THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Saturday, 20 April 2024

WALKING WITH GRIEF by Joanne Boyle

"WALKING WITH GRIEF" by Joanne Boyle

Side by side we walked,

together grief and I.

Carrying my life's remains

under a darkened sky.

I asked when it would leave.

If the sun would shine again.

I asked if it would heal,

if it could stop the pain.

Grief took its time to speak.

I often wondered why.

Many times we sat together

and all i did was cry.

Grief never ever left me.

and then one day it said.

"Iam going nowhere,

so learn to live with me instead."

I then befriended grief.

It then began to talk.

I looked forward to its stories,

when side by side we'd walk.

Together we shared memories

that i had locked away.

Grief is now a part of me,

and i accept its here to stay.

*****

Joanne Boyle Heartfelt

art by Steffi Krenzek

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WOMAN

"WOMAN" (author unknown)

When God created woman he was working late on the 6th day.......

An angel came by and asked." Why spend so much time on her"

The lord answered. "Have you seen all the specifications I have to meet to shape her"

She must function in all kinds of situations,

She must be able to embrace several kids at the same time,

Have a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart,

She must do all this with only two hands,"

She cures herself when sick and can work 18 hours a day"

THE ANGEL was impressed" Just two hands.....impossible!

And this is the standard model"

The Angel came closer and touched the woman"

"But you have made her so soft, Lord".

"She is soft", said the Lord,

"But I have made her strong. You can't imagine what she can endure and overcome"

"Can she think" The Angel asked...

The Lord answered. "Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate"

The Angel touched her cheeks....

"Lord, it seems this creation is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her"

"She is not leaking...it is a tear" The Lord corrected the Angel…

"What's it for" Asked the Angel..... .

The Lord said. "Tears are her way of expressing her grief, her doubts, her love, her loneliness, her suffering and her pride."...

This made a big impression on the Angel,

"Lord, you are a genius. You thought of everything.

A woman is indeed marvellous"

Lord said. "Indeed she is.

She has strength that amazes a man.

She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens.

She holds happiness, love and opinions.

She smiles when she feels like screaming.

She sings when she feels like crying, cries when happy and laughs when afraid.

She fights for what she believes in.

Her love is unconditional.

Her heart is broken when a next-of-kin or a friend dies but she finds strength to get on with life"

The Angel asked: So she is a perfect being..

The Lord replied: No. She has just one drawback

"She often forgets what she is worth".

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FLOWERS by Joanne Boyle

"FLOWERS" by Joanne Boyle

Don't sit by my grave and say sorry

or place flowers at my place of rest.

Come and join me at my table

when I invite you to be my guest.

Do not tell everyone I was wonderful

when I can no longer hear.

Tell me to my face my friend

because to me it wasn't clear.

Do not shed a tear for me

that is really born from your regrets.

Instead make sure you won't have any,

let us share each others secrets.

Do not stand in a church doorway

and shake the hands of friends,

whilst believing in your heart

that this will make amends.

Do not bring me flowers

unless I can smell how sweet they are.

Bring them when I'm alive

and not watching from afar.

*****

Joanne Boyle Heartfelt

art by Steffi Krenzek

Come live with me and be my love By Christopher Marlowe

"Come live with me and be my love"

By Christopher Marlowe

Come live with me and be my love,

And we will all the pleasures prove

That valleys, groves, hills, and fields,

Woods or sleepy mountain yields.

And we will sit upon the rocks,

Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks,

By shallow rivers to whose falls

Melodious birds sing madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of roses

And a thousand fragrant posies,

A cap of flowers, and a kirtle

Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool

Which from our pretty lambs we pull;

Fair lined slippers for the cold,

With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,

With coral clasps and amber studs:

And if these pleasures may thee move,

Come live with me and be my love.

The shepherds' swains shall dance and sing

For thy delight each May morning:

If these delights thy mind may move,

Then live with me and be my love.

Friday, 19 April 2024

THE SHOPKEEPER, SEASHELLS AND THE LITTLE BOY

"THE SHOPKEEPER, SEASHELLS AND THE LITTLE BOY"
(author unknown)

A 6-year old boy was in the market with his 3-year old sister...

