THE OUTDOOR ARTIST

Posted on May 5, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The sun can be unrelenting as it beats on your back,

Placing shadows on canvas where they don’t actually belong,

The sweat of your brow bleeds into your eyes,

A clumsy onlooker tips over your water or bumps your arm,

You long to move your immovable legs,

Your hands begin to cramp,

The brush seems to either glide effortlessly,

Or has to be guided with pain staking strokes,

Each minute in a competition can be a complete rush,

Or a total wipeout,

You continue,

For a full day and then another and another,

Until finally you’ve completed three works of art,

Was it worth it?

Is life worth it?

We each struggle daily to achieve,

We encounter road blocks, difficulties, unknowns,

But with each hour, each minute, each second,

We continue on,

We strive,

We work,

We gain satisfaction or disappointment,

But we go on,

To make art,

To do whatever we do,

Because it is worth it.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

THINGS I WISH I HADN’T SAID AS A MOM

Posted on May 5, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

When it comes to Mother’s Day, I have a lot of regrets as to how I raised my children, but at the same time I thank God for helping me through the process. There were things I wish I had not said or done, but that’s all over and done. Now they have adult children of their own and most likely have used many of the same idioms on them. It seems like a passing of the gauntlet in a way – reaching from one generation to the next. All ten of the phrases listed in the attached image have been used in my lifetime. In honor of Mother’s Day, I have a few more:

  • Clean your plate. Don’t you know there are children starving in China? For one thing, this would be totally politically incorrect today. Also how would my cleaning my plate help anyone who was starving – especially if I cleaned it?
  • Money doesn’t grow on trees – Apparently my third child never figured that one out. She thought all we had to do was write a check and today, writing a check is pretty much obsolete.
  • I’m going to pull over right now and let you walk the rest of the way home – They didn’t seem to be phased by this either, especially when we were nearing the driveway. Today this would be interpreted as child abuse.
  • Someday you’ll have a child just like you – divine retribution. Chances are this will happen. It seems we continue spawn clones over the centuries..
  • KNOCK IT OFF – This one seems to be timeless and has absolutely no value at all.
  • Don’t sit on cement. You’ll get piles. – this isn’t used much anymore. I suppose most people don’t know piles is another word for hemorrhoids, but I don’t recall ever sitting on the sidewalk, because I though piles was something completely different. I had visions of piles of something growing out of the cement and into my body. Oh the imagery.
  • Go ask your father – This one only brings confusion, because dad has already told them to ask mom. It also leads to deception when the child says, “She/he said it was OK.”
  • If I told you once I’ve told you a thousand times – Really? I wasn’t keeping count, but now that you mention it, it could be more like a hundred thousand times.
  • If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you? This is a touchy one today. Kids have a ton more emotional issues in this age of technology, you might become an accomplice to murder. Not saying that kids are more depressed these days, but statistics might prove me wrong and that isn’t funny. In other words, I would definitely avoid using this phrase ever.
  • Sticks and stones will break your bones, but names will never hurt you – Who thought that one up? I wondered how my mom would’ve felt to be called “fatty boom boom” or “lame brain” Names do hurt often more than sticks and stones, but they hurt too. Life ain’t easy. Just pick yourself up, brush yourself off and start all over again.

I’m sure there are many more of those phrases and I’d love to hear some of them from you. The think is, our words can shape young minds. They can encourage, inspire and convey love, but they can also belittle, humiliate and actually give kids the wrong idea. Just as in our relationships with others, our conversations with our kids have to be meaningful and well thought out. Most of the time, we act in the moment and that can create some problems in the future. The beat will go on and you can count on your children, grandchildren and all future generations will rely on some of the above statements to make a point. It’s called parenting.

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GOD IS MY SUPER HERO

Posted on May 4, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER ©

Do we place upon a pedestal the heroes of our time?
We sometimes make them idols. Do we think they are divine?
When they show that they are human, they quickly tumble down.
They lose that place of honor and they no more wear a crown.

They thought they were invincible – that they could do no wrong.
They took the road most traveled on – they sang out their own sweet song.
The accolades enticed them. Their greed did overcome.
They tested all the limits. To their pride they would succumb.

