Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschool's 2

Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschool's 

 

(photo credit to associated press) 

Since the beginning of school two weeks ago I'm sure most parents would agree that things have been hectic; settling back into routines, conforming to new ones, etc. So this weekend I decided to let my hair down and get back into my old routines of reading daily publications from groups and people with like interests, but I was a little taken aback by some articles I'd read with regards to the homicide of Jermaine 'Bird' Williams in the parking lot of his child's preschool, George's Christian Academy in Whim, Frederiksted after school. According to numerous reports by local and associated press this father was shot in the parking lot while awaiting his wife to sign out their child after school. Students and school personnel were evacuated to secure room where they called for help from emergency responders but it was to no avail for the violence had already taken this father of three's life. Local public and private agencies came together to aid in the evaluations of students and staff scorned by the incident as was indicated by those in the Office of Child Care and Regulatory Services, but the ignorant violence has not ended nor has the arrogance of our community turning a blind eye to what is unfortunately becoming regular and that is too much violence within and near our schools.  

In 2013 I wrote a blog post, Too Much Violence; USVI Shootings Near Preschools, which illustrated for those who were unaware the rising amount of violence not only in schools but near schools that house our early learners. Different reports of gunfire at various head starts in Bovoni and in Berg's Home caught the attention of many concerned citizens and parents who spoke with officials from the Dept. of Human Services and the Virgin Islands Police Dept. expressing their concerns for the safety of their children. After a vote parents and officials came to the decision to send students to other Head Starts within the community that weren't experiencing such troubles due to violence in the community. That same year a similar incident took place on St. Croix regarding another parent who was shot and in the parking lot of their child's school after dropping off and killed trying escape inside the preschool housing two employees and ten children, causing the center to close.  

Nonetheless, as disturbing as all of this is, the fear and pain spread by the incident in question news and internet sources have chosen to ignore the blatant disregard for the lives of children within our territory in or out of school and call on legislators for stricter policies and legislations to defend our children while in learning institutions they have taken to the more 'popular' trend of 'blaming the victims'. According to reports made, rather than highlighting the severity of the crime instead many have taken to reporting the death of a gangster and gunfire fights that have since emerged in alleged retribution acts, basically glorifying the tragedies taken place causing more danger for residents of our islands.  

I am no politician nor legislator and my opinions are solely my own but when will it be enough to not only ignore the arrogance of others and educate them for the better? What will it take to stop turning a blind eye, to stop promoting and glorifying violence and the things that attribute to it? We are all members of this community and we are all members of families, but most importantly we all went to school and it was once considered safe.  

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read How Was Your First Day Of School, Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschools, and Violence And Abuse In School 

  

A True Leading Revolutionary; Malcolm X Day

A True Leading Revolutionary; Malcolm X

As a child growing up in the Virgin Islands, I was taught to have a lot of pride; self-pride, female pride, island pride, and most of all black pride. I grew up with a slew of books in my room (house) all dedicated to educational aspects, inspirational leaders, and leading innovators around the world. One the walls in our living room hung only one family portrait, the rest where pictures of leaders who have paved our way with their life’s work and their lives; Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Malcolm X. As an adult now, I’ve held the same ideals near and become overly excited to convey all that I’ve learned to others. I also have pictures of my favorite inspirational revolutionaries on my walls at home and while some of the faces have changed, the theme is still the same.

“A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything”- Malcolm X

Many of the children of the Virgin Islands are also raised with similar values, norms, and ideals. It’s displayed in the way that they choose to promote culture through music, hair and clothing trends and even traditional events like Carnival. But there should be more to our culture than those things, there is much more we are responsible for with regards to preparing our children for their futures. Our ideals have been distorted to fit the views of a few ignorant minds. Norms and values are being discarded for attention and popularity. If we cannot teach our children what they do today affects everyone’s tomorrow how can they be expected to grow, participate and strive to make a better community/society for them as we once did.

“Stumbling is not falling”- Malcolm X

Malcom X is a great example to lead the young men in our society. He was a black man, who wasn’t afraid or ashamed to admit when he was wrong. He continued to strive for education and for the betterment of the human race despite what others said of him. He is a role model and the epitome of what many of our youths strive to be, a conscious member of their society.

“Without education you’re not going anywhere in this world”- Malcolm X

Throughout this post I’ve included some of my favorite quotes from Malcolm X, as I have shared with you please share with others, we’ll never know who these words may resonate with most.  

