Stand Up!
Stand up!
For
right
Even
if the odds are against you.
Stand up.
For
the weak
Your
God will bless you.
Sand up.
For
the good you see in others
There
is good in everyone.
Stand up.
Even
if you must stand alone.
Fight the self-doubt or pity you might find within you.
They
are vexations to the spirit
And
to the soul.
Be strong and courageous.
Make
this a better world
Through
each act
of
kindness, understanding, or encouragement.
Make a Difference
By Dan Hopper – 1998
The world changes every day because “each
of us”,
without
our consent,
have
made a difference.
When we look back on our lives in quiet reflection
we will find that
each
breath,
each
quiet footstep,
each
word in anger, jest, or compassion
has
made a difference,
We smiled in a way that encouraged someone in
distress;
We told someone what we thought was right, or
wrong
at
a time when they were searching for answers;
We praised a young mother for nurturing her
children;
We defended someone who needed our help more
than we knew;
We expressed our disapproval by keeping silent
when
someone wanted support for an unworthy cause;
We prayed with someone who was lost;
We found strength in our faith
and
therein set an example
for
someone who needed more strength than we could give.
Each thing we do changes the world
.
It
is somehow different
because
of US!
We can’t wait for someone else to do what
must be done...
OUR changes count;
We
can make them help a cause greater than ourselves;
Make
it a “Better World”.
We are each no greater
and
indeed, no less -
than
our fellow man.
YOU and I DO makes a difference.
Life's Goal
Each of us are born. We live for a time - then we die.
All of us make mistakes and, hopefully,
we learn from those mistakes
and become better people.
That must be our goal – to become better people
as we journey
from beginning to end.
Some will measure us and remember us by the mistakes we make;
some by the person we become.
Does our God keep score?
Does He tally the number of good deeds
and bad ones and decide who will be admitted to his side or
does he simply care who, in the end, we have become?
Only God knows for sure.
I only know that He allows that I continue to live.
Perhaps he
has some purpose for me – yet undone.
I have hope that there is yet a place for me at his side.
I will continue my efforts to be a better person,
t
o make the
world around me better in some way.
In God’s time he will take me from this place and make
his judgment.
Thanksgivings Remembered
Remember a childhood Thanksgiving...
The family gathering. Special family friends are there.
The children playing.
“Children! Be quiet now. You’ll make grandma
and grandpa nervous.”
You (we) were too little to sit at the grown-up’s table.
All is quiet now.
The family turns to grandpa. “Almighty
God, thank you for bringing us together this day and thank
you for our many blessings ....”
The food is on the table but grandma and momma won’t
set down. They wait anxiously as each food is tasted and
approved by everyone at the tables, the grown-up tables and
the children’s tables.
“Let’s each say out loud what we are thankful
for.”
“I’m thankful for my family, my job, for life
itself.”
“I’m thankful for my puppy.”
“I’m thankful that the angels watch over me.”
“I’m thankful for you - honey.” (That was
grandpa.)
These memories are warm and comforting now, even though grandma,
grandpa, mom, dad, and some of the aunts and uncles are gone.
The family doesn’t get together as it used to.
Oh,
we still love each other. We just don’t get together
as much.
What am I thankful for?
I’m thankful for my wonderful friend-my wife,
for my
sons and their beautiful wives. For my grandchildren.
I’m thankful for my friends - that’s you.
I’m thankful still, that the angels watch over me...
And I pray that they watch over you too.
God bless you on this day of Thanksgiving.
Take a Stand and
Make a Difference
I listen for the morning stillness
But hear a distant rhythmic thumping.
Distant
drumming, distant footsteps
Droning
over nearby hills.
Dust clouds rising,
Turning soft blue sky to muddy brown.
Footsteps drumming
Thumping - thumping on the hard dry ground.
Metal clanging - armor and sword.
Ka-Rump, ka-Romp of marching soldiers.
The battle comes.
I
stand my ground.
For the sake of others I must not fail.
The air thickens with dust
From
the approaching enemy.
My mouth is dry.
The electric, copper, taste of fear
of
anger
of
purpose
and
finally of courage
brings me to my feet.
I stand!
Even if I must stand alone.
I
stand - because my cause is just.
I
stand because I must.
Who will stand with me?
Dan Hopper © 1999
To My Wife
You are my first light at dawning
My brightest star at twilight.
The first deep breath after a fresh spring rain
tastes and smells of you.
You are my hope, my faith, my comfort, my friend.
With GOD as my strength and you in my heart
I am beyond all men.
I love you my darling, my wife.
After all these years,
— I love you still.
I gave this to her one evening.
She promptly spell checked it and gave it back to me to do over!
Go figure...
I somehow expected more.
Making Changes
I tread lightly through each veil of life
expecting
that I might go unnoticed;
Then in quiet reflection, I pause, look back, and find that
each breath,
each
gentle footstep,
each
word
in
anger,
jest,
compassion
or
indifference,
has made a change in the world,
Sometimes
in profound and unexpected ways
It is finally revealed to me that what “I” think matters!
what “I” do
or don’t do - matters.
The world around me is not the same.
It is somehow different because I was there!
I pray that in some way, however small,
the world
is a better place
— because
I was there.
It is also revealed that I am no greater
and indeed,
no less -
than
my fellow man.
The world has changed because “each of us”, without
our consent,
have made
a difference.
We smiled in a way that encouraged someone in distress;
We told someone what we thought was right, or wrong
at a time when they were searching for answers;
We praised a young mother for nurturing her children.
We defended someone who needed our help more than we knew.
We expressed our disapproval by keeping silent
when someone wanted support for an unworthy cause.
We prayed with someone who was lost.
We found strength in our faith
and therein set an example for someone
who needed more strength than we could give.
Each thing we do changes the world in remarkable ways.
Make your changes count.
Make them help a cause greater than yourself.
Make it a “Better World”
Because YOU are in it.
I will try with you.
If we only try to make it better - we cannot fail.
The Temple Within
Children, hear this truth that is revealed to you
so that you
might know that it is so.
There is a temple within each of you where you hear the voice
of GOD.
It speaks to you even when you do not believe that there is such
a voice.
This voice speaks to you when you are asleep and when you are
awake.
This voice, is in you because GOD believes in you
whether or not
you believe in HIM.
This voice speaks to you when you do harm to others and do what
is not the will of GOD so that you might know HIS purpose.
This same voice in you speaks when you do only what is good.
This is a voice of the GOD who loves you and forgives you
even
when you do not listen to HIM.
This voice that is within each of us speaks to us in our most
quiet hour.
It asks us to love one another, to forgive one another, to help
one another.
Do not judge one another. This is the province only of
GOD.
It is important only that you love and that you forgive one another
as GOD has forgiven you and loves you.
If GOD forgives you and wishes for you to do what is good, will
you be welcomed if you bring hate or prejudice with you to the
gates of heaven?
You are asked the question now.
You must answer.
The one whose voice is within you will know.
Go now to that temple within you and ask if this is so.
The promise is that you will be answered and if you will listen,
you know that you have heard HIS voice.
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