There is just one super hero that answers our every need,
It is Jesus, Christ our Savior. For our souls His wounds did bleed.
He gave His life to save our own – from our sin He set us free.
He conquered death to give us life, now and through eternity.

The superstars and champions may give everyone a thrill,
The Son of God outshines them all. Our every need He will fill.
So look to Him for lasting peace. The victory he has won.
He is our true redeemer God- Role Model and Number One!

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

WHO IS YOUR SUPER HERO?

Posted on May 4, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

Well from the image I’ve chosen this morning, it would seem there are more heroes than there are those in need of them. Add to this photograph – moms & dads, police officers & fire fighters, doctors & nurses and the average guy on the street who hides his cape under his shirt. It seems we’re all in search of someone or something to get us through each day. We often place our trust in those ideals, in hopes of finding answers to our problems and those who will fight our battles for us.

In a few days, we’ll be celebrating Mother’s Day – a day which honors those who have given birth, adopted a child or raised a family that may or may not have been hers. We place these women on a pedestal and honor them for their perseverance, their dignity, their encouragement and for standing up for us.

It seems we all want someone to fight in our place. To stand up for us. To have our back. Some search for those astounding heroes in their circle of friends, their clique or gang. Some seek out heroes in their leaders or spiritual guides. Some look to themselves for heroic deeds to be done. The fact is there is really only one true hero and He is available to all of us, with no questions asked. He is not a genie that pops out of a lamp at our command. He isn’t one who will give us every desire of our heart. He isn’t going to make life easier for us. He created us with a free will. We are His masterpiece, even when we don’t feel like it. He is always available and ready to listen to our prayers.

Of course we should always take responsibiity for our own actions, but isn’t it great to know that we have the most super Hero ever? He created us in His image. He gave us a manual for living through His Holy Word. He had a plan for our lives before we were ever born. He came to our world to save us from our sins and give us a promise of eternal life. He opened the curtain of darkness that separated us from Him. He lives. He is real. He walks with us each day and gives us rest when we’re weary. He loves us with a love we can’t begin to understand. He is the only perfect Super Hero. And He doesn’t need a phone booth to do His work.

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FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

Posted on May 3, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

Mondays are kind of like the recurring Ground Hog Day movie.   We go through life, thinking this is as good as it gets – go to bed and repeat the same from day to day.  Mondays have a way of squeaking back with a vengeance, week after week after week. The day itself has taken on a rather negative connotation. We’ve just come off a weekend of recreation and rest and it’s time to face the real world again.  You may have over extended yourself, your body aches, you’ve over-indulged, you haven’t accomplished nearly all the things you set out to do.

Maybe you’re stuck in a job that has no spark for you.  The only reason you continue there is because it’s a paycheck and you’d rather not go through the rigorous interviewing process again.

Maybe you’ve just graduated and you’re in that interviewing process.  You’ve sent out at least a million resumes, only to discover they are now on file somewhere in cyberspace.  You may be “retired” and have to work to supplement your Social Security income.  Whatever you have been required to do during the week, can be a drain on us or it can be a spark to ignite us.  It’s really up to us to determine which way it will go.

Weekends are a time of regeneration, refreshment, renewal and sometimes even restoration.  The work week can be brutal even if you love your job.  That’s why it’s called work.  Eventually the weekend ends and you have to drag yourself out of bed and start a new day.

Maybe we need to change our perspective.  Maybe we need to challenge ourselves to making Mondays a day of new beginnings, fresh starts and opportunities.  Having a negative attitude about one particular day is going to set the tone for the rest of them. Wouldn’t it be better to use that day as a starting point, rather than just another manic Monday?  Welcome this day, because it might be the beginning of a fabulous week.

