Comes The Dawn
 
 


 

After a while you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul.
 
 
 
And you learn that love doesn't mean 
leaning
and company doesn't mean
security.
 
 
And you begin to learn
that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises.
 
 
And you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up high
and your eyes ahead with the grace of a woman
and not the grief of a child.
 
 
And you learn to build 
all your roads on today
because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down
in the middle of flight.
 
 
After a while you learn
that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
 
 
So you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone
to bring you flowers.
 
 
And you learn that you really can endure,
that you really are strong,
and you really do have worth.
 
 
And you learn and you learn
with every goodbye you learn ...
 
 



 
 

Veronica A. Shorffstall

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If your life is ever going to get better,
 
you'll have to take risks.
 
There is simply no way you can grow
 
without taking chances.
 
-- David Viscott
 
 
 
One sunny day a caterpillar who was afraid of the dark came to a tunnel which lay squarely in its path. It had a choice of going back where it started, or summoning the courage to crawl into the darkness.

"What shall I do?" wondered the caterpillar. "If I go back home, I won't get where I want to go, but I'm so afraid!" 

Just then, a voice called out from the tunnel. "I can hear you, Mr. Caterpillar. I am Mr. Beetle. I am here in the tunnel and I can see the other end. If you come through, you won't lose your fear of the dark, but you will get where you want to go." 

We are all like the caterpillar once in a while. But if we let our fear stop us from doing things which are necessary to our growth, we will never realize what courage we really have.

 __________

© 1991 Hazelden Foundation from the book Today's Gift

 

07/03/2007
 

 
 

Queen of the Dawn, Touch of Love, Summer Dreams III, The Hidden Glen, and Magic Dream images Copyright © Fidel Garcia from Masterpiece Publishing

Holding the Silence, Meditations, Blue Velvet, Magic Embrace and Shadow To Light images Copyright © Fidel Garcia from Masterpiece Publishing

Leavetaking image Copyright © Michael Whelan