" the War " by Rachel Akkoç

 

The War    by Rachel Akkoç

A sea of purple there before my eyes

The sun sets low on Letterkenny skies

Five thousand candles light a pathway in the night

We gather on the grass in love and cheer

We celebrate the ones no longer here

No matter what it takes, we won’t give up the fight, the fight

And maybe, someday we’ll find a way to beat this

And in the night when you feel hopeless

I’ll be your warrior of light

A beacon, to all who hear the words unspoken

Our bodies battered, bruised, and broken

We won’t give in, though we are sore

We may not win the battle, but today we win the war

We greet the morning with a hopeful heart

We walk together from the very start

Each step reminds us of the ones we lost at home

And if you feel too weak to carry on

Fearing the future, and tomorrow’s dawn

I’m right beside you, know that you are not alone, alone

And maybe, someday we’ll find a way to beat this

And in the night when you feel hopeless

I’ll be your warrior of light

A beacon, to all who hear the words unspoken

Our bodies battered, bruised, and broken

We won’t give in, though we are sore

We may not win the battle, but today we win the war

With you beside me, there is nothing I can’t do

Don’t lose the faith, some time we’re gonna find a cure

Until that day, you’ve got to spread your wings and fly, fly high

And some day, we’ll overcome and we’ll get through this

We’ll light a candle in the darkness

A guiding light will see us through

And maybe, someday we’ll find a way to beat this (Maybe there’s a way)

And in the night when you feel hopeless (Don’t lose hope and pray)

 

I’ll be your warrior of light (I will be your guide)

A beacon, to all who hear the words unspoken (Look towards the light)

Our bodies battered, bruised, and broken (Don’t give up the fight)

We won’t give in, though we are sore (You are not alone)

We may not win every battle, but today we win the war

No, we can’t win every battle, but some day we’ll win the war

The War by Rachel Akkoç

Wisdom from a tomatoe farmer

 

THE OLD FARMER   - Moral Story Of The Day.

There was a successful old farmer who grew tomatoes for many years. One day, his grandson told him.

"Grandfather, I want to achieve great things in life and make all of my dreams come true. What are the things I should avoid?"

The farmer paused for a moment and said.

"First of all, you should avoid procrastination. Secondly, you should never be afraid to fall. Thirdly, don't ever fool yourself. But the most important of them all, I won't tell you yet"

The boy asked.

"Why grandfather?"

The farmer responded.

"I will tell you at the appropriate time"

One week later, the farmer took his grandson to his tomato field for the first time. He showed him a large portion of land where he grew some of his tomatoes. When the farmer saw how amazed the little boy was, he asked him.

"How do you see them?"

The boy replied.

"They look very healthy. Their stems are solid, their leaves are green and their fruits are smooth and red"

The farmer smiled. Then he took him to a separate small portion of his tomato plants, and said to him.

"How about these ones? Can you compare them to the others?"

The boy shook his head and said.

"They don't look healthy. Their stems are weak, their leaves are yellow and they haven't developed any fruit yet. What do you think is the reason?"

The farmer uttered.

"That's because they are surrounded by unwanted plants called weeds. These weeds compete with the main plants for nutrients in the soil, leading to stunted growth for the plants"

 

Then the farmer held his grandson on his shoulders, looked at him in the eye, and said.

"Now is the appropriate time to answer your question completely.

The most important thing you should avoid to become successful in life are negative people. These people are like the weeds and they would stunt your development and stop you from reaching your dreams. They have nothing to offer as they wallow in their problems and fail to focus on solutions. They are energy suckers and you will feel drained being around them. So you shouldn't surround yourself with such kind of people. Be around people who bring a smile to your face, fill your heart with joy and push you toward greatness.                                                                                                

 Choose your friends wisely and they will never put you down.

Phrases to share with your family

 

40 phrases to share with  to your sons and daughters so they can be more resilient, successful, and confident in life.

