"... in Humbleness Rejoice to Do My Bit O' Service Here"

a few dresses I made for Little Dresses For Africa

Edgar A. Guest wrote a poem called, "Service". Here is just a portion of that poem:

You never hear the robins brag about the sweetness

of their song...

Lord, as the robins, let me serve!

To make this world a better place, an' happier

for my fellow man.

If gift o' mine can cheer his soul an' hearten him

along his way

Let me not keep that talent hid; I would make 

use of it to-day.

An' since the robins ask no praise, or pay for all their songs o' cheer,

Let me in humbleness rejoice to do my bit o' service here."

Now my mother would argue that sewing is not one of my talents and she would be correct! However, I really enjoyed this humanitarian project we did at Church. We ended up making over 100 dresses at our little activity.  A nurse from our group traveled to Kenya with Operation Smile and was able to deliver the dresses personally.
My mom and her sister Verona were always sewing or crocheting items to give away. They are no longer on this earth and I sure miss them. But their legacy of service lives on and has been such a great example to me. Funny thing about service. It really is true that the more love you give away the more love you have to give. It is just one of the ways we can express our love for the Lord.
"...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these....ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40.

On Butterflies and Birds

photo taken in Butterfly Jungle by Annie R 

Creation

By Edgar A. Guest

I never see a butterfly

Or hear a singing bird,

But what in some strange manner I

Am very deeply stirred.

Who first conceived the tender wings

On which it seeks the rose?

Has human thought such lovely things

To fashion and disclose?

O singing bird upon a tree!

Has ever human mind

Contrived to solve the mystery

Of how you were designed?

Man writes his loftiest thoughts in words,

And builds with brick and stone.

But dreams of butterflies and birds

Belong to God alone.

Photo of Lorikeet taken by Annie R

Just recently I had the opportunity to go to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California with my dad and some of our family members. Visit their website at  http://www.sdzsafaripark.org . At this time of year the Butterfly Jungle is alive with thousands of brightly colored butterflies from all over the world. Some of them are so intricate. There are so many beautiful creations on this earth. Take the time today to go outside and see what you can find! 

The Simple Things

The Simple things

By Edgar A. Guest

I would not be too wise – so very wise

That I must sneer at simple songs and creeds,

And let the glare of wisdom blind my eyes

To humble people and their humble needs.

I would not care to climb so high that I

Could never hear the children at their play,

Could only see the people passing by,

And never hear the cheering words they say.

I would not know too much – too much to smile

At trivial errors of the heart and  hand,

Nor be too proud to play the friend the while,

Nor cease to help and know and understand.

I would not care to sit upon a throne,

Or build my house upon a mountain – top,

Where I must dwell in glory all alone

And never friend come in or poor man stop.

God grant that I may live upon this earth

And face the tasks which every morning brings

And never lose the glory and the worth

Of humble service and the simple things.

I have a very old book titled, Collected Verse of Edgar A. Guest which is the inspiration for this blog of mine.  Mr. Guest has said,  "I take simple everyday things that happen to me and I figure it happens to a lot of other people and I make simple rhymes out of them."
You may read about him if you visit http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/731.
I truly enjoy the simple pleasures of making a house a home, no matter what size it may be. This blog will be a place where I can note some of the joys of my everyday life. May those who stumble upon these entries enjoy their visit here. I would request that you not use my photos without permission. Thank you for stopping by!