see us through it
He knows the strength He’s given us
And knows that we can do it!
Thena

When Unexpected Heartache Comes

Today an out of nowhere heartache came
And took me by surprise
Made a sadness in my soul
And brought tears to my eyes.
It’s true that those whom we love most
And are our most cherished family
Can be the reason for our sudden pain
As we replay their memories.
We hurt because they left us too soon
And our hearts feel as if they’re breaking.
How can we keep on going in this pain
With the toll this grief is taking?
I felt God speak to me, not in words that I could hear
But in a moment of such comfort in my spirit
That I knew that He was near.
I thought of my Mom in Heaven
And how happy she must be
Would I really wish her to come back
When her spirit has been set free?
How could I wish someone who has seen the Lord
To come back to comfort me?
I dried my eyes and looked toward Heaven
As if my Mom could see
And thanked God the Father
For the Mom He had given me.
I thanked Him for the memories
Of wonderful times we had together
And for the comfort in knowing
That when we meet again
It will be forever.
Thena

Our Flowers

We looked at flowers for our home
At various shops today
And for our household
Plastic seems the only way.
No one remembers to water them
Or give them plant food to eat
And plastic or silk flowers
Always look bright and neat..
We are free from pruning and watering
And horticulture as a whole
We took change of the whole blooming mess
And have our flowers under control!
Thena