Suddenly the boy found that his sister was lagging behind.

He stopped and looked back - his sister was standing in front of a toy shop and was watching something with great interest.

The boy went back to her and asked, "Do you want something?" The sister pointed at the doll.

The boy held her hand and like a responsible elder brother, gave that doll to her. The sister was very very happy...

The shopkeeper was watching everything and getting amused to see the matured behaviour of the boy... the boy came to the counter and asked the shopkeeper, "What is the cost of this doll Sir?"

The shopkeeper was a kind man and had experienced the odds of life.

So he asked the boy with a lot of love n affection, “Well, what can you pay?"

The boy took out shells that he had collected from sea shore, from his pocket and gave them to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper took the shells and started counting as if he were counting the currency.

Then he looked at the boy.

The boy asked him worriedly, "Is it too little Sir?"

The shopkeeper said, "No, no... these are more than the cost. So I will return the remaining."

Saying so, he kept only 4 shells and returned the remaining.

The boy, very happily put the shells back in his pocket and left with his sister.

An employee was very surprised watching all this.

He asked the shopkeeper, "Sir, you gave away such a costly doll just for 4 shells?"

The shopkeeper said with a smile, "Well, for us these are mere shells, but for that boy, these shells are very precious.

And at this age he does not understand what money is yet, but when he grows up, he definitely will.

And then he would remember that he purchased a doll with shells instead of money, and he will remember me and think that world is still full of good and kind people.."

Hello, I'm a dandelion

"Hello, I'm a dandelion" (author unknown)

A lot of people call me a weed but I'm a friend and come to help you!

My flowers are the first food for insects after hibernation and unlike most other plants, I have pollen AND nectar, not merely one OR the other! And I am generous with them!

When you see me, remember that I'm the ONLY one who wants and can grow in that particular spot. Because:

Either the soil is too compact / hard / stomped and I want to loosen it for you with my roots.

Or there is too little calcium in the soil - don't worry, I will replenish that for you with the dying of my leaves.

Or the soil is too acidic. But I will also improve that for you if you give me the chance.

Or a mixture of the above reasons, of course.

I'm here because your soil needs my help so best you let me grow without disturbing me! When everything is fixed, I will disappear again, I promise!

Are you trying to remove me prematurely with my root? However meticulous you are, I will return 2x as strong! Just until your soil is improved.

You can even tell by my growth at which stage my help is at. If my leaves are flat on the ground then I'm far from ready but if they all reach up then I'm already a long way on my way.

Something completely different is that I am 1 of the first bloomers in spring so I will announce spring / summer for you.

During the day when it's hot, I open my flowers but in the evening when it cools off I close them again quickly. In fact, if it's not hot enough during the day I won't open them at all!

My flowers are even delicious for you people by the way, did you know? I used to be called ′′honey (or gold) of the poor′′ because my flowers are so sweet in e.g. jam, sauce or salad! The internet is full of recipes - check them out.

But wait until the end of May or later before you start picking and even then, don't pick everything yet! The biodiversity and bees will be very grateful!”

EVERY STEP HELD MEMORIES

"EVERY STEP HELD MEMORIES"
(author unknown)

The telephone rang. It was a call from his mother. He answered it and his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday."

Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered.

Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture...Jack stopped suddenly...

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said.

"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said.

"I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.

Soon the following morning, Jack visited the post office and collected the parcel. The petite box appeared aged, resembling it had been sent a century ago. The handwriting proved challenging to decipher, yet the return address captured his interest.

"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.

Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope.

Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filled his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! -- Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most was my time!"

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.*

"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with the people I love and say I care for," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."

Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100 percent true.

1. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

2. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

3. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

4. You mean the world to someone.

5. If not for you, someone may not be living.

6. You are special and unique.

7. Have trust sooner or later you will get what you wish for or something better.

8. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.

9. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a hard look: you most likely turned your back on the world and the people who love and care for you.

10. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

12. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy.

13. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

To everyone who read this just now....

Thanks for your time