Dishes

They had a set of dishes
Given them when they wed ,
With luck and happiness and wishes
By loved ones ,who to them said
They wished they’d always be happy
As the moment when,”I will,”
Was said with so much rapture
That their hearts were standing still.

The dishes tell a lovely story
Of the lives they were to live _
How they shone in all their glory
When the very frist forgive
Was whispered, and I love you truly ,
Which made things right again ,
For it was just as surely said ,
As sun comes after rain

Time as long since passed ,
Since they were first together ,
When he’d sit and ask her
If she loved him as no other –
And she was just content
With the answer in her heart ,
For she knew that it was meant
That they should never part ..

Although their lives had many scars
Like cracks upon the china ,
Their love outshone the mars ,
For it was only minor ,
If the one who’d done the wrong
Down in his heart had sorrow ,
For they never let the sun go down
Without a ,” Bright Tomorrow ,”

She’s an old lady now ,
And he is eight-two ,
The cups and saucers wonder
What the other one will do ,
Until they both are able ,
To sit at God’s own perfect table ,
Be fed by His own hand

Jan Bagwell
God Bless !
I wrote this poem about 15 years ago .It was my mother first Christmas without dad.He died a week before Thankgiving that year . My mother had been marry to my dad for over fifty years and the only time they had been apart was world war 2 . My mother had almost gave up living .I wish we all could have had Dad and mom love . They raise three God loving children . {2 boys and a girl ] . So I wrote this for my mother that Christmas . Thank you Jesus for my mother and dad and brother and sister ,there never been any better. Merry Christmas

CHRISTMAS

Tell me what is this innumerable throng
Singing in the heavens a load angelic song ?
These are they who come with swift and shining feet
From round about the throne of God the Lord of Light to greet .
O, who are these that hasten beneath the starry sky ,
As if with joyful tidings that through the world shall fly ?
The faithful shepherds these , who greatly were afeared
When , as they watched their flocks by night , the heavenly host appeared.

Who are these that follow across the hills of night
A star that westward hurries along the fields of light ?
Three wise men from east who myrrh and treasure bring
To lay them at the feet of Him , their Lord and Christ , and King .

What babe new-born is this that in a manger cries ?
Neat on her bed of pain His happy mother lies .
O , see ! the air is shaken with white and heavenly wings –
This is the Lord of all the earth , this is the King of Kings .
Tell me , how may I join in this holy feast
With all the kneeling world , and I of all the least ?
Fear not , O faithful heart , but bring what most is meet ;
Bring love alone , true love alone , and lay it at His feet .

Jan Bagwell
God Bless

In The Valleys I Grow

In The Valleys I Grow


Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe.
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountaintop
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountaintops,
But it's in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day,
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know,
The mountaintops are glorious,
But it's in the valleys I grow!

Jan Bagwell
God Bless !

I Believe !

I like the beginning of this story.
I agree that happiness comes from within .


She is 92 years old, petite, well poised, and proud. She is fully
dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably
coifed, and her makeup perfectly applied, in spite of the fact she is
legally blind.

Today she has moved to a nursing home. Her husband of 70 years
recently passed away, making this move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing
home , she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.
As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual
description of her tiny room, including the eyelet curtains that had
been hung on her window.

"I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old
having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room...just wait," I said.

Then she spoke these words that I will never forget:
"That does not have anything to do with it," she gently replied.
"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether
I like my room or not, does not depend on how the furniture is
arranged. It is how I arrange my mind. I have already decided to love it.

It is a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a
choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the
parts of my body that no longer work, or I can get out of bed and be
thankful for the ones that do work. Each day is a gift, and as long as
my eyes open, I will focus on the new day and all of the happy memories
I have stored away...just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you have
already put in.

I believe-
that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we
are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe-
that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you
every
once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe-
that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I believe-
that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest
distance.
Same goes for true love.

I believe-
that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe-
that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I believe-
that you can keep going, long after you can't.

I believe-
that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe-
that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe-
that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs
to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe-
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe-
that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and
have the best time.

I believe-
that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down,
will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe-
that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but
that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe-
that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've
had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe-
that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes
you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe-
that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't
stop for your grief.

I believe-
that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they
don't love each other. And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.

I believe-
that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.

I believe-
that two people can look at the exact same thing and see
something totally different.

I believe-
that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people
who don't even know you.

I believe-
that even when you think you have no more to give, when
a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I believe-
that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe-
that the people you care about most in life are taken
from you too soon.


Have A Great Day!!!

A Soldier's Night Before Christmas

A SOLDIER'S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

'Twas the night before Christmas, and he lived all alone
In a one-bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
And to see just whom in this home did live.

I looked all about, and a strange sight did I see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the mantle, just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
A sober thought came to my mind.
For this house was different, dark and dreary,
It was the house of a soldier, I now could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in this one-bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, the room in disorder,
Not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I had read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?
I realized the families I saw on this night,
Owed their lives to this soldier, who was willing to fight.

Soon 'round the world the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
And I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice.
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more,
My life is my God, my Country, my Corps."

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep,
And I couldn't control it, I started to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still
And we both shivered from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark night
This Guardian of Honor so willing to fight.
The soldier rolled over and with a voice soft and pure,
Whispered, "Carry on, Santa, It's Christmas Day, All is secure."

One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas, my friend, and to all a Good Night!
Jan Bagwell
God Bless The United States of America and to those who defend it .