Copyright © 1997 Dreamsharer Music, Ltd.
 A Prayer for Later Years (Author Unknown)
Lord, Thou knowest that I am growing older. Keep me from becoming too talkative, and particularly keep me from falling into the tiresome habit of expressing an opinion on every subject.
Release me from the craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.
Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details.
Give me wings to get to the point.
Give me grace, dear Lord, to listen to others describe their aches and pains.
Help me endure the boredom with patience and keep my lips sealed, for my own aches and pains are increasing in number and intensity, and the pleasure of discussing them is becoming sweeter as the years to by.
Teach me the glorious lesson that, occasionally, I might be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not wish to be a saint (saints are so hard to live with) but a sour old person is the work of the devil.
Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not pushy; independent, yet able to accept with graciousness favors that others wish to bestow on me.
Free me of the notion that simply because I have lived a long time, I am wiser than those who have not lived so long. If I do not approve of some of the changes that have taken place in recent years, give me the wisdom to keep my mouth shut.
Lord knows that when the end comes, I would like to have a friend or two left... A Strong Woman (Author: Marge Piercy) A strong woman is a woman who is straining. A strong woman is a woman standing on tiptoe and lifting a barbell while trying to sing Boris Godunov. A strong woman is a woman at work cleaning out the cesspool of the ages, and while she shovels, she talks about how she doesn't mind crying, it opens the ducts of the eyes, and throwing up develops the stomach muscles, and she goes on shoveling with tears in her nose. A strong woman is a woman in whose head a voice is repeating, I told you so, ugly, bad girl, bitch, nag, shrill, witch, aggressive, nobody will ever love you back, why aren't you feminine, why aren't you soft, why aren't you quiet, why aren't you dead? A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done. She is pushing up on the bottom of a lead coffin lid. She is trying to raise a manhole cover with her head, she is trying to butt her way through a steel wall. Her head hurts. People waiting for the hole to be made say, hurry, you're so strong. A strong woman is a woman bleeding inside. A strong woman is a woman making herself strong every morning while her teeth loosen and her back throbs. Every baby, a tooth, midwives used to say, and now every battle a scar. A strong woman is a mass of scar tissue that aches when it rains and wounds that bleed when you bump them and memories that get up in the night and pace in boots to and fro. A strong woman is a woman who craves love like oxygen or she turns blue choking. A strong woman is a woman who loves strongly and weeps strongly and is strongly terrified and has strong needs. A strong woman is strong in words, in action, in connection, in feeling; she is not strong as a stone but as a wolf suckling her young. Strength is not in her, but she enacts it as the wind fills a sail. What comforts her is others loving her equally for the strength and for the weakness from which it issues, lightning from a cloud. Lightning stuns. In rain, the clouds disperse. Only water of connection remains, flowing through us. Strong is what we make each other. Until we are all strong together, a strong woman is a woman strongly afraid. So women are abused, beaten, or taken for granted, but the strong women keep coming on. I will die holding a woman's hand. The last voice will be that of a woman. A woman's tears will water my grave. They are the only angels. When God looked out upon the Creation, it was clear that it could only be perfected with Eve. A Woman's Lesson (Author Unknown) A woman's lesson is a simple lesson: Whatever life asks, answer with love. A women's lesson is a wise lesson: Whenever conflict threatens, go forth in harmony. A woman's lesson is an enduring lesson: Whatever is taken from you, give back in generosity. A woman's lesson is a gradual lesson: Whenever there is a storm, remain a calm center. A woman's lesson is a courageous lesson: Whenever there is despair, sow the seed of hope. A woman's lesson is a practical lesson: Whenever there is dryness, Go and Get The Rain! A Conversation Between Friends (Author Unknown) We are sitting at lunch when my friend casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family." "We're taking a survey," she says, half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?" "It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. "I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations...." But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my friend, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable. I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die. I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "MOM!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation. I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is alright. I want my friend to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a five-year-old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom. However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive friend, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years - not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs. I want her to know that a caesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My friend's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again....for reasons she would now find very unromantic. I wish my friend could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children's future. I want to describe to my friend the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real, it actually hurts. My friend's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reach across the table, squeeze my friend's hand and offer a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings. The blessed gift of God .....that of being a Mother. A Good Woman (Author Unknown) A good woman is proud. She respects herself and others. She is aware of who she is. She neither seeks definition from the person she is with, nor does she expect them to read her mind. She is quite capable of articulating her needs. A good woman is hopeful. She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true. She knows love, therefore she gives love. She recognizes that her love has great value and must be reciprocated. If her love is taken for granted, it soon disappears. A good woman has a dash of inspiration and a dabble of endurance. She knows that she will at times have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them. A good woman knows her past, understands her present and forces toward the future. A good woman knows God. She knows that with God the world is her playground, but without God she will just be played with. A good woman does not live in fear of the future because of her past. Instead, she understands that her life experiences are merely lessons meant to bring her closer to self-knowledge and unconditional self-love. Age is a funny thing... when you think about it (Author Unknown) Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. How old are you? --- I'm 4 and half --- You're never 36 and a half --- you're 4 and a half going on 5 ! That's the key. You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number. How old are you? I'm gonna be 16. You could be 12, but you're gonna be 16. And then the greatest day of your life happens.. you become 21. But you see, even the words sounds like a ceremony... you BECOME 21... YES!!!! But then you turn 30... ooohhh what happened there?? Makes you sound like bad milk.... He TURNED, we had to throw him out. There's no fun now. What's wrong?? What changed??? You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40...stay over there, it's all slipping away........ You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, you're PUSHING 40, you REACH 50...my dreams are gone..... You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, you're PUSHING 40, you REACH 50 and then you MAKE IT to 60... I didn't think I'd make it. You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, You're PUSHING 40, you REACH 50, you MAKE