“Do not be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t so what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today”
“A race of people is like and individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself”
“I am not a racist. I am against every from of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings such be respected as such, regardless of their color”

Poetry for Women (For Women, By Women, About Women)

Girls vs. Women

Girls are insecure; Women are confident.
Girls dress trashy; Women dress classy.
Girls are students; Women are teachers.
Girls are listeners; Women are preachers.
Girls makes babies; Women raise babies.
Girls have sex; Women make love.
Girls are weak; Women are strong.
Girls fight; Women walk away.
Girls argue; Women speak.
Girls give in; Women compromise.
Girls envy. Women appreciate.
Girls give up. Women strive.
Girls look. Women see.
Girls take. Women give.
Girls follow; Women influence.



Christina E. Brown

Poetry for Women (By Women, For Women, About Women)

The Old Stage Queen


by: Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919)
 
Back in the box by the curtains shaded,
She sits alone by the house unseen;
Her eye is dim, her cheek is faded,
She who was once the people's queen.

The curtain rolls up, and she sees before her
A vision of beauty and youth and grace.
Ah! no wonder all hearts adore her,
Silver-throated and fair of face.

Out of her box she leans and listens;
Oh, is it with pleasure or despair
That her thin cheek pales and her dim eye glistens,
While that fresh young voice sings the grand old air?

She is back again in the Past's bright splendor--
When life seemed worth living, and love a truth,
Ere Time had told her she must surrender
Her double dower of fame and youth.

It is she herself who stands there singing
To that sea of faces that shines and stirs;
And the cheers on cheers that go up ringing
And rousing the echoes--are hers--all hers.

Just for one moment the sweet delusion
Quickens her pulses and blurs her sight,
And wakes within her that wild confusion
Of joy that is anguish and fierce delight.

Then the curtain goes down and the lights are gleaming
Brightly o'er circle and box and stall.
She starts like a sleeper who wakes from dreaming--
Her past lies under a funeral pall.

Her day is dead and her star descended,
Never to rise or shine again;
Her reign is over--her Queenship ended--
A new name is sounded and sung by men.

All the glitter and glow and splendor,
All the glory of that lost day,
With the friends that seemed true, and the love that seemed tender,
Why, what is it all but a dead bouquet?

She rises to go. Has the night turned colder?
The new Queen answers to call and shout;
And the old Queen looks back over her shoulder,
Then all unnoticed she passes out.

Poetry For Women (By Women, For Women, About Women)

AIN'T I A WOMEN?

Photo Credits from http://ionenewsone.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/sojourner-truth.jpg

That man over there say

     a woman needs to be helped into carriages

and lifted over ditches

     and to have the best place everywhere.

Nobody ever helped me into carriages

     or over mud puddles

     or gives me a best place...

And ain't I a woman?

     Look at me

Look at my arm!

     I have plowed and planted

and gathered into barns

     and no man could head me...

And ain't I a woman?

     I could work as much

and eat as much as a man —

     when I could get to it —

and bear the lash as well

     and ain't I a woman?

I have born 13 children

     and seen most all sold into slavery

and when I cried out a mother's grief

     none but Jesus heard me...

And ain't I a woman?

     that little man in black there say

a woman can't have as much rights as a man

     cause Christ wasn't a woman

Where did your Christ come from?

     From God and a woman!

Man had nothing to do with him!

     If the first woman God ever made

was strong enough to turn the world

     upside down, all alone

together women ought to be able to turn it

     rightside up again.

Copyright © Sojourner Truth, 1852.

Poem by Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)

Children's Corner: Poetry (I, Too, Sing America)

I, Too, Sing America

by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.

Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then.

Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

Ms. Child Advocate

Thank God Your Not My Mom II: Who Leaves An Infant In The Car To Shop?

 Thank God Your Not My Mom II: Who Leaves An Infant In The Car To Shop?

     Alright everyone, I guess it's about that time that many readers won't agree with my sentiments, but I ask you to keep in mind that I don't agree with the sentiments of the author of this blog post either! Neither the women commenting on the post acknowledging their own past transgressions. NO One is perfect, but does that mean that we shouldn't strive for excellence still? Does that mean we should not do better when we know better because we don't have to? Because it's expected of us? I think not! It isn't expected of me, any member of my family, nor will I expect it from my children, because we need not to make mediocrity a norm although in many ways we already have.

