Empathy, a parent’s ability to understand what a child is feeling, is an important and valuable ingredient of child rearing.
It is said that nature always sides with the hidden flaw. Teachers have the opposite role; to side with the hidden asset, to minimize a child’s deficiencies, intensify his experience, and enlarge his life.
Haim Ginott (1922-1973) was an Israeli-born school teacher and child psychologist. He pioneered techniques about how to converse with children.
From John 15:10-11: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Rejoicing with Father
Peace quiets every storm
Joy’s spirit transforms heart
Nurturing, always warm
Learning from Father’s Word
Faith nourished, always trust
Joy sails on eagle’s wings
Bringing light, always just
Receiving Father’s grace
Precious gift of each day
Joy cascades from His love
Rising sun, never gray
Walking in Father’s steps
Hope breathes with every stride
Joy’s anticipation
Filling outlook with pride
Kneeling at Father’s feet
Gratitude sweeps ashore
Joy flowing with gladness
Entering Heaven’s door
From the words of American evangelist, Bill Bright: “The joy of God is experienced as I love, trust, and obey God.”
We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, patience creates unity.
You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be a peace unless he has his freedom.
Malcolm X (1925-1965) was an American human rights activist.
Morning’s gifted sunrise
Destiny of new day
Creator’s journey
Balance in life’s ballet
Nature’s comforting hand
Nurturing, rhythmic pace
Creator’s presence
Everything in its place
Seasons change, one by one
Yet, harmony remains
Creator’s patience
Trust in heavenly reign
River’s endless spirit
Mountains standing above
Creator’s landscape
Treasured delights of love
Every generation
Unique in its domain
Creator’s splendor
Lifetime of sweetest grain
Gentle breeze turns life’s page
Tenderness breathes from heart
Creator’s passion
Setting sun now departs
From Galatians 5:22-25: “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.”
Seeing mankind standing along the road
Bearing heavy burdens, life’s overload
Stopping to say, travel the other way
Sharing some kindness, from our Lord today
Shining Jesus’ light, for all to follow
Hearing His Word, rich wisdom to swallow
Overlooking life’s narrow-minded walk
Sharing some kindness, truth becomes our rock
Lending helping hands, sisters and brothers
Showering daily grace, like none other
Forsaking life’s blindness, opening eyes
Sharing some kindness, never in disguise
Helping others who travel beside us
Inviting them, catching rides on God’s bus
Loving with patience, goodwill overflows
Sharing some kindness, warming hearts aglow
Recalling Christ’s call, handing out His love
Sharing His mercy, planted from above
Paying it forward, kindness shared each day
Harvesting endless treasures from God’s way
This poem is inspired by singer Glen Campbell’s classic tune, “Try a Little Kindness.” Here is one of his renditions of this remarkable song. Pay it forward, show the world some kindness.
Originally published December, 2020.
Confident
Embracing peace
Transcended through Christ
Gathered in His love
Courageous
Compassion
Accepting grace
Nourished through Christ
Assured of His spirit
Undeniable
Trust
Fulfilling light
Saved through Christ
Transformed by His hope
Everlasting
From Ephesians 4:31-32: “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”
Faith filled with truth from Father
Anger rests with setting sun
Leaving quicksand’s bitterness
Forgiven through mercy’s Son
Eyes upon Calvary’s cross
Ultimate action of grace
Forgiven through Savior’s blood
His love takes sin’s former place
We, too, are called to forgive
Ourselves as well as others
Casting aside emotions
Now loving one another
Holding back words of darkness
Kindness leads each blessed day
Forgiving as Christ forgives
Holy Spirit leads faith’s way
Walking in shadow of grace
Forgiveness mends one more heart
Embracing love’s character
Trust in hope’s renewing start
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Max Lucado: “Bitterness is the trap that snares the hunter.”
From 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Father smiles from above
Witnessing two people in love
Man sees sparkle in her eyes
Sharing heart, love’s necktie
Woman gifting her heart
Cherishing love’s treasured start
Tomorrow’s outlook brightens
Feeling love’s reins tighten
Spirit joins together
Fashioning love’s tether
Marriage vows expressing love
Walking with Christ above
Love’s most tender flower
Flourishing with every hour
Spirit’s eternal imprint
Sealing love’s fingerprint
Love maturing as one
Praising choices in God’s Son
Father blessing love’s fresh start
Bringing grace to each heart
New day welcomes sunrise
Affirming love’s highest prize
What wondrous love now received
Trusting what Father conceived
This poem comes from the hearts of two people who discovered each other nearly 20 years ago. With our faith nourished by God’s grace, He continues to walk with both of us.
— Richard and Colleen
A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.
From Mark 11:25: “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”
Ruth Bell Graham (1920-2007) was an American Christian author. Born to American parents who were dedicated to medical missionary work in China, she would later become the wife of evangelist Billy Graham. They met when both were attending Wheaton College in Illinois.
It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
From Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was an American essayist, poet, and philosopher. He was a leading voice in America’s transcendentalist movement in the 19th century.
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