Which right will you give away?

In the midst of the unrest within our own country,
I pause to consider the plight of those who are far less
fortunate.  We have only had a taste of what
some of them have endured all their life.   America, as a nation,
we have so much to be thankful for.  It's time we realized our
blessings, stop the in-fighting and unite or we will forfeit
what we take for granted.   My question is, which right are you
willing to give away?

In Foreign Lands

Lord, I’m praying for the coming of day

In foreign lands far away.

People are dying every day.

Gone, like ashes scattered in the wind

Never to be seen again

To us, they are people without face or name,

But they are people just the same.

Each one a part of the human race,

Regardless of the color of the face.

Help us to open our bowels of mercy.

Enable us to see

What we have not allowed ourselves to see.

Children alone

Without family or home

Never having an opportunity

To be a child, young and free

Loved ones gone without a trace

Babies left to carry on in their place

For them the surrounding darkness overshadows the light

They have no reason to believe there is hope in sight

May we be their beacon of hope on a darkened horizon,

A rising sun where there was never one

Father, remove the pain of disgrace

From a disease with no regard for person or place

May we no longer pretend that we do not see

People living in agony

May we be there to relieve their fears and dry their tears.

Help them to see past the trying years.

Erase their sorrows,

And bring a rainbow of hope for tomorrow

Help us to be a willing hand to hold

In a world that is hard and cold.

All they need is a chance

To invite life to dance

Without our help their lives will end

Let us be their opportunity to begin

Lord, I’m praying for the coming of day

In foreign lands far away

Young and old are dying everyday

Though they be people without face or name

They are people just the same

Each one a part of the human race

Regardless of the color of the face.

copyright 2010, Matters of the Heart, Patricia Newman-Harris

Celebrating Veteran's Day-We thank you

To the men and women who towed the line,

Walked on mines,

Kept watch through the night

Until the dawn’s early light.

To those who left family and friends behind,

Gave freely of their time.

To those who postponed their dreams

So we could know what freedom means.

How do we say thank you?

How do we repay a debt like yours?

You sailed to foreign shores

Never knowing if you would ever be back.

You came under constant attack,

But you never said no to the call.

You gave your all.

The opportunities we enjoy

Came at great expense.

You provided our defense.

You bore the hurt and pain

Without shame,

Without fear.

Because of you, we are still here,

Standing strong on your behalf.

In your honor, we fly our flags at half-staff.

We raise our hands in salute to you,

Because this is what we do.

You are gone, but you will never be forgotten.

No, you will never be forgotten.

Every Memorial Day, you are there.

Every Independence Day you are there,

Every Veteran’s Day, you are there.

Every victory we celebrate, you are there.

Every flag that we raise,

Every moment of praise

Is not ours alone.
You have made America our home.

From every hillside and plain,

We proudly speak your name.

Because of you America is America,

And will always be, America.

Because of you, we can still sing of her spacious skies

And purple mountains majesty.

You made America the beautiful country we see.

America

Our country, our home

Because of you we can proudly sing,

Let freedom ring!

Long live freedom,

Long live liberty,

Long live America,

Our country, our home.

copyright 2015 Patricia Newman-Harris