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FACETS – A GALLERY

Posted on May 3, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

A painting is a reflection of an image, much like a photograph, but as with any art form, bringing the image to life is the responsibility of the artist. In the above images, you can seem some multi-dimensional art by Paul Boecher. He started his career as a sculptor when he was only seventeen years old. His first creation was chiseled out of piece of a limestone cornerstone of a convent that was being torn down in Milwaukee. While the rest of our art class was making plaster molds, he had his own little section of the room to work on his masterpiece. This led to further work in wood sculpting. His journey took him to many businesses in Minneapolis and Northern Minnesota. He created some wonderful pieces that still remain in homes, backyards, cabins, churches and commercial buildings. This is just a small sampling of the chiseling he’s done during his lifetime.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , | 6 Comments

HAPPY MAY DAY

Posted on May 1, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
  • First lady Eleanor Roosevelt receives a May basket of flowers from young children in 1938.
Posted in Humor | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

SOMETHING NEW FROM SOMETHING OLD

Posted on April 30, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The air is screaming out, “it’s spring,” our hearts are filled with joy,
Warm thoughts of love will now inspire the minds of girl and boy,
New life explodes in every tree, the grass has turned to green,
The birds are singing their love songs, results will soon be seen.

Now it’s time to clear the cobwebs, to dig into the mess,
Our spring cleaning starts in earnest, as soon as we get dressed,
What lays beneath the surface dirt, may serve another’s need,
Hold it for yet another day, this is no time for greed.

An auction or a yard sale looms, within that pile of trash,
We’ll make it shine like it once did and turn it into cash,
It might not look like much right now, but given its full measure,
What’s junk to us can often be some other’s perfect treasure.

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STAND UP?

Posted on April 30, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I’ve always thought it would be fun to be a stand up comic. I never followed through with that dream, because of my fear of rejection. It seemed easier to perform in a cast of players. If nothing else the whole ensemble is responsible for the success or failure of a production. Now I’m approaching my 79th year of life and stand up is still calling to me. Unfortunately, now I don’t know if I can stand up anymore.

I did some writing a while back for a woman in her 70s who was a regular on the stand up circuit. I admired her stamina, her zeal, her courage and her guts. It was during that time that the embers began to kindle. If she could do standup, why couldn’t I? Well time passed and I never seemed to have an opportunity to express myself in this way. Now I have made a committment to doing so. My little senior theatre group has produced two recordings so far. Because the pandemic has not yet been able to do in house performances, we turned it into a radio show. We’re currently in the planning stages for the next season of shows. One of them involves a holiday cruise for the Jewels of de Nial.

One of our players was an opera singer in her early career. She will be showing off her talent in that area during this show as she has been called on to be the entertainment for the night. Another of the performers is a writer. She enters a contest to write a holiday song and will perform it as well. I thought this might be the perfect place to test my stand up skills.

So as I sit here trying to come up with a routine, I ask that you all wish me luck. I’m about to embark on a new career – maybe. Unless the hecklers show up, or the drunks in the audience have something to add. I might have a heart attack during my performance. I could pass out on stage. They may start throwing things at me. I guess it won’t be the first time. As FDR once said, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” This show won’t come to fruition until January, 2022. I wonder if I’ll still be around. Stay tuned!

Posted in aging | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

LET’S GO FISHIN’

Posted on April 29, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

When life seems overwhelming and you start right in to wishin’

That nothing takes away your dreams or stifles your ambition,

When worldly stuff gets in the way of all of life’s sad condition,

It’s time to get away from things that give you tunnel vision,

Don’t let those thoughts  discourage you, just give yourself permission,

To launch the boat and cast the line – Give up and just go fishin’.

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ALONE IN MY REVERIE

Posted on April 28, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Where is that simple, quiet place, that you’ve been longing for,

Is it within your own backyard or at your own front door,

It can be the peaceful beauty, we hold within our hand,

Raging glory of a garden, flowers blooming so grand,

The birds are nestled in the trees, they sing a perfect song,

The waters of a passing brook, will join and sing along,

The buzzing of a bumble bee, while touching each ripe bloom,

Or maybe it’s inside your thoughts, within a quiet room,

The tranquil place that we desire, will differ for us all,

It may be wrapped in solitude, or in a noisy hall,

It’s what we choose to make of it, that sets it far apart,

From things that taunt and eat at us, and tear our very heart,

Peace comes when we allow it to, and turn to God alone,

He takes our troubles far from us, and does it on His own,

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

THE VALUE IN REMEMBERING

Posted on April 28, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

As time rages on and the end of lfe draws closer, we often have to rely on our memories to get us through each day. At this point in the journey, it becomes harder to recall some of those most precious times. However, they do remain. They just lie dormant for a whle until we bring them to life agan. As the memories dim, a part of us also dies. That’s why it’s a good idea to write them down for future reference. Keepng a journal or diary might sound old fashioned, but it can be helpful for any age.

