The Best Within You!!! Worth Reading!!

beachcottage

Be,
as water is,
without friction.
Flow around the edges
of those within your path.
Surround within your ever-moving depths
those who come to rest there—
enfold them,
while never for a moment holding on.
Accept whatever distance
others are moved within your flow.
Be with them gently
as far as they allow your strength to take them,
and fill with your own being
the remaining space when they are left behind.
When dropping down life's rapids,
froth and bubble into fragments if you must,
knowing that the one of you now many
will just as many times be one again.
And when you've gone as far as you can go,
quietly await your next beginning.
© Noel Frederick

xoxo,Patti

MJB

The Rose

Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger
An endless, aching need.
I say love, it is a flower
And you it's only seed.
It's the heart, afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance.
It's the dream, afraid of waking
That never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken,
Who cannot seem to give.
And the soul afraid of dying
That never learns to live.
And the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long.
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong.
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed that with the sun's love,
In the spring,
Becomes a rose.

Bette Midler(MY ALL TIME FAVORITE ARTIST)
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

beachcottage

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queet with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
Author Unknown
xoxo,Patti

beachcottage

Some will look out at the ocean.
But never set foot past the shore.
While others set sail, and never look back
And go where no man's gone before.

Some people look at the mountain.
And the fear of its shadows in their minds.
While others look up, and chart out their course
And slowly they start their long climb.

Anything's possible, if you believe.
Anything's possible, that can be seen.
Once you get past, the things in your heart
That cloud what is good and true.
Anything's possible, if you have faith.
Just keep your head up, and stay in the race.
Others before, have known this is true.
And now it's time for you.
To know that anything's possible too.

Some people hear of the battles.
Walk the first road of retreat.
While others will run, to find the front line.
And never give thought of defeat.