       So a mother in New Zealand found probable cause to leave her infant in her car while she went out shopping, or so the note that she left on the apparent baby girl read, along with a number saying to please call mum if I need anything. Now while there are many situations in which many people leave their children in the car I don't think that leaving an defenseless infant in the car that could easily be broken in to or worse damaged and both of them or any of the above could be fatal. In such cases we tend to blame negligence on others instead of placing the blame where it should be, on the person themselves. A child that doesn't know how to talk, move or even scream is literally defenseless against perpetrators and incidents of all kinds. Anything can happen at a moments notice and those of us that like to stay informed are usually aware of how fast things can go sour or even how the most senseless things tend to occur to those who least deserve such treatment. Had there been a car accident where someone or thing had collided with her car while that precious baby was on board whose fault would it be? Where could one place the blame accurately? And suppose you were the other driver? How would you feel to know that you may have injured an infant, trying to save a cat in the street or swerving to avoid hitting another pedestrian or a group of people. They could be children crossing the street, or the elderly, suppose your decision to damage a parked car only lead to the destruction of a life that you were completely unaware was present. Would you blame yourself, or the mother that needed to shop hassle free (as so many mothers consider a blessing including me, but never left my infant to do it)?

       Last but certainly not least is the common fact that her baby could have been abducted. Now I don't know if that sort of thing doesn't regularly occur in New Zealand so parents aren't weary enough to take precautions, if such is the case then her ignorance is understandable to a certain extent, but other wise it just seems irresponsible at best. While sifting through the comments I noticed there where quite a few people that agreed with her actions and others that stated through their own personal accounts how far they supported the actions of the mother in case whether to a mediocre extent or all the way. In the accounts of parents that have left their children in the car to return the shopping cart, carry groceries (loading/unloading), or even dropping off one sibling while the other waits in the car, these are all situations everyone can empathize with and I'm sure most if not all would agree these instances aren't worth mentioning. But as it pertains to the situation itself I don't understand how anyone would think that it is OK to leave an infant in the car while they went shopping. Minors aged nine through eleven are targeted for such crimes and are unable to help themselves in most cases so how can anyone agree with such foolish tactics as an excuse for parenting. I noticed that many seem to think that I may be on a 'high horse' for acknowledging such foolishness, but I simply say this to those nay sayers most parents strive to give their children better than they've received so if your parents left you unattended regularly and nothing traumatic happened, kudos to you and yours but that doesn't mean you should settle. My mother didn't practice such parenting, as her mother taught her for those of us that are continuing trends and cycles that we went through although you know it isn't really right. I urge you to stop the cycle and kill the trend that has many of us facilitating the demise of our future; our children. Think about the mothers that thought it's OK to drink and smoke while pregnant because their mothers did it and had still births or now have babies with birth defects, or the fathers that figured they didn't need to be their for his children so his son repeated his 'sad song' and the daughter sang a tune of her own being left to raise a child alone. It doesn't only stop at leaving children unattended to go shopping it stops when we put our children before ourselves.

S. Lewis. (2013). I leave my baby alone in the car. Retrieved February 5, 2014 from http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/03262013-i-leave-my-baby-alone-in-the-car/

Children's Corner; Poetry

Rathers

I know very well what I’d rather be
If I didn’t always have to be me!
I’d rather be an owl,
A downy feathered owl,
A wink-ity, blink-ity, yellow-eyed owl
In a hole in a hollow tree.
I’d take my dinner in chipmunk town,
And wouldn’t I gobble the field mice down,
If I were a wink-ity, blink-ity owl,
And didn’t always have to be me!

I know very well what I’d like to do
If I didn’t have to do what I do!
I’d go and be a woodpecker,
A rap-ity, tap-ity, red-headed woodpecker
In the top of a tall old tree.
And I’d never take a look
At a lesson or a book,
And I’d scold like a pirate on the sea,
If I only had to do what I like to do,
And didn’t always have to be me!

Or else I’d be an antelope,
A pronghorned antelope,
With lots of other antelope
Skimming like a cloud on a wire-grass plian.
A bounding, bouncing antelope,
You’d never get me back to my desk again!

