01 Dec 08 John Greenleaf Whittier: Part 2
John Greenleaf Whittier: Part 2
After his first childhood attempts at poetry, Whittier began writing some ballads and verse on contemporary events and at seventeen his sister submitted one of his works to a publication. Imagine his delight when he opened the paper and saw his own first work in print! The editor of the Free Press was only three years older than Whittier but helped him get his start… urging Whittier’s father to provide him a better education. Two years later, at nineteen, he began attending a new academy, and paying his own way for two years. He then started reading more of the classic authors and wrote more for the local papers.
By age twenty-one Whittier set out to make his living with his pen and for the next few years worked at various local publications, until his health caused him to return to his father’s home.
At about this time he began to be passionate about relieving the burdens of the slaves, and began writing his anti-slavery works. He was so adamant about this cause that his office was burned and he himself was constantly in danger. As an abolitionist in those time, he showed great courage. In standing for right, he gave up a secure future in writing for publications because so much of public sentiment was still against this change.Whittier never regretted this choice, but felt true heart success in doing according to his ideals.
To be continued.
30 Nov 08 Know My Name
Isaiah 52:6 (amplified) Therefore My people shall know what My name is and what it means; therefore they shall know in that day that I am He who speaks; behold, I AM!
AM - not past, not future but NOW God
AM - nothing can destroy or diminish
AM - total power
AM - always there for us
(AM - morning, new beginning)
29 Nov 08 John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier is one of my favorite poets. I have liked everything I have read by him, and I have read a lot. His work is inspiring, uplifting and encouraging; a rally call to a righteous fight against injustice, which at his time was slavery.
Whittier had Quaker roots and his poetry is wonderfully strong and moral. He believed in right and was not afraid to express his views. His childhood home was surrounded by natural beauty, and of course this also influenced Whittier. He learned to work as a child, and his companion was his sister, who was six years younger. He had little formal schooling but:
The one book he could read and read again until he had it almost by heart was the Bible; and the Bible was always the book which exerted the strongest literary influence upon him.
Brander Matthews, Introduction to American Literature, 1896
When Whittier was fourteen, a teacher lent him a book of travels which opened a new world to him, and a volume of Burns which influenced Whittier to begin writing verse himself. Burns’ poetry was Whittier’s early model, with it’s connection to nature and simple living. One of his earliest poems went thus:
And must I always swing the flail,
And help to fill the milking pail?
I wish to go away to school;
I do not wish to be a fool.
To be continued:
Easy Homeschooling
26 Nov 08 Jump Up
I glanced toward the woods beyond the “Mother Tree” (see Fields with God) just as a squirrel jumped from one high branch upward to another tree.
The lesson?
Stop staying down. There are great things up there for you.
Jump: a sudden movement. Take action. Stop inertia. Jump. Stop wasting time. Read. Research. Figure out what you need to do and do it. Make it happen. Project fit and energetic thoughts, take fit and energetic actions. Jump up!
Up: Stop being satisfied down there. There is a better life upwards. Seek it. Another branch. A new tree.
25 Nov 08 Give Thanks
Gratitude has it’s own reward. When we start thinking of and/or listing our blessings, we realize how very blessed we are… always. I encourage you to do that right now, especially if you are feeling less than joyous for any reason.
The first Thanksgiving after I was saved, I remember being in a special Hawaiian Thanksgiving service. The church was fully decorated with Hawaiian produce and flowers. I had things to be sad and worried about, but in singing “Thank you Lord for saving my soul,” I knew that always and everywhere, if He was the only thing I had to thank God for it was enough. My joy bubbled up and overflowed with tears from this “thanks giving” source.
Some thank the Lord for friends and home,
For mercies sure and sweet;
But I would praise Him for His grace
In prayer I would repeat:
- Chorus
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.
Some thank Him for the flow’rs that grow,
Some for the stars that shine;
My heart is filled with joy and praise,
Because I know He’s mine.
- Chorus
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.
I trust in Him from day to day,
I prove His saving grace;
I’ll sing this song of praise to Him
Until I see His face.
- Chorus
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.
Give Thanks
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks because He’s given
Jesus Christ His Son.
And now let the weak say “I am strong.”
Let the poor say “I am rich.”
Because of what the Lord has done
for us
Give thanks.
24 Nov 08 It’s All Good
The geese flew South over my home that day, as if on cue… according to our calendar or theirs.Two to three large groups paused awhile and circled very high in the pale blue yonder, regrouped and went on.
I had just completed painting the house right before, having prayed to finish by winter and safely since it was such a tall house, and here I was at that exact miracle point.
Life has unending seasonal cycles. God opens up his treasures, answers our prayers and always, always leads us into sunny climes. The best is yet to be! This is probably my favorite saying.
22 Nov 08 The Refreshing Wind: Change
I turned my face into the cold wind and went forth down the drive to get the mail. The sun rose higher and soon it became a more comfortable cool wind.
Sometimes “life” gives us challenges. Sometimes decisions have to be made, whether we are ready for them or not. We cannot see beyond a decision sometime, but we walk forth “on the water.”
For some the decision might mean leaving an abusive relationship. For others it might mean a move, perhaps even a huge move to another continent or culture.
Each time you turn into the cold wind of change, making major decisions, the wind become more comfortable… finally becoming not cold, but cool and refreshing.
21 Nov 08 Time Management Super Tips: Part 4
1.) Schedule your day: Decide what time you will work on a specific task.
2.) Resist avoidance because of perfectionism.
3.) Pick one area where procrastination is hurting you. A most important area. Resolve to attack it.
4.) Develop a complusion for completion.
5.) Never leave one project and go on to another until the first is completed.
6.) Work fast. Walk. Move. Act.
See more tips in my books.
18 Nov 08 Time Management Super Tips: Part 3
Overcome Procrastination
1.) Think on paper. (See step by step how to do this in Easy Homeschooling Techniques. Basically, you list goals, steps to reach them, and prioritize.)
2.) Gather all needed tools.
3.) Do a small thing to get started.
4.) Break job into slices. You can even chart it like a pie.
5.) Do one of the slices. Swiss cheese it if you have to. Do part of each slice.
6.) Do what works for you. Gung ho? Choose the biggest task first. Timid? Start with something small. Do most avoided first, first thing in your day.
7.) Consider the consequences if the job is not completed. Consider the joy if it is!
To be continued.
17 Nov 08 Time Management Super Tips: Pt 2
This is continued:
11.) Develop a sense of urgency about your goals.
12.) Set worthwhile goals, a large number so you have no time to waste.
13.) Speak positive.
!4.) Set clear deadline. Tell people.
15.) Use a reward systerm. This works to creat habits in training yourself or your children. Even tiny rewards for each small task accomplished. (A sip of coffee between each marketing call?)
16.) Look only to self to complete the job.