Everyone looks in the mirror.
Then stares at the core of their soul.
We all have the choice, to get lost in fear
Or gather the faith to let go.
~~~Gary Chapman


xoxo,Patti

MarshaB-2004Sep14

Patti...
Thanks for the words of wisdom..hugs to you!

beachcottage

Hugs back Marsha....HOw are you doing?

There will be storms, child
There will be storms
And with each tempest
You will seem to stand alone
Against cruel winds

But with time, the rage and fury
Shall subside
And when the sky clears
You will find yourself
Clinging to someone
You would have never known
But for storms.

"Storms"
by Margie DeMerell



xoxo,Patti

MJB

"Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been,but also where you are going. Life is not a race,but a beautiful and pleasant journey to be savoured each step of the way."Author Unknown
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

DebraLynn

I just read your thread on There's Still Hope. Thanks, I needed that right about now.
Hugs,

MJB

Thanks DebraLynn.I'm glad you enjoyed it,I'm sure I have read it 100 times it puts things in perspective. I do hope you are well.
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

TREES

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Enjoy . God Bless . MJB

MJB

The man whispered, "God, speak to me." And a meadowlark sang.
But, the man did not hear.
Then the man yelled "God, speak to me." Thunder rolled across the sky.
But, the man did not listen.
The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you."
And the stars shined brightly.
But the man did not notice.

And, the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle."
And, a life was born.
But the man did not know.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here." Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.
But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.Amen

So remember, don't miss out on a blessing because it
isn't packaged the way that you expect.
Take notice of the blessings around you.
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

beachcottage

A friend sent this to me this morning via email...Thought it was worth passing along.....May your day be blessed..xoxo,Patti

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk rejection.
To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or love.
Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave.
He has forfeited his freedom.
Only a person who takes risks is free.

Leo Buscaglia

MJB

The Scriptures say “Love is patient.”
God, how can I be patient when I experience injustice?
God, teach me to be patient without being silent or inactive.

The Scriptures say “Love is kind.”
God, how can I be kind as I confront what is evil?”
God, teach me to love my enemy.

The Scriptures say “Love is not jealous.”
God, how can I not be jealous
of those who have so much wealth or power or control?
God, teach me to keep my values straight.

The Scriptures say “Love is not pompous.”
God, how can I not be pompous when I am speaking truth
to those who seem so wrong?
God, teach me to know how to both speak and listen.

The Scriptures say “Love is not inflated.”
God, how can I not be inflated with righteousness in the cause of justice?
God, teach me to know my limits, that I make mistakes
and that I don’t always see clearly.

The Scriptures say “Love is not rude.”
God, how can I be gracious but also committed to what is right?
God, teach me to respect all my sisters and brothers.

The Scriptures say “Love does not seek its own interests.”
God, how can I move beyond my own limits and desires and needs?
God, teach me to understand the needs and perspectives of others, especially the poor.

The Scriptures say “Love is not quick-tempered.”
God, how can I learn from my anger?
God, teach me to learn from my strongest emotions.

The Scriptures say “Love does not brood over injury.”
God, how can I not get discouraged by all the hurts and injuries in our world?
God, teach me to move forward and get into action for what is right.

The Scriptures say “Love does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.”
God, how can I stop thinking of what helps my side to win
and the other side to lose?
God, teach me to practice a love that wants the truth to win for all people.

The Scriptures say “Love bears all things.”
God, how can I bear the stress of trying so hard to do what is right?
God, teach me to let go and to trust in your wisdom.

The Scriptures say “Love believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.”
God, how can I possibly love?
God, teach me that I don’t love alone,
But rather in community with you and with all my sisters and brothers.

The Scriptures say “love never fails.”
God, how is it that I sometimes feel failure? How can I believe?
God, teach me to love with a heart as big as the world
And to receive love and help with a big a heart.
Amen.
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

beachcottage

Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide...

Garth Brooks, The River



xoxo,Patti

beachcottage

“By the accident of fortune
a man may rule the world for a time,
but by virtue of love and kindness
he may rule the world forever.”

Lao-Tse


Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

Leo Buscaglia


xoxo,Patti

beachcottage

An old one..Worth repeating...xoxo,Patti

The Cracked Pot
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his masters house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your masters house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts." The pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the Pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pots side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We re all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Fathers table. In Gods great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.

MJB

My prayer for all the new Mothers and Grandmas on our website over the last few weeks:

Today we are blessed with a beautiful baby,
May his/her feet be to the east
May his/her right hand be to the south
May his/her head be to the west
May his/her left hand be to the north
May he/she walk and dwell on Mother Earth
Peacefully
May he/she be blessed with precious,variegated
Stones
May he/she be blessed with fat sheep in variation
May he/she be blessed with respectful relatives