Or I might be a puma,
A singe-colored puma,
A slinking, sly-foot puma
As fierce as fierce could be!
And I’d wait by the waterholes where antelope drink
In the cool of the morning
And I do
not
think
That ever any antelope could get away from me.

But if I were a hunter,
A red Indian hunter –
I’d like to be a hunter, –
I’d have a bow made of juniper wood
From a lightning-blasted tree,
And I’d creep and I’d creep on that puma asleep
A flint tipped arrow,
An eagle feathered arrow,
For a puma kills calves and a puma kills sheep,
And he’d never eat any more antelope
If he once met up with me!


Mary Austin

Source: Rathers, Famous Children Poem http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/rathers-by-mary-austin#ixzz2rvOml177
Family Friend Poems

Children's Corner; Short Stories

The Negro Mother

Children, I come back today
To tell you a story of the long dark way
That I had to climb, that I had to know
In order that the race might live and grow.
Look at my face -- dark as the night --
Yet shining like the sun with love's true light.
I am the dark girl who crossed the red sea
Carrying in my body the seed of the free.
I am the woman who worked in the field
Bringing the cotton and the corn to yield.
I am the one who labored as a slave,
Beaten and mistreated for the work that I gave --
Children sold away from me, I'm husband sold, too.
No safety , no love, no respect was I due.

Three hundred years in the deepest South:
But God put a song and a prayer in my mouth .
God put a dream like steel in my soul.
Now, through my children, I'm reaching the goal.

Now, through my children, young and free,
I realized the blessing deed to me.
I couldn't read then. I couldn't write.
I had nothing, back there in the night.
Sometimes, the valley was filled with tears,
But I kept trudging on through the lonely years.
Sometimes, the road was hot with the sun,
But I had to keep on till my work was done:
I had to keep on! No stopping for me --
I was the seed of the coming Free.
I nourished the dream that nothing could smother
Deep in my breast -- the Negro mother.
I had only hope then , but now through you,
Dark ones of today, my dreams must come true:
All you dark children in the world out there,
Remember my sweat, my pain, my despair.
Remember my years, heavy with sorrow --
And make of those years a torch for tomorrow.
Make of my pass a road to the light
Out of the darkness, the ignorance, the night.
Lift high my banner out of the dust.
Stand like free men supporting my trust.
Believe in the right, let none push you back.
Remember the whip and the slaver's track.
Remember how the strong in struggle and strife
Still bar you the way, and deny you life --
But march ever forward, breaking down bars.
Look ever upward at the sun and the stars.
Oh, my dark children, may my dreams and my prayers
Impel you forever up the great stairs --
For I will be with you till no white brother
Dares keep down the children of the Negro Mother.

BY
Langston Hughes

Children's Corner; Poetry

EMANCIPATION


No rack can torture me,
My soul's at liberty
Behind this mortal bone
There knits a bolder one

You cannot prick with saw,
Nor rend with scymitar.
Two bodies therefore be;
Bind one, and one will flee.

The eagle of his nest
No easier divest
And gain the sky,
Than mayest thou,

Except thyself may be
Thine enemy;
Captivity is consciousness,
So's liberty.

BY
Emily Dickinson

Children's Corner; Poetry

Democracy

Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.

I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.

I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.

Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.

I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.

Langston Hughes

Children's Corner; Christmas Poetry

The Greatest Birthday

'Glory to God in the highest

And on earth peace good will toward men'

Born unto a virgin was God's only begotten Son

Emmanuel (God with us) is the title of The One

Mary's father was of Judah, the linage of a king

Mary's mother was a Levite, from Aaron's priestly string

The world beheld a brilliant star a shining in the east

The sign of Christ, The King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and High Priest

'Glory to God in the highest

And on earth peace good will toward men'

Shepherds in the field keeping watch over their flock at night

The angel of the Lord appeared and gave them such a fright

'Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy'

For unto you is born this day, a Saviour, Christ the Roi

The Babe is wrapped in swaddling clothes, a lying in the hay

Heavenly host gave praise to God on the greatest birthday

'Glory to God in the highest

And on earth peace good will toward men'

(Luke 1: 5-36,2: 6-14,3: 23-38) 

Children's Corner; Christmas Poetry

Our Christmas

Christmas came early for you and for me
Christmas with no gifts to open
Christmas without any yuletide tree
Christmas with words of love spoken
Christmas was walking to York hand in hand
Christmas in awe at the Minster
Christmas togetherness was just what we planned
Christmas was chaffed legs and blisters

Christmas was cups of tea served early morn
Christmas was being together
Christmas was loving from dusk until dawn
Christmas remembered forever
Christmas was driving through floods for the view
Christmas ‘our planning’ was starting
Christmas our Christmas meant so much to me
Christmas our bitter sweet parting


Stephen Holland

Children's Corner; Short Stories

Aesop's Fables - The Heron

A Heron was walking sedately along the bank of a stream, his eyes on the clear water, and his long neck and pointed bill ready to snap up a likely morsel for his breakfast. The clear water swarmed with fish, but Master Heron was hard to please that morning.

"No small fry for me," he said. "Such scanty fare is not fit for a Heron."

Now a fine young Perch swam near.

"No indeed," said the Heron. "I wouldn't even trouble to open my beak for anything like that!"

As the sun rose, the fish left the shallow water near the shore and swam below into the cool depths toward the middle. The Heron saw no more fish, and very glad was he at last to breakfast on a tiny Snail.

Do not be too hard to suit or you may have to be content with the worst or with nothing at all.

Copyright © 2011 House of Lore

Poems For Kids 

Children's Corner; Poetry

What Will You Be?

When you grow up what will you be?
Will you be tall like Dad or short like me?
Will your hair be dark like it is right now?
Or will it turn amber, or auburn, or brown?

Will you run fast with agility and grace?
Or fall behind in a slower pace?
Will words come quickly to your mouth and hand?
Or will mathematics and numbers be your plan?

Whatever you choose and wherever you go,
May you always understand and know,
That you are loved, not for what you do,
But because you're special - because you're you.

 Author: unknown

Children's Corner; Short Stories

The Origin of Thanksgiving

After landing in Plymouth, the Pilgrims had to struggle to survive through their first wretched and miserable winter in Massachusetts. When spring and summer came it was a welcome relief. They learned so many things that first year. They had planted and cared for their first fields of corn. They had found wild strawberries in the meadows, raspberries on the hillsides, and wild grapes in the woods.In the forest just back of the village wild turkeys and deer were easily shot. In the shallow waters of the bay there was plenty of fish, clams, and lobsters.The summer had been warm, with a good deal of rain and much sunshine; and so when autumn came there was a fine crop of corn.They wanted to celebrate and give thanks to God for all he had provided for them.

"Let us gather the fruits of our first labors and rejoice together," said Governor Bradford.

"Yes," said Elder Brewster, "let us take a day upon which we may thank God for all our blessings, and invite our Indian friends who have been so kind to us."

The great Indian chief, Massasoit, came with ninety of his bravest warriors, all dressed in deerskin's, feathers, and fox tails, with their faces smeared with red, white, and yellow paint.

Now there were only eleven buildings in the whole village, four log storehouses and seven little log houses; so the Indian guests ate and slept outside. This was no problem though, for it was one of those warm weeks in the season we call Indian summer.

To supply meat for the occasion four men had already been sent out to hunt wild turkeys. They killed enough in one day to last the whole company almost a week.Massasoit helped the feast along by sending some of his best hunters into the woods. They killed five deer, which they gave to their paleface friends, that all might have enough to eat.

Under the trees were built long, simple tables on which were piled baked clams, broiled fish, roast turkey, and deer meat.The young Pilgrim women helped serve the food to the hungry Indians. One was Mary Chilton, who leaped from the boat at Plymouth Rock; the other was Mary Allerton. She lived for seventy-eight years after this first Thanksgiving, and of those who came over in the Mayflower she was the last to die.

What a merry time everybody had during that week! Young John Howland was there. While they were sailing in mid ocean, he fell overboard but was quick enough to catch hold of a trailing rope. Perhaps after dinner he invited Elizabeth Tilley, whom he afterward married, to sail over to Clarke's Island and return by moonlight.

With them, it may be, went John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, whose love story is so sweetly told by Longfellow.

One proud mother, we may be sure, showed her bright-eyed boy, Peregrine White, who was the first baby born in Plymouth.

And so the fun went on. In the daytime the young men ran races, played games, and had a shooting match. Every night the Indians sang and danced for their friends; and to make things still more lively they gave every now and then a shrill war whoop that made the woods echo in the still night air.

The Indians had already learned to love and fear Captain Miles Standish. Some of them called him "Boiling Water" because he was easily made angry. Others called him "Captain Shrimp," on account of his small size.

During this week of fun and frolic it was a wonder if young Jack Billington did not play some prank on the Indians. He was the boy who fired off his father's gun one day, close to a keg of gunpowder, in the crowded cabin of the Mayflower.

After the third day, the Indian king and his warriors said farewell to their English friends and began their long tramp through the woods to their wigwams on Mount Hope Bay.

On the last day of this Thanksgiving party the Pilgrims had a service of prayer and praise. Elder Brewster preached the first Thanksgiving sermon. After thanking God for all his goodness, he did not forget the many loved ones buried on the hillside.

He spoke of noble John Carver, the first governor, who had died of worry and overwork.

Nor was Rose Standish forgotten, the lovely young wife of Captain Miles Standish, whose death was caused by cold and lack of good food.

And then there was gentle Dorothy, wife of Governor Bradford, who had fallen overboard from the Mayflower in Provincetown harbor.

The first Thanksgiving took place nearly three hundred years ago. Since that time in 1621, almost without interruption, Thanksgiving has been kept as a day to be thankful for all God has given us whether in good times or bad. At this time children and grandchildren return home, the long table is spread, and brothers and sisters, separated often by many miles, again sit side by side.

Today Thanksgiving is observed in the United States as a season of sweet and blessed memories of that first thanksgiving.

Children's Corner; Poetry

All Things Bright and Beautiful 

~Cecil Frances Alexander

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

Children's Corner; Poetry

God is Near

God is with us all the time
Making sure we're safe and fine;
Taking care of all our needs
And helping us to do good deeds.


In summer heat and winter cold
We always have His hand to hold
And though we're worried, glad or sad
We're daily cared for by our Dad.


God is near, in fact He's here
And we don't have to live in fear
Of anything or anyone
When we have faith in God's own Son.

by Belinda van Rensburg

© 2012

Everyone Please be sure to check out this link for the author's website, I personally found all poetry to be enlightening, uplifting, and inspiring and I'm sure you will too!!

http://www.kevinvr.org/belindaspoetry/id8.html

Children's Corner; Poetry

I Refuse to Be Discouraged

I refuse to be discouraged, 

To be sad, or to cry; 

I refuse to be downhearted, 

And here's the reason why . . . 

I have a God who's mighty, 

Who's sovereign and supreme; 

I have a God who love me, 

And I am on His team. 

He is all wise and powerful, 

Jesus is His name; 

Though everything is changeable, 

My God remains the same. 

My God knows all that's happening, 

Beginning to end. 

His presence is my comfort,

He is my dearest friend. 

When sickness comes to weaken me, 

To bring my head down low, 

I call upon my mighty God; 

Into His arms I go. 

When circumstances threaten 

To rob me from my peace, 

He draws me close unto His breast, 

Where all my strivings cease. 

And when my heart melts within me, 

And weakness takes control, 

He gathers me into His arms, 

He soothes my heart and soul. 

The great "I AM" is with me, 

My life is in His hands, 

The "Son of the Lord" is my hope, 

It's in His strength I stand. 

I refuse to be defeated, 

My eyes are on my God; 

He has promised to be with me, 

As through this life I trod. 

I'm looking past all my circumstances, 

To Heaven's throne above; 

My prayers have reached the heart of God, 

I'm resting in His love. 

I give God thanks in everything, 

My eyes are on his face; 

The battle's His, the victory is mine; 

He'll help me win the race. 

Author Unknown

Children's Corner; Poetry

The Land of Liberty

Author: Unknown

I love my country's pine-clad hills,

Her thousand bright and gushing rills,

Her sunshine and her storms;

Her rough and rugged rocks, that rear

Their hoary heads high in the air

In wild, fantastic forms.

I love her rivers, deep and wide,

Those mighty streams that seaward glide

To seek the ocean's breast;

Her smiling fields, her pleasant vales,

Her shady dells, her flow'ry dales,

The haunts of peaceful rest.

I love her forests, dark and lone,

For there the wild bird's merry tone

I hear from morn till night;

And there are lovelier flowers, I ween,

Than e'er in Eastern lands were seen,

In varied colors bright.

Her forests and her valleys fair,

Her flowers that scent the morning air--

All have their charms for me;

But more I love my country's name,

Those words that echo deathless fame,

"The Land of Liberty."