Thankful Thursday #64

image courtesy of running-on-healthy.com

This week I'm thankful for...

• "just because" flowers from the hubby
• rain on the roof
• reading in bed
• road trips with friends
• celebrating two of my dearest friends by eating their birthday cake for breakfast
• the school kids who sang the national anthem at the Kings game and their choir teacher who was so proud of them that she was literally bouncing
• poetry.  It's been an exhausting week fighting for what I feel is in the best interest of my students.  And when I'm discouraged, I turn to poetry.  Here's my favorite from the week:

A Prayer

Let me do my work each day;

and if the darkened hours

of despair overcome me, may I

not forget the strength

that comforted me in the

desolation of other times. 

May I still remember the bright

hours that found me walking

over the silent hills of my

childhood, or dreaming on the

margin of a quiet river,

when a light glowed within me,

and I promised my early God

to have courage amid the

tempests of the changing years.

Spare me from bitterness

and from the sharp passions of

unguarded moments. May

I not forget that poverty and

riches are of the spirit.

Though the world knows me not,

may my thoughts and actions

be such as shall keep me friendly

with myself. 

Lift up my eyes

from the earth, and let me not

forget the uses of the stars.

Forbid that I should judge others

lest I condemn myself.

Let me not follow the clamor of

the world, but walk calmly

in my path. 

Give me a few friends

who will love me for what

 I am; and keep ever burning

before my vagrant steps

the kindly light of hope. 

And though age and infirmity

overtake me, and I come not within

sight of the castle of my dreams,

teach me still to be thankful

for life, and for time's olden

memories that are good and

sweet; and may the evening's

twilight find me gentle still.

~ Max Ehrmann ~