and friends
May he/she be blessed with the essence of life in
old age
May he/she be blessed with the source of happiness
in beauty
We ask all these blessings with reverence and holiness.......Traditional Navajo

BARUCH HABA.
BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES....Traditional Jewish greeting for a new baby.

"God our Father, you bestow your greatest blessing on us when you call upon us to take part in the miracle of bringing new life into the world. You fill us with wonder as we watch this life grow from its very beginning. And you teach us to love as we love this child whom you entrust to our care. We give you thanks for this gift of life, and as we cherish this gift we ask you to encircle us always with your fatherly love."Amen

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

beachcottage

MJ ditto..... that was beautiful... Congratulations to all...xoxo,Patti

beachcottage

Letter Writing Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Source Unknown

Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, was angered by an army officer who accused him of favoritism. Stanton complained to Lincoln, who suggested that Stanton write the officer a sharp letter. Stanton did just that, and showed the strongly worded critical letter to the President. "What are you going to do with it now?" Lincoln asked.

Surprised, Stanton replied, "I’m going to send it to him."

Lincoln shook his head. "You don’t want to send that letter," he said. "Put it in the stove over there. That’s what I do when I’ve written a letter when I’m angry or bitter. Even letters I’ve written to you. It’s a good letter and you had a good time writing it, and feel better now. Go ahead, burn it, and write another letter with less sharp edges."



xoxo,
Patti

MJB

Blessings for All

1.Bless the neighbor who likes your dogs.
2.Bless the neighbor who makes you laugh.
3.Bless the friend who still sends mail with stamps.
4.Bless the friend with the well-timed hand-me-downs.
5.Bless the friend who drops by and never notices the sock floating in the cereal bowl under the radiator.
6.Bless the teacher who enjoys your childs temperament.
7.Bless the coach who pats your child on the shoulders and says."GOOD GAME."
8.Blessed is the I.T.guy.
9.Bless the children who eat what you make for dinner!!!!
10.Bless the mother of a toddler who visits the bathroom without company.
11.Bless the child who tells another,"This is the best book ever!"
12.Bless the child who wins and loses with grace.
13.Bless the teenager who shovels the snow from the walk of an elderly neighbor.
14.Bless the parent of a teenager who takes nothing personally.
15.Bless the teenager who remembers to use her judgment.
16.Bless the partner who sorts and cleans the spice cabinet.
17.Bless the take-out and delivery drivers on Friday nights.
18.Bless the rain that falls on the day of the 8am soccer game.
19.Bless the sleep-over guest who changes her mind before midnight.
20.Bless the dog who always comes when you call.
21.Bless the relative who visits for two days,but never for three.
22.Bless the guinea pig who never pees in your lap.
23.Bless the cat who comes home.
24.Bless the money that arrives unexpectedly in the mail.
25.Bless the parking space in front of the post office.
26.Bless the glasses and the car keys that are right where you put them.

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

beachcottage

Tending Life's Garden
Our life is like a garden,
That needs constant, loving care,
There are woes that doth beset us,
Things that make life seem unfair.

We need so much cultivation,
To produce a steady start,
With a vast supply of sunshine,
That will warm the coldest heart.

When wind and rain approach us,
We should grip with all our might,
The water is greatly needed,
For our growth and sturdy height.

Our deeds are bright as flowers,
And our prayers help clear the way,
Every kindness that is rendered,
Will help make a brighter day.

So tend your garden daily,
Remove all the weeds,
Then, look for God's assistance,
To bless and meet your needs.

Frances Culp Wolfe



xoxo,
Patti

MJB

I knelt to pray when day was done
And prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone,
Lift from each saddened heart the pain
And let the sick be well again."

And then I woke another day
And carelessly went on my way,
The whole day long I did not try
To wipe a tear from any eye.

I did not try to share the load
Of any brother on the road.
I did not even go to see
The sick man just next door to me.

Yet once again when day was done
I prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone."
But as I prayed, into my ear
there came a voice that whispered clear,

"Pause now, my son, before you pray.
Whom have you tried to bless today?
Gods sweetest blessing always go
by hands that serve him here below."

And then I hid my face and cried,
"Forgive me, God, I have not tried,
But let me live another day
and I will live the way I pray."
Author Unknown
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

beachcottage

Where the Sun Spilled Gold (from "Things I Wish I'd Known sooner" by Jaroldeen Edwards)
taken from Readers' Digest - October '97



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a bleak, rainy day, and I had no desire to drive up the winding mountain road to my daughter Carolyn's house. But she had insisted that I come see something at the top of the mountain.

So here I was, reluctantly making the two-hour journey through the fog that hung like veils. By the time I saw how thick it was near the summit, I'd gone too far to turn back. Nothing could be worth this, I thought as I inched along the perilous highway.

"I'll stay for lunch, but I'm heading back down as soon as the fog lifts," I announced when I arrived.

"But I need you to drive me to the garage to pick up my car," Carolyn said. "Could we at least do that?"

"How far is it?" I asked.

"About three minutes," she said. "I'll drive -- I'm used to it."

After ten minutes on the mountain road, I looked at her anxiously. "I thought you said three minutes."

She grinned. "This is a detour."

Turning down a narrow track, we parked the car and got out. We walked along a path that was thick with old pine needles. Huge black-green evergreens towered over us. Gradually the peace and silence of the place began to fill my mind.

