Sunshine berry jam

                                         

Sunshine-berry jam 

Here's a secret  recipe,

Passed down since time began, 

From Grandma's hands to Aunty-Anne's, 

For  sunshine-berry jam.

You start by sending Rosa-lee 

To ring dear Sara's bell, 

With one large bowl of  homemade smiles

And  wishes  to get- well. 

Then call your dear friend  Ellie- May   

To ask  "how is  your Mom?" 

And here's some fresh baked muffins

And a jar of homemade jam

Then run along and tidy up, 

(Make sure to wipe the sills) 

And don't to stop and pick 

Some sunny daffodils.

Put one  bunch on the table

And small one by the sink, 

To cheer the one who washes. 

While they hum along and sing:

" The secret to good recipes, 

What makes life so de-lish, 

Is sharing  what you have inside, 

The kindness in your wish.

It's all the love you pour into  

The small things that you do, 

The comfort, hope and hugs that go 

Into a bowl of  soup. 

So here's the secret recipe,

Passed down since time began 

From grandmas hands to aunty Anne's, 

For  sunshine-berry  jam:

You start with one large cup of love 

Two pounds of hope and faith 

Three heaping spoons of laughter 

And touch of social grace.

Combine these all with humor,

Simmer low, with loving care, 

When all the giggles bubble up- 

You'll have sweet jam to share!  

Did I Ask My Love to Whisper...?

Did I ask my love to whisper 

Why he loves me, loves me not, 

So his soft lips could remember 

All the kind words he forgot? 

If the sun remained in  hiding 

'hind the storm clouds every day   

Would wee oak trees keep on trying 

To reach heaven's golden rays? 

Now, I'll ask you, Dearest Darling, 

One small question: Do you know

If the dew got tired of dew-ing 

Who would kiss the sweet red rose? 

Do you think a girl can blossom 

Like a rosebush, late in in June,  

From the love that shines all brightly 

In your secret, dark cocoon ? 

I need raindrops, I need thunder, 

I need moonlight in my hair

Feel the wild storm-wind blowing, 

Drink the lusty midnight air, 

See the sunlight brightly sparkle   

As it dances on the sea, 

Feel your heart in mine, like thunder 

When you whisper, you need me. 

True compassion

(Excerpt from the upcoming book "Living in Love; Making Miracles" by L.S.) 

....It seems to me that being completely responsible is at the very heart of compassion. How else can we be an unstoppable wellspring of love, or the space in which others unspeakable beauty and perfection spontaneously occurs and shines brightly? 

And while It's nice to talk about loving Gods holy children and drawing them near, to do this on a practical level, requires choosing to to be miraculous, over and over again. Embracing another wholly, and loving them exactly as they are and as they are not. 

This is particularly true when it comes to our closest relationships. It's so easy to see how others are not behaving as they ought to, not being as wonderful as they should, evidenced by our continued lack of joy/love/happiness/fun/ intimacy/nachas/fulfillment/health/ affirmation/success in relationships/ chocolate covered Mars bars....whatever! 

And the more we want others to be different, unfortunately, the more they seem to stay the same. And as our frustration increases, so does our sense of helplessness and despair. "Why can't she just stop trying to change me? Why does she keep wanting me to be different than I am? When will she see and accept me for all my good qualities? Why do you always have to keep focusing on the negative?!!" 

This particular song goes very well as a duet, by the way, and can be amazing when it's sung in rounds. The tune is quite repetitive and has a contagious  rhythm. 

(To be continued...)