Someone once said that life brings tears, smiles and memories.  The tears dry, the smiles fade, but the memories last forever. I happen to have a selective memory.  It’s a good defense mechanism for me to forget about some of the not-so-good times in my life.  The problem is some of the tiniest treasures can be erased right along with those difficult ones.

Some people are fortunate to have great memories. My oldest daughter is one of them. If I’ve forgotten something that occurred during her lifetime, I can count on her to recall every detail. She reminded me of an event when she was no more than six years old. It was a difficult time in our family. We’d just purchased our first home, which was indeed a money pit. There were medical bills, no insurance, loss of a job and pursut of a new one. My husband took a second job as a security guard at night, so that he could supplement our income. This was a time when women didn’t often work outsde the home. (How archaic!) When he arrived home from work, the chldren would already be tucked in heir beds, My daughter remembered how he would come in to kiss them as they slept and tuck a piece of gum under their pillows.

That simple memory turned into a tiny treasure which I will hold dearly from now on.   It reminded me of the hard times we were going through, but it also brought to mind the love my husband has for our children and how he deeply regretted having to be apart from them in order to provide for them.

Memories are wonderful ways for us to look at the good things in life, but sometimes the bad things should be remembered.  We learn from our mistakes.  God places trials in our lives for a purpose.  Taking the bad with the good isn’t such a negative idea.  Putting the entire incident together shows us what made the memory so special.

We can try to hide from our past; we can cover our hurt by not talking about it or simply forgetting it; we might ease the pain temporarily by doing so – but everything that happens to us has a purpose – even our memories – good or bad.

Posted in aging | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

SWAN LAKE

Posted on April 27, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
Photogra;hed at Sherburne Wildlife Refuge in Zimmerman, MN

Once a week we take a drive just to get out of the house and enjoy a change of scenery. These photos were taken on our day trip last week. The swans have returned and their tutus are in place. The dance begins. Welcome spring!

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

PUT ON A FACEBOOK FACE

Posted on April 27, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
PHOTO TAKEN LAST YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME – A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER PANDEMIC BEGAN

We were only a couple months into a pandemic when I took this selfie as a reminder of what I was beginning to feel like A year has come and gone and we’re still wearing facial coverings in spite of the fact that we’ve been vaccinated. I for one have great difficulty wearing a mask because of breathing issues, but I do so because I don’t like the looks I get when I don’t. A new form of bullying, I think.

When we’re on social media, you want to put our best foot forward, so we post pictures that show us with family members or doing something requiring talent in art, music or any performing arts. We surround ourselves with beautiful settings – amazing meals – places we’ve visited and our Facebook face tells the world that we are pretty much perfect. The truth is, it’s just another form of masking what’s really going on in our lives.

We still get depressed. We fret about paying the bills on time. We worry about our health, our aging bodies and basically everything. A year of hiding out has made us into introverts. Our only pleasures come from looking at that social media and wishing we were in someone else’s shoes. Guess what? They’re looking at you too.

God has removed the mask. He’s taken away all of our flaws and foibles. He knows us – the real deep down us and He still loves us. He doesn’t need to see what we think we are, because He knows everything about us. That could be frightening to some. No one wants all their sins exposed to the world. We all have those secrets which we feel should be hidden, but they are not hidden from the One who loves us the most. While we were still dead in our sins, He sent His Son as the perfect ransom for our souls. We had nothing to offer Him that would be suitable. A doctored up selfie wasn’t going to cut it with the Creator.