Then we turned a corner -- and I stopped and gasped in amazement.

From the top of the mountain, sloping for several acres across folds and valleys, were rivers of daffodils in radiant bloom. A profusion of color -- from the palest ivory to the deepest lemon to the most vivid salmon -- blazed like a carpet before us. It looked as though the sun had tipped over and spilled gold down the mountainside.

At the center cascaded a waterfall of purple hyacinths. Here and there were coral-colored tulips. And as if this bonanza were not enough, western bluebirds frolicked over the heads of the daffodils, their magenta breasts and sapphire wings like a flutter of jewels.

A riot of questions filled my mind. Who created such beauty? Why? How?

As we approached the home that stood in the center of the property, we saw a sign: 'Answers to the questions I know you are asking.'

The first answer was: 'One woman - two hands, two feet, and very little brain.' The second was: 'One at a time.' The third: 'Started in 1958.'

As we drove home, I was so moved by what we had seen that I could scarcely speak. "She changed the world," I finally said, "one bulb at a time. She started almost 40 years ago, probably just the beginning of an idea, but she kept at it."

The wonder of it would not let me go. "Imagine," I said, "if I'd had a vision and worked at it, just a little bit every day, what might I have accomplished?"

Carolyn looked at me sideways, smiling. "Start tomorrow," she said. "Better yet, start today."



xoxo,
Patti

beachcottage

In the middle of the night,
My bedroom washed in moonlight
And outside
The faint hush-hushing
Of an ebbing tide,
I see Venus
Close to
The waning moon.
I hear the bubbling hoot
Of a playful owl.
Pierrot's purrs
Ripple under my hand,
And all this is bathed
In the scent of roses
By my bed
Where there are always
Books and flowers.
In the middle of the night
The bliss of being alive!
....by May Sarton, 1991

xoxo,
Patti

MJB

Into a box of friendship
To insure that it is strong
First a layer of respect
On the bottom does belong,
Then to the sides attach
In the corners where they meet
Several anchors full of trust
Devoid of all deceit.
The height of friendship can be measured
By the sides of four
So make them all a larger cut
And the box will hold much more,
Now fill it up with courtesy
Honor and esteem
Understanding, sympathy
And passion for a dream
Add to that your honesty
Emotions, joy and love
And since they're so important
Place them up above.
But leave the box wide open
So all can see inside
To learn what makes a friendship work
From the box you built with pride.

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

"Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted--a paved road or a washing machine? If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul."...Rabbi Harold Kushner
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of
God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing
enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. "...Marianne Williamson (also used by Nelson Mandela.)

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

MY HALO

I POLISHED up my halo
As brightly as I could,
I wanted folks to see it
And know that I was good,
Yet quickly did I notice,
And very odd it seemed___
The harder that I polished,
The duller that it gleamed.
So giving up my effort,
For pointless seemed my zest,
I put away my halo
And simply did my best,
But stranger still to tell you,
Since putting it away,
I've noticed that my Halo
Shines brighter every day...Margaret Ingall

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

Today, I Feel

today i feel like music
like the hum of a silent song
that beats beneath the skin
of soft Sunday morning stars...
i've forgotten some of the words
and my voice is a little less than angelic
but even so
i feel like music today

and today

today
i feel like rain,
clean and self-possessing...
i wanna let go and fall from heaven
with the sun at my back
and the moon in my womb
and bathe the world
with my brand new tomorrow
i wanna flood my past in the footsteps
that yesterday left for me to follow
i wanna wash away my spirit's own sorrow
with aquatic sighs and silver droplets
of my own silver smile
yeah
i feel like rain today

and today.

today
i feel like youth
untouched by the morbid hearts and hands
of life and love
i wanna lose myself in children's games
with sapphire hills and mirrored lakes and snaking streams
i wanna cast away my gospel shoes
and race the sun's shadowed drawings
on urban battlefields
and jump rope with god's arms
as they reach down to hand me adult responsibilities
i wanna lose track of all time
throw away all my watches and calendars
and laugh in the face of tears...
today i laugh in the face of fear
cause i feel like youth today

and today
i feel red
and i want you to feel it too...

i feel red
like i wanna spread myself thin enough
to surround the two of us
and thick enough
to keep the both of us warm...
i wanna try you on
pull you snug over my skin
and dance around in the sun's reflection
and watch the two of us
in my fervid crimson glow...

...you look good on me...

...and you feel hot as fire
next to my flushed red-violet flesh
it's a good thing my soul doesn't mind sweatin'
cause
i feel red today

and today,

today...

today
i feel like feelin'
like a queen....Author Unknown

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

beachcottage

The true beloveds of this world are in their lover's eyes: lilacs opening, ship lights, school bells, a landscape, remembered conversations, friends, a child's Sunday, lost voices, one's favorite suit, autumn and all seasons, memory, yes, it being the earth and water of existence, memory.



-Truman Capote







To see a world in a grain of sand



and a heaven in a wild flower,



hold infinity in the palm of your hand



and eternity in an hour.



-William Blake







Sing and dance, I'll play for you tonight

The thrill of it all

Dark clouds may hang over me sometimes

But I work it out

-Dave Matthews Band



The fountains mingle with the river,

And the rivers with the ocean;

The winds of heaven mix for ever

With a sweet emotion;

Nothing in the world is single;

All things, by a law divine,

In one another's being mingle--

Why not I with thine?

Percy Bysshe Shelley

xoxo,

Patti