Pen to Paper

It might sound a little old school,
But the benefits of putting pen to paper are timeless, a golden rule.
Whether virtually or by hand,
Journaling can help you understand.

Heal from the past, let your heart mend,
Through words on a page, let the journey begin.
Increase your emotional intelligence with ease,
As you unravel thoughts, find inner peace.

Achieve your goals with clarity and might,
Map out your dreams in the still of the night.
Improve your memory, let details stay,
In the pages you fill, day by day.

Improve your vocabulary, expand your mind,
New words and meanings, treasures to find.
Strengthen self-discipline and routine,
In the ritual of writing, keep your spirit keen.

Increase your levels of creativity,
Let your imagination flow, wild and free.
Improve self-confidence with every line,
Discover your voice, unique and divine.

So take up your pen, let your thoughts pour,
Embrace the timeless benefits, explore.
In the practice of journaling, find your way,
Healing and growing, day by day.

May 27, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Spirits Bloom

In the heart of giving, a soul does shine,
With grace unmeasured, a love divine.
To those who ask, give freely and kind,
No strings attached, with peace of mind.

For in the giving, joy you'll find,
A heart unburdened, a spirit unconfined.
Let go of grasp, release the claim,
And watch the world reflect the same.

If what you cherish is taken away,
Do not demand its swift repay.
For in the loss, a lesson grows,
Of faith in life, and what bestows.

In selfless acts, our spirits bloom,
A light in dark, a sweet perfume.
So give to all who seek your hand,
And know in love, you'll ever stand.

May 27, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Luk 6:30  Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

See You

In the stillness of the dawn's embrace,
Where whispers of the past find space,
We'll meet again, without a care,
See you here, there, or in the air.

Through the fields where memories bloom,
In the heart of summer's afternoon,
We'll find our way, no matter where,
See you here, there, or in the air.

Beneath the stars' eternal gaze,
In the twilight's gentle haze,
Our spirits blend, a timeless pair,
See you here, there, or in the air.

When shadows fade and light is near,
In every laugh, in every tear,
Our bond remains, beyond compare,
See you here, there, or in the air.

In the whispers of the wind, so fair,
In the moments only we can share,
Our love endures, always aware,
See you here, there, or in the air.

Created by
MarkWaldrop

Ring the Bells

"Ring the bells that still can ring,
Let their echoes softly sing.
There's a crack, a flaw in everything,
Yet that's how the light gets in.

Embrace the imperfections near,
For in each crack, the light shines clear.
It's through the breaks our souls begin,
And that's how the light gets in.

Cherish the fragments, let them gleam,
In brokenness, find strength, redeem.
There's beauty in each fractured spin,
And that's how the light gets in."

"Ring the bells that still can ring
There's a crack, a crack in everything Thats how the light gets in."
- Leonard Cohen

Created by
MarkWaldrop

A Sea of People

As I look out over the sea of people, vast and wide,  
I don't see strangers, just friends by whom I'm tied.
Each face a story, each heart a hidden gem,
In this grand mosaic, I find a place with them.

In every smile, a spark of kinship glows,
In every gaze, a bond of friendship grows.
Though paths diverge, in this moment, we are one,
Underneath the same sky, beneath the same sun.

No strangers here, just friends I've yet to meet,
Each step I take, new souls my own soul greet.
In this sea of people, I find love's grand design,
Every heart a beacon, every soul divine.

May 24, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

 Memorial Day

What does Memorial Day mean to you and Me
It’s a Sacred day to honor all who died to keep us free

It's a day to remember a relative or friend
Who gave his all to the very end

It's Our Freedoms and Liberties we owe to them all
Because they heard that Great Gallant Call

Freedoms that we hold so dear are not so Free
It is Paid for by the Blood shed for you and me

Greater Love hath no man than to give his life for another
That’s the Ultimate Sacrifice, that can be made by a Brother

MarkWaldrop

A Hero’s Legacy

Good morning, echoes through the dawn's first light,
A tale of valor, sorrow, and might.
In nineteen-oh-seven, a boy was born,
To a widow whose heart was torn.

His father, taken by a brother’s hand,
Left a young widow in a desolate land.
He grew up fast, a child no more,
Dropped out in fifth grade to work, to toil, and bore.

Four brothers looked up to his guiding hand,
In the logging woods, he made his stand.
Married young, and children came,
Seven in total, three angels to name.

In forty-four, when the world was ablaze,
A month-old baby, he’d have to leave in a haze.
From Harlan County to Normandy’s shore,
This Kentucky boy faced the horrors of war.

Men fell like rain on that blood-soaked beach,
One young soldier’s sanity just out of reach.
“No need for a gun,” he cried out loud,
As chaos raged and death's shadow shrouded.

Liberation brought tears to his weary eyes,
Death camps unveiled humanity’s demise.
In a foxhole, with a testament lost,
He crawled through the night, in the cold and frost.

Hands bleeding, searching for hope,
Found a Bible, bloodied, a way to cope.
Twice wounded, he persevered,
Shook Patton’s hand, a memory revered.

Post-war missions with Lt. Schaefer’s call,
Hunting war criminals, he gave his all.
Came home broken, inside and out,
Shell shock, treatments, a mind full of doubt.

Twenty-five years, he battled unseen foes,
A hero in shadows, the pain only grows.
No bridges or highways bear his name,
But his sacrifice remains, forever aflame.

A military family, devoted and true,
To God and country, their hearts they imbue.
When flags are trampled, in anger and pain,
Remembering the fallen, tears fall like rain.

As taps play softly, a tribute to the brave,
For your dad, your husband, the memories you save.
In their honor, with pride, you stand tall,
Heroes remembered, one and all.

Created by
MarkWaldrop

Taken from a story on Facebook “Journey of a Mountain Woman”

Daddy and Mama’s Hands

I remember Daddy and Mama’s hands how they cared for me. 
They moulded and made me with God’s grace you see

Caring Love and Tough Love I needed them both.
To keep me on the right path to continue my growth

Not realizing at the time. The sacrifice they made.
I thank God for lending me to them
Teaching me to pray

Daddy’s hands were calloused Mana’s hands were tender
Guiding me through the path of God’s Splendor

Memories of the good old days never ever fade
I now pass the love and remember how they prayed

May 24, 2024
MarkWaldrop

Wait, Wait, Wait Swing

My son Mark age 9

Wait, wait, wait, swing an old baseball saying,
Waiting long enough, you'll hit that home run.
Life is much the same way, in patience we stay,
By waiting long enough, you'll go a long way.

It's really no surprise, in the passage of time,
God says, "Wait on me, and you'll truly climb."
With faith as your guide, and patience your friend,
In waiting, you'll find blessings without end.

Isa 40:31  but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

May 23, 2024
MarkWaldrop

Paw Prints on our Hearts

A pet is never truly gone,
As long as memories linger on.
In quiet moments, still and bright,
Their spirit dances in the light.

Soft purrs and wagging tails,
Echoes of their joyful trails.
Paws that left prints on the heart,
A bond that never drifts apart.

In dreams, they sometimes play,
Chasing shadows, bright as day.
In our laughter, in our tears,
Their love transcends the years.

A pet’s love, pure and deep,
In our souls, they softly seep.
Though they part, their essence stays,
Guiding us through life’s maze.

As long as memories are embraced,
Their presence can never be erased.
A pet is never truly forgotten,
For in our hearts, they're always begotten.

"A pet is never truly forgotten until it is no longer remembered." - Lacie Petitto

May 23, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop