A Good Woman

A good woman is proud of herself. She respects herself and others. She is aware of who she is. She neither seeks definition from the person she is with, nor does she expect them to read her mind. She is quite capable of articulating her needs. A good woman is hopeful. She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true. She knows love, therefore she gives love. She recognizes that her love has great value and must be reciprocated. If her love is taken for granted, it soon disappears. A good woman has a dash of inspiration, a dabble of endurance. She knows that she will, at times, have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them. A good woman knows her past, understands her present and moves toward the future. A good woman knows God. She knows that with God the world is her playground, but without God she will just be played. A good woman does not live in fear of the future because of her past. Instead, she understands that her life experiences are merely lessons, meant to bring her closer to self knowledge and unconditional self love. Girl Smile.

25 Reasons Why I Owe My Mother

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE . "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.'

2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL . "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC. " Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM."'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."'

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY . "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "'Just wait until your father gets home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING . "You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT . "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you ."

The Fifth Season

If I could invent a season that was better than the rest,

I would include the Christmas of winter,

The lillies of spring,

And the picnics of summer.
I would include fireplaces,

Beautiful birds,

Perhaps whipporwills,

Meadowlarks,

And whopping cranes.
The fifth season is the chance to say something we wish we had said.
Or not to say something when we ought not.
It is forgiveness.
It is being on your way to the dentist when your tooth stops hurting.
It is discovering and old friend's address just before Christmas.
It is being remembered on your birthday by a special friend.
It is looking up at the hills near the sea

And seeing ships sailing above the treetops.
It is receiving a dozen lavender roses for no reason at all.
The fifth season is standing at the earth's edge

Looking up in wonderment

As the heavens gracefully acknowledge the order of the universe
And the seagulls circle

In the shape of tomorrow.

Raining in My Heart

Rain can wash away the tears.

How do you know it is raining if you are crying?

Soft rain,dancing on the flowers,

Growing faithfully.

Sun this morning, rain at noon.

Fun this morning, until afternoon.

Raining,raining when we are apart.

It's only raining in my heart.

The Stranger on the Train

I looked for an answer, when I quit crying,

About why you left me, and instead of dying,

I met a stranger on the way to Alaska,

Where I was going

Since I had not been there before.

I'm feeling sad, I said, I've been betrayed.

First time it happened?, he inquired

No, I replied.

Then I stayed by his side for miles

Thinking of when I'd been blue before,

And I'd gotten over it

.When I arrived in Alaska, I remembered his words,

The stranger who detrained in Seattle.

I turned around and thought, instead of crying,

That no matter how sad I'd been yesterday,

I'd been given a gift along the way.

I thought I would find my answer in Alaska

And I found it along the way.

I returned home thinking,

Instead of crying,

I'm really over you.

Thanks to the stranger on the train.

Juliemarie

Juliemarie was new in town,

She was from many places.

She got good grades, wore pretty clothes,

The other kids made faces.

She gave her clothes to some of them,

Thinking they would change.

They took the clothes and laughed at her.

And often called her strange.

When they were grown and graduated,

The other kids were sad,

Juliemarie now owned their homes

While the other kids went mad.

The Crowd

Across bridges.

In airplanes.

Seeing them on television.

Listening to our favorite song.

All the people who have crossed bridges

In airplanes,

Or have seen them.

Listening to each other,

Or looking at each other.

We think of them all,

And remember the song.