FELICIA'S FOREST

Brilliant wildflowers sprout here and there through the moist soil forming an unconventional pattern of color across the forest floor. This floral mixture, along with the sweet fragrance of cedar, perfume the surroundings with an almost intoxicating aroma. Tall stately trees reaching toward the sky provide concert stages for a whole chorus of wild birds and homes for a vast array of woodland creatures. You have just arrived in Felicia's Forest. The name Felicia means happiness. Welcome to the forest of happiness.

What better way to begin a page on happiness than with a poem written about joy, a very special kind of joy, the joy that you can find by really getting to know your Lord and Savior. The name of the poem is "Don't Steal My Joy". It was written to remind us that we can ask God to help us even with the little mess-ups in our lives. Why should such silly little things steal the joy in our hearts, when God can help us to deal with them.

DON'T STEAL MY JOY

THE SUNRISE AND THE MORNING LIGHT ANNOUNCED A BRAND NEW DAY NOTHING IN GOD'S LOVELY WORLD SEEMED TO BE ASTRAY BUT THEN HARSH WORDS WERE SPOKEN HOW SAD THEY MADE ME FEEL JUST FOR ONE BRIEF MOMENT MY JOY WAS THERE TO STEAL BUT I COUNTED ALL MY BLESSINGS THEN SAID A LITTLE PRAYER I KNEW THAT JESUS LOVED ME MY JOY, IT STAYED RIGHT THERE I BATHED MY THOUGHTS IN SUNSHINE THE WARM RAYS HIT MY FACE I THANKED THE LORD FOR NATURE AND HIS CREATING GRACE I SMILED ON THROUGH THE MORNING UNTIL THE NOONTIME MEAL WHEN I BURNT MY TOASTED SANDWICH MY JOY WAS THERE TO STEAL BUT I COUNTED ALL MY BLESSINGS THEN SAID A LITTLE PRAYER I KNEW THAT JESUS LOVED ME MY JOY, IT STAYED RIGHT THERE THE AFTERNOON WAS PERFECT A GIFT FROM GOD, I'M TOLD ONE OF SEVERAL MILLION EACH FROM A DIFFERENT MOLD I WENT TO DO SOME SHOPPING AND FOUND A REAL GREAT DEAL I STILL COULD NOT AFFORD IT MY JOY WAS THERE TO STEAL BUT I COUNTED ALL MY BLESSINGS THEN SAID A LITTLE PRAYER I KNEW THAT JESUS LOVED ME MY JOY, IT STAYED RIGHT THERE

I SURVEYED THE WORLD AROUND ME AND IT GAVE ME QUITE A LIFT TO THINK THAT GOD OUR FATHER HAD GIVEN US THIS GIFT TWAS AN ALMOST PERFECT DINNER BUT MY JELLO DIDN'T CONGEAL FRUIT AFLOAT IN CLEAR RED SOUP MY JOY WAS THERE TO STEAL BUT I COUNTED ALL MY BLESSINGS THEN SAID A LITTLE PRAYER I KNEW THAT JESUS LOVED ME MY JOY, IT STAYED RIGHT THERE THE TIME WAS SOON APPROACHING WHEN DAYLIGHT MEETS THE NIGHT WHEN GOD LIGHTS UP THE HEAVENS AND STARS ARE SHINING BRIGHT I THOUGHT I'D WATCH SOME TV WHAT DID MY GUIDE REVEAL JUST RERUN AFTER RERUN MY JOY WAS THERE TO STEAL BUT I COUNTED ALL MY BLESSINGS THEN SAID A LITTLE PRAYER I KNEW THAT JESUS LOVED ME MY JOY, IT STAYED RIGHT THERE AT LAST THE GRAND FINALE CONCLUSION OF THE DAY ITS TIME TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE LORD AND PRAY THE DAY HAD NOT BEEN FLAWLESS BUT I HOPED I'D FINALLY LEFT THOSE MINOR IMPERFECTIONS THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED A THEFT THEY BATTLED MY EMOTIONS BUT NOTHING COULD DESTROY THE GIFT THAT JESUS GAVE ME SO DON'T YOU STEAL MY JOY

Mary Catherine Caldwell

"You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence" ACTS 2:28

My next poem is also about joy and how just a minor thing can change something wonderful into something not so wonderful. If we can learn to accept the not so wonderful as something to teach us patience as we wait for what we really want, then we can find joy just in the teaching.

PRAISE THE LORD ANYWAY

A FISHING TRIP YOU HAVE NO BAIT THE SENIOR PROM WITHOUT A DATE A PAIR OF SKIS WITHOUT THE SNOW YOUR ALL DRESSED UP NO WHERE TO GO REMEMBER THIS WHEN THINGS GO WRONG IT JUST MIGHT HELP TO KEEP YOU STRONG JUST FACE THE FACTS IT'S NOT YOUR DAY BUT PRAISE THE LORD -------ANYWAY--------

A BRIGHT BLUE SKY WITH ONE RAIN CLOUD YOUR FAVORITE SONG PLAYED MUCH TO LOUD A SPRING BOUQUET WITH A WILTED FLOWER A SPORTY CAR THAT HAS NO POWER A FRIENDLY PUP YOU CANNOT PET A SPECIAL FRIEND YOU HAVEN'T MET A SWIMMING POOL NO ONE TO SPLASH A SHOPPING MALL WITHOUT THE CASH

Mary Catherine Caldwell

"Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God you are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty." PSALM 104.1