1. Where there's a will, there's a way.

2. Good manners don't cost anything.

3. Always ask. They can only say no.

4. You're not marrying one; you're marrying the whole family.

5. Find the good in everybody.

6. Don't cry before you try.

7. There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.

8. Pretty is as pretty does.

9. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

10. You can't control what others do, only your own reactions.

11. Don't buy what you can't afford.

12. Remember that things don’t make you happy, people do.

13. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

14. Two wrongs don't make a right.

15. Watch what you step in.

16. Cow turds are a cattlemen's dollar signs. It all depends on how you look at it.

17. Teamwork makes the dream work.

18. Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

19. What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds.

20. Fair? The fair is two weeks in the fall.

21. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

22. The greatest day in your life is when you take total responsibility for your attitudes. That's the day you truly grow up.

23. True freedom is understanding that we have a choice in who and what we allow to have power over us.

24. You're only as old as you feel.

25. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

26. Early to bed and early to rise makes you healthy, wealthy, and wise.

27. Happiness is not by chance but by choice.

28. If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.

29. A rising tide lifts all boats.

30. Don't judge a book by its cover.

31. You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

32. The early bird catches the worm.

33. Each day comes bearing its gifts. Untie the ribbon.

34. Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian.

35. Confession is good for the soul.

36. You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.

37. The grass is greener where you water it.

38. The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.

39. There is no single recipe for success. But there is one essential ingredient: Passion.

40. Never lose hope. And never underestimate the power of prayer.

Author Unknown

  

   

" Dusty trails"

 

Dusty trails – Lucius

We been gone for such a long time that I'm almost afraid to go home
A long road is a long, dragged-out imagination where things can go wrong
But we keep rolling on

I know I'm no doctor but if I was guessing I'd say it was just growing pains
And painful as growing is we can't forget it's our ticket to taking the reins
And we'll all be okay, we'll be okay

Dusty trails can lead you to a golden road, I've been told
Can't remember who it was but all she spoke
Will a penny for her thoughts leave me broke?
'Cause everyone's around and I'm still alone
Everyone's around right now and I'm still alone

It's all in the manual that we've been writing, a future instructional guide
If we skip to add to our pre-fulfilled dreams, we'd be lost without our own advice
We'll be alright, we'll be alright

Dusty trails can lead you to a golden road, I've been told
Can't remember who it was but all he spoke
Will a penny for his thoughts leave me broke?
'Cause everyone's around and I'm still alone
Everyone's around right now and I'm still alone

I'm halfway to misery
Some say when you go halfway there's still plenty of time to return
Oh, am I halfway to heaven?
Some may say when you go halfway, you only have halfway to go

Dusty trails can lead you to a golden road, I've been told
Can't remember who it was but all he spoke
Will a penny for his thoughts leave me broke?
'Cause everyone's around and I'm still alone
Everyone's around right now and I'm still alone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLKNGNC1w3M&list=RDMMwLKNGNC1w3M&start_radio=1&ab_channel=PasteMagazine

"Don't let the sun go down on your anger"

 

A long time ago during the reign of the Tokagawa Shogunate a samurai set out on an errand.

Precisely one year ago to the day he had lent 10 koku to a fisherman in a small coastal village nearby, and today was the day the fisherman had promised he would repay the debt. The samurai arrived in the village at noon and upon inquiring at the fisherman's home he was told by the fisherman's wife that he would find the man down at his boat working on his nets. Upon seeing the samurai coming up the beach the fisherman threw himself to the ground and bowed his head to the sand. "Get up," said the samurai, "As agreed it has been one year and I have come to collect the money you owe me." "I have not forgotten my debt to you," said the fisherman, who now stood but with his head still bowed, "but it has been a very bad year for me and I regret that I do not have the money I owe you."

Hearing this the samurai, who was not a man known for his patience, flushed with anger and quickly drew his sword, preparing to kill the fisherman then and there. "Why should I not simply slay you instead?" shouted the samurai as he raised the deadly blade above his head. Fearing that his life was at and end and having nothing to lose the fisherman boldly spoke out. "For some time now I have been studying martial arts," he replied, "and one of the lessons that my master teaches, is never to strike when you are angry." "I beg you," said the fisherman, "give me one more year to pay you what I owe."

