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