Why do we feel it’s so important to put on our best exterior, when our interior is falling part? Some might think of it as a form of narcissism. Some base their own lives on what someone else’s looks like. We want the world to see us at our best, but we aren’t always so. Maybe some of the masks aren’t the ones we wear on our faces for protection from a virus. Those are the ones we use to shield who we really are. We aren’t Pinterest perfect. We aren’t flawlessly Facebook favorable. We’re really all the same on the inside and God chose to love us in spite of that.

Posted in America, corona virus, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

WIDE OPEN SPACES – A GALLERY

Posted on April 26, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

“I shall be telling this with a sigh, somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost

When a road is wide open and free from all care,

When the dreams of a poet, long to be shared,

When life gives us lemons and we can’t find shade,

Just turn it around and make lemonade,

To a road that’s less traveled you flee,

And the wide open spaces you see,

There’s no cause for worry, no reason to weep,

There’s a place that gives refuge and heavenly sleep,

On the road that is open, the skies are so vast,

That stars remain countless in such a great mass,

So change the direction to lead your way home,

Where sorrow and sadness can no longer roam,

Your thoughts turn to heaven, your lips sing God’s praise,

On a road less traveled, you’ll spend all your days.

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A PAPER BAG?

Posted on April 26, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

In our town, some stores have opted to not use paper bags. Instead you can purchase a bag or bring your own canvas bag from home. I’m wondering why paper? I have such an abundance of plastic bags in my cupboard, I could recycle them and make bricks to pave my back yard. Oh wait, I believe someone has already done that. I have bags from the grocery store, bags from department stores, bags from retail stores and on and on. The bags have taken on a life of their own. One of these days, I expect them to take over my house and bury me in a sea of plastic.

When I was teaching drama in high school, I always kept a brown paper bag at my side. It was useful when someone became nervous about performing – just stick their head in the bag and have them breathe deeply to prevent an anxiety attack. I also found the paper bag to be useful when I was directing. If a scene was taken a deep dive, I would put the bag on my own head as a show of disappointment. I never had to say a word. They all knew what it meant. I probably could’ve suffocated in that bag many times.

The thought of covering one’s head with a bag sounds a bit ridiculous, but many times we’re doing that each time we stand back and let the noise of dissonance ring out and say nothing. Like the osterich burying his head in the sand, we can become oblivious to the clamor of injustice or disconent. The truth is, a paper bag isn’t distancing us from any of it The noise always seeps through and is next to impossible to squash. We can temporarily separate ourselves from the world as we know it by turning off the news, social media, the press, our own opinions, and the Internet, but somehow we cannot ever really silence it. We shouldn’t really turn it off anyway, as difficultf as that may get. God wants us to be involved in our world. We have to live in it for 70-80 years or more. Our real focus should be on Him. Once we realize that He’s in control of everything we experience, it’s easy to let go and have true freedom.

I don’t condone walking around with a paper bag on your head. I have enough problems breathing with a mask on my face. I do think that God wants us to take an active part in the world we inhabit. We can make a difference. We can foster change. We can express support for those who can’t do so themselves. We can financially give to those in need. We are God’s instruments for all of that to occur. Take the blinders off, remove the bag, get your head out of the sand and participate in life.

Posted in America, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Posted on April 25, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & INSPIRATION BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Each day holds its own beauty and glory, but many of them can be filled with trial, pain, discouragement and all the negatives that come along with living.  God reminds us that each day was created by Him.  We therefore should consider them as another chance for us to share the wonderful news of the Gospel with others.

Fall is the perfect time for seeds and bulbs to go into the ground.  They are sometimes placed by human hands or machines.  Seeds can be carried by the wind or birds and animals.  God provides the natural mulch which covers and protects them over the cold winter months.

During this time of dormancy, God may use them as food for foraging animals or He might allow them a needed rest so they can be ready for rebirth in the spring.

When spring arrives they burst their little heads through the softened, moisturized soil and once again come to life.

Summer can take its toll on these infant lives as the heat of the sun and countless storms batter against them.