Thinking about what the fisherman had just said the samurai slowly lowered his sword. "Your master is wise," said the samurai, "as a student of the art of the sword I too have heard that lesson many times, but sometimes I get so angry I act without thinking." Putting away his sword the samurai spoke in a voice that was used...... to being obeyed. "You shall have another year to repay your debt to me," he said, "but when I return if you do not have all the money you owe me I shall not hesitate to take your life instead." and without another word he turned and walked away.

Having left the village later than he intended to it was already dark by the time the samurai arrived home. Seeing no lights on in the house he crept in quietly not wishing to wake the servants or his wife. As he entered his bed chamber he notice that there were two persons lying on his futon, one he recognized as his wife and the other from their clothing was unmistakably another samurai.

Swiftly he drew his sword and as his anger quickly grew he moved in to slay them both. Just then, as he was about to strike, the fisherman's words came back to him, "never strike when you are angry." This time I shall follow the lesson he thought to himself, pausing he took a deep breath and tried to relax, then on purpose he made a loud noise. Hearing the sound both his wife and the stranger immediately woke up and when his wife had lit a candle he found himself face to face with his wife and his mother who had dressed up in his clothes and another set of swords.

"What is the meaning of this," he demanded, "I almost slew you both." His wife quickly explained that when he had not returned by night fall they decided to dress his mother up in his clothes so that in the event that an intruder entered the home they would be frightened off at the sight of a samurai in the house.

A that moment the samurai realized that his habit of "striking without thinking" had almost cost him the life of his wife and his mother. One year later the samurai again walked down the same beach towards the fisherman. After exchanging the proper formal greetings the fisherman said, "It has been an excellent year my Lord, here is all the money I owe you as promised, and with interest."

"Keep your money," replied the samurai, "You do not know it, but your debt was paid to me long ago."

" A Good Day " Br David Steindl-Rast

 

Brother David Steindl-Rast — 96 year-old author, scholar, and Benedictine monk — is beloved the world over for his enduring message about gratefulness as the true source of lasting happiness. Known to many as the “grandfather of gratitude,” Br. David has been a source of inspiration and spiritual friendship to countless leaders and luminaries around the world including Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Merton, and more. 

Here is the link for " A Good Day" 

https://grateful.org/resource/a-good-day/

Land of Hope and Dreams: Bruce Springsteen

 

Land of Hope and Dreams : Bruce Springsteen.

Grab your ticket and your suitcase
Thunder's rolling down this track
Well you don't know where you're goin' now
But you know you won't be back
Well darlin' if you're weary
Lay your head upon my chest
We'll take what we can carry
Yeah, and we'll leave the rest

Well, big wheels roll through fields where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

Well, I will provide for you
And I'll stand by your side
You'll need a good companion now
For this part of the ride
Yeah, leave behind your sorrows
Let this day be the last
Well, tomorrow there'll be sunshine
And all this darkness past

Well, big wheels roll through fields where sunlight streams
Oh, meet me in a land of hope and dreams

Well, this train carries saints and sinners
This train carries losers and winners
This train carries whores and gamblers
This train carries lost souls
I said, this train, dreams will not be thwarted
This train, faith will be rewarded
This train, hear the steel wheels singin'
This train, bells of freedom ringin'

Ohh, yes, this train carries saints and sinners
This train carries losers and winners
This train carries whores and gamblers
This train carries lost souls
I said, this train carries broken-hearted
This train, thieves and sweet souls departed
This train carries fools and kings
This train, all aboard

I said, now, this train, dreams will not be thwarted
This train, faith will be rewarded
This train, hear the steel wheels singin'
This train, bells of freedom ringin'

Come on this train
People get ready
You don't need no ticket
All you got do is just get on board
On board this train (this train, now)
People get ready (this train)
You don't need no ticket (this train)
(Oh, I know you don't)
You don't need no ticket (this train)

You just get on board (people get ready)
You just thank the Lord (people get ready)
You just thank the Lord (people get ready)
You just thank the Lord (people get ready)
(Come on this train, people get ready)
(Come on this train, people get ready)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFn8IOoKfl8&ab_channel=Wi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBzKv8R6Ri8&ab_channel=enrisilver78