Dandelions

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He took great pride in his lawn and tried every method he knew to get rid of a large crop of dandelions.  He wrote the Department of Agriculture explaining every method he had tried and asked them, “What shall I do now?”  In due course the reply came: “We suggest you learn to love them.”

This Flash Fiction Friday 55 (hosted by G-Man) was paraphrased from the book, The Song of the Bird by Anthony de Mello.  It happened to be my meditation reading for the day and was so applicable to my post yesterday and also to my planned post earlier this morning that I think it was meant to be.  I love when God places themes in my life because I’m a little slow on the uptake at times! (grins)  Happy Weekend, Everyone!

P. S. My five year old daughter loves dandelions.  She picks them all of the time for me. “Here, mommy, I picked you some pretty flowers,” she says.  I always thank her and tell her how beautiful they are.  Even more exciting for her is when the dandelions are in the white puffy stage.  She can spot one a mile away and will run to it, pick it, blow the small white seeds off and watch them dance away in the wind with an expression of pure wonder and amazement on her precious little face.

To my fellow gardeners

For the Garden of Your Daily Living

Plant three rows of peas:

Peace of mind

Peace of heart

Peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash:

Squash gossip

Squash indifference

Squash grumbling

Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce:

Lettuce be kind

Lettuce be patient

Lettuce be obedient

Lettuce really love one another

No garden is without turnips:

Turnip for meetings

Turnip for service

Turnip to help one another

To conclude our garden, we must have thyme:

Thyme for God

Thyme for study

Thyme for prayer

Thyme for each other

Thyme for friends

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.

There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow.

~ Author Unknown

The Same but Different?

Addiction
Dependence
Attachment

Remain the same?
Replace one
For another
Choose any

Drugs
Alcohol
People
Gambling
Sex
Food
Adrenaline

Escape
Die

Can an addict

Change?

Addiction

Dependence

Attachment

Remain the same?

Replace all others

For One

Choose God

Honesty

Willingness

Open-mindedness

Recovery

Unity

Service

Peace

Reality

Live

Rock Bottom

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Can you ever know the pain

Of a alcoholic man?

The torture that’s sustained?

No you never can

Unless you are another

Who has traveled down his path

And faced a demon’s brother

Alcohol’s full wrath

Drinks may come and go

Memories are left behind

Stuffed behind the door

In dark corners of your mind

Horrors pierce your thoughts

Blinding you with grief

Madness is being fought

And in drinking there’s no relief.

 

Written by Marie July 2004

Sunday 160 entitled "Never Give Up Hope" - Happy Father's Day

The 7 yr old girl wonders why daddy is so mad and mean. 30 yrs later she feels peace while in his garden with him. Alcoholism is our disease; 12-steps, our solution.

Want to try a Sunday 160? Visit the Monkey Man for "Da Rules"

I happened to find the pic above here along with the following poem, which I thought was eerily applicable to the topic of my Sunday 160 today.  There are no coincidences, right?

He bought an old Man's memory
for a beer at a young man's bar.
It was a hope for his daughter's wedding day-
A day that would never come.
He wanted her in white, a porcelain china doll.
He wanted her groom to be a church going man, a man like he never was.
He wanted her husband to be a tender father, understanding and loving,
A man who could raise a family, a man who would stay.
He went on his last Sunday, to a church he knew when he was young.
He knelt in the confessional, and told all there was to hear.
He said ten Hail Mary's, that he read off a cigarette box.
He lit a crooked candle, and burned his hope away.
He bought two quarts of rum, and drown his memory away.

Friday Flash 55 entitled "Rabbit's Big Win"

He lays on his side and sleeps.
A furry, honey-colored body pillow,
Long, soft, and warm with
Rapid diaphragmatic breathing.
His hind leg begins to twitch --slowly,
A little faster,
He’s off
Full speed ahead!
A defeated whimper escapes like a air bubble popping at the water‘s surface.
You’ll get that rabbit next time, Boy!

Friday Flash 55 is hosted by G-Man

Sunday 160 entitled "Angel Games"

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If thunder is the angels bowling, lightning is their fireworks and rain tears from laughing so hard. Imagine them on their trampoline clouds and rainbow slides!

Want to try a Sunday 160? Visit the Monkey Man for "Da Rules"

Friday Flash 55 entitled "Truth"

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TRUTH isn’t found in word, action, or thought.

It cannot be stolen, borrowed or bought.

TRUTH cannot be seen, heard, or tasted.

It cannot be used, saved, or wasted.

TRUTH cannot be given or sold.

It cannot be understood or told.

TRUTH cannot be assembled or tore apart.

It is simply EXPERIENCED in the heart.

Friday Flass 55 is hosted by G-Man

Sunday 160 entitled "Hope"

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As gruesome as oil spilling into the sea is he who betrayed one for silver ten times three.

It seems,

from horrific means,

humanity gleans

the Creator’s dreams.

Want to try a Sunday 160?  Visit the Monkey Man for "Da Rules"

Friday Flash 55

Not usually felt
In the tactile sense
But today that little bugger’s
Bite made me wince.

A smack on it’s head
Is what I provided
But not before
In my blood it delighted.

“Damn, mosquito!” I thought
With a scowl on my brow.
So, I sprayed on the deet
Then yelled, “Come get me now!”

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Friday Flash 55 hosted by G-Man

My First "Friday 55"

Three little children, one spring day

Love to laugh, sing, and play.

Up the ladder

All in a train;

Down the chute

Sprinkled with rain.

Squealing and frolicking

With delight in their eyes.

Free spirits flying

Like birds in the sky.

Three little children, one spring day

Is what I witnessed this 28th of May.

Marie's Step 3 Prayer

Wash away my sins, Oh God.

I do not know my being.

Make of me

As you see fit.

It’s time I start believing.

From this day forth with your grace

I give my whole life to you.

Humble me.

I see your face.

Please tell me what now to do.

Fill my heart with a passion

That can never be ignored.

Guide me through

Your earthly land,

I beg of you , my sweet Lord.

Thank you for cleansing my soul;

Easing its torment and pain.

I offer

all to your Son;

Quaking, I call out his name:

Jesus! Please save me…again.

Forgive me. Mold me. Hold me

Safely in

Your loving arms,

My Savior, Master, and Friend.

~ Written by Marie on August 3, 2004

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The Joy of Living

These are a few of my favorite things:

Big dogs and coffee and little white diasies;

Dinner that he fixed and time to be lazy;

Rainbows and cut grass and my wedding ring;

These are a few of my favorite things.

Tall trees that are old and warm socks on my feet;

Hugs from my children and perfumes that smell sweet;

Comfort and kisses that my husband brings;

These are a few of my favorite things.

Bookstores and laughter and long-lasting friendships;

Family and silence and good nacho cheese dips;

Romantic movies and cool days in Spring;

These are a few of my favorite things.

When the flu hits

When their words sting

When I hate my ass

I simply remember my favorite things

And know that this too shall pass.

What are your "Essential Desires" today?

I really like this poem. 

I wonder if the author was a friend of Bill W...

Desiderata

by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,

even to the dull and ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be

greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career

however humble;

it is a real possession in the

changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you

to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love,

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit

to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham,

drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Written by Max Ehrmann

in 1927