Our days are like that too.  For a time we grow dormant.  We find ourselves wearing out and caving under the pressure of life.  We struggle to survive.  We sometimes give up and fall apart.  The enduring winter seems as though it will never end and then we receive the tender touch of our Lord and Savior and are again reborn through Him.

Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the seasons to enjoy.  Your beauty is everywhere in every day and in every breath we breathe.  Help us remember that no matter what trials come to us – you are there.  When things are running smoothly – you are there.  When we think there is no hope – you are also there.  I praise and thank you for your faithfulness. Amen!

Posted in art & inspiration from the Boechers | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

EMBRACE THE ORDINARY

Posted on April 24, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

It’s good for us to embrace the ordinary in our lives.  We often think our days are filled with nothing but chaos, but if you look deeply into each moment, you will find joy in even the tiniest of events.

Our world is full of amazing beauty and inspiration.  All we have to do is take a good look at it.  Each intricate pattern in a fallen leave was drawn by God.  The fresh, new growth of spring indicate that life goes on. The heat of summer helps us to slow down a little and smell the roses. The smells of autumn enrich our lives too – the pumpkin spice – the cinnamon, apples and brown sugar, hot cider and roaring bonfire. In winter we’re treated to etchings in the frost on the window pane. We snuggle closer, we warm our toes by the fire, we savor hot chocolate, we settle in. Then the process starts all over again.

The smile on a child’s face when he realizes that he can do something he didn’t think he could. The relief in an elderly persons eyes, when you lend a hand to help. The laughter of friends and family. The simple things of life canbe a blessing to us as we trudge through each day.

Sometimes even the dirty dishes in the sink and the unmade beds don’t matter, if you have a moment to share with someone you love.  Maybe the dust is piling up on your furniture, but you have spent time reading a book to a child or teaching them to tie their own shoes.

The big picture is under control.  God is in charge of that. We might forget that from time to time – but He gives us reminders in so many ways.  It’s up to us to look for them.

Look at the fact that you’ve been granted another day to enjoy these simple pleasures.  The beauty in this world has been tarnished by sin, but it’s still beautiful.  Imagine what it looked like before the fall of man.  Imagine what it will be in eternity.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Posted in aging | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

WORKING TOGETHER

Posted on April 23, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

This painting was a product of team work. I started the painting and Paul added the finishing touches. I could’ve felt disappointed by this, but I realized that the changes made were necessary to make a good painting. We sometimes forget that working together is so much better than doing something alone. Our voices can be heard much stronger when we join them. The inventions we come up with, the innovations and different ways of accomplishing them are all part of the team effort. Solving problems goes along with that. We need to compromise sometimes, we must listen to other opinions, we must give and take. That’s where the healing begins.

You can see Him in the morning mist or in refreshing showers,

He walks amidst the tallest trees and dots the fields. with flowers,

His voice is sweet yet full of power to all who want to hear it,

He reaches out his hand to all, but many don’t come near it,

His love is so much greater than we possibly could know,

He never will give up on us, He’ll never let us go.

Though we need God’s refining love and His sweet intervention,

Our hands are often tied and bound, we give way to dissension,

The world around us flails and falls, our cities fill with battle,

The leaders call for compromise, but that seems like more prattle,

We cannot come to terms with this, until our ears are opened,

Until the cries of justice ring and words more wisely chosen.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

FRIDAY CHUCKLES

Posted on April 23, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
i

I love dogs. I also like to laugh, so today I’ll step away from my normal seriousness and LOL.

It’s not easy to find humor in the events of today, but I think it’s mandatory. Laughter has always been good medicine. Even the Bible talks about humor and how important it is for us.

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

That in itself is a good reason to laugh. Who wants dried up bones? I believe that God infused laughter into our humanity so that we wouldn’t lose hope. If we can find humor in an otherwise depressing situation, things don’t seem quite so bad anymore. One of the reasons I married my husband was that he had a great sense of humor. He had to – he married me. The world is filled with so much bad news; it’s time to start laughing again. It may seem impossible to find anything to laugh about, but it is still a good remedy for a heavy heart.

Ella Wilcox said it in her poem “Solitude.” Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone; For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,It has trouble enough of its own.

Posted in Humor | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments