The night before Christmas a little boy was asked by his mom to help with chores around the house—among them to shine her boots so they’d be ready for her to wear to church the next morning. He was promised a quarter to help. Next morning, when mom gathered the family to get ready for church, she put her foot in her boot and her toes felt something stuffed inside. Turning the boot upside down, she found the quarter and a short note, which read, “Dear mom, I dun it for love.”

--told by Father Patrick Elliot, Holy Family Parish, South Ogden, Utah, December 25th 2009.



What came to be through Him was life,

And this was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness,

And the darkness has not overcome it.


--The Holy Bible




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Christmas Eve

The Gaelic Blessing posted here represents our thoughts for all of you during this season and always. Thanks for being our friends and for allowing us the opportunity to bring you Keepers!

--Chip and Bob

Here is a You Tube hyperlink to a performance of A Gaelic Blessing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GSWtHc22t8


A Gaelic Blessing

Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace of Christ the light of the world to you.
Deep peace of Christ to you.

--John Rutter (1945-), English composer, choral conductor, editor, arranger, record producer. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rutter


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Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

George Washington (1732-1799), Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, Founding Father and first President of the United States. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington


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These next few days are the days of the Winter Solstice—a time when those who are very attentive to the skies note that the sun, which has relentlesly moved southward on the horizon since last June, seems to pause on its journey before beginning to climb northward to center again.

Solsitce is a time of pause. So, pause. Breathe. Relax. Rest. Be at peace.

Spirit of Winter Rest: Help us to enjoy your peace in this quiet place. Remind us to pause during this season. Grant us awareness; keep our gratitude fresh each day. May the songs in our hearts be blessings and insights to us and to others and may compassion always shine forth from the depths of our hearts.

--Christine C. Robinson (contemporary), minister of the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque, New Mexico.



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The virtue of a society is the basis of its stability.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), American essayist, philosopher, poet. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waldo_Emerson


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Everyone smiles in the same language.

--American Saying



Start each day with a smile—and get it over with.

--W.C. Fields (1880-1946), American comedian, actor, juggler, writer. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._C._Fields



If a picture is worth a thousand words, it follows that a smile—used at the right moment and for the right reason—is of infinite value.

--Unattributed



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I hate ingratitude more in a man

Than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness,

Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption

Inhabits our frail blood.

--from the Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare

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Be aware that what you are saying may not be what people are hearing you say.

--Lamar Alexander (1940-), United States Senator from Tennessee, former Governor of Tennessee, former United States Secretary of Education under President George H.W. Bush. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamar_Alexander


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I’ll walk with God from this day on.

His helping hand I’ll lean upon.

This is my prayer, my humble plea,

May the Lord be ever with me.



There is no death, tho’ eyes grow dim.

There is no fear when I’m near to Him.

I’ll lean on Him forever.

And He’ll forsake me never.



He will not fail me

As long as my faith is strong,

Whatever road I may walk along.



I’ll walk with God, I’ll take His hand.

I’ll talk with God, He’ll understand.

I’ll pray to Him, each day to Him

And He’ll hear the words that I say.



His hand will guide my throne and rod

And I’ll never walk alone

While I walk with God.


--Paul Francis Webster (1907-1984), American lyricist, who won three Academy Awards for best song and was nominated 16 times for the award. I’ll Walk with God was specially written for the MGM motion picture The Student Prince (1954). Music for the song was written by Nicholas Brodszky and was first sung by the famous vocalist Mario Lanza. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Francis_Webster



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Keep your face to the sunshine and you will not see the shadows.

--Helen Keller (1880-1968), American author, political activist, lecturer, first deafblind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki?Helen_Keller


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Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.

--Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) (1835-1910), American author and humorist, recognized by William Faulkner as “the father of American literature.” More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain


It is curious—curious that physical courage should be so common in the world, and moral courage so rare.

--Mark Twain



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Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.

--Plato (427-347 BC), Classical Greek philosopher and mathematician, student of Socrates and mentor of Aristotle. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato


The wise learn from the mistakes of others; the foolish, not even from their own.

--Saying


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Think about what got you where you are and it will help you figure out how to get where you want to go from here.

--Unattributed


A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.

--Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841-1935), Justice of the United States Supreme Court. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Wendell_Holmes,_Jr.


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He who hears the rippling of rivers in these degenerate days will not utterly despair.

--Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), American author, poet, tax resister, naturalist, development critic, surveyor, historian, philosopher. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau


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No power in society, no hardship in your condition can depress you, keep you down, in knowledge, power, virtue, influence, but by your own consent.

--William Ellery Channing (1780-1842), a leading Unitarian theologian. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ellery_Channing



Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression.

--Dodie Smith (1896-1990), English novelist and playwright. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodie_Smith



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Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.

--Abraham Heschel (1907-1972), Warsaw-born American rabbi and respected Jewish theologian of the 20th century. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Joshua_Heschel


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In the past we have posted entries on prayer and posted examples of famous prayers like the Prayer of St. Francis http://keepersquotes.livejournal.com/2009/08/18 and the short and long versions of the Serenity Prayer http://keepersquotes.livejournal.com/2009/07/28 and http://keepersquotes.livejournal.com/2009/08/29. Today we are posting three lesser known but useful prayers as examples of turning our lives over to God. These prayers relate to Step Three of the addiction recovery Twelve Step programs which reads: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Prayers offered in one’s own words are of great value, but shared prayers of others help enrich our own personal thoughts and creativity. Thanks for your Keepers! readership. –Chip and Bob



God, I offer myself to Thee—to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life. May I do Thy will always!

--Third Step Prayer found in Alcoholics Anonymous, p.63 (The Big Book) More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholics_Anonymous



Dear God,

I’m sorry about the mess I’ve made of my life.

I want to turn away from all the wrong things I’ve ever done and all the wrong things I’ve ever been. Please forgive me for it all.

I know You have the power to change my life and can turn me into a winner. Thank You, God for getting my attention long enough to interest me in trying it Your way.

God, please take over the management of my life and everything about me. I am making this conscious decision to turn my will and my life over to Your care and am asking You to please take over all parts of my life.

Please, God, move into my heart. However You do it is Your business, but make Yourself real inside me and fill my awful emptiness. Fill me with Your love and Holy Spirit and make me know Your will for me. And now, God help Yourself to me and keep on doing it. I’m not sure I want You to, but do it anyhow.

I rejoice that I am now a part of Your people, that my uncertainty is gone forever, and that You now have control of my will and my life.

Thank You and I praise Your name. Amen.

--Dr. Bob Smith (1879-1950), American physician and surgeon, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Smith_(doctor) The above prayer is posted at the site http://www.barefootsworld.net



The Prayer that my sponsors gave me to begin each day as I confirm my Third Step Decision…I have used it daily since then, virtually the only prayer that I use, and now many of my sponsees do too:

God, help me today to not put anything into my mind or body that you would not have there. Take all of my relationships in life and make of them what you will. Thy will only be done in their life as well as in mine. And let me know the truth. Amen.

--Bob Hardison (1933-2009), Alcoholics Anonymous volunteer for nearly 40 years and sober for 35 who passed away this year in Post Falls, Idaho.. More at http:///www.barefootsworld.net



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When I can no longer bear to think of the victims of broken homes, I begin to think of the victims of intact ones.

--Peter De Vries (1910-1993), American editor and novelist known for his satire. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_De_Vries


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The phrase “THIS TOO SHALL PASS” and its associated folklore were made popular by Abraham Lincoln during his address to the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society in Milwaukee, 1859.

It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and to be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: “And, this too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses. How chastening in the hour of pride. How consoling in the depths of affliction.

--found at Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_too_shall_pass



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Question to a 100-year-old: What is the secret to a long life?

Answer: It’s service. The more you give, the better you feel, and soon you’re young all over again.

--response of Velma B. Saunders (contemporary), community activist who celebrates her 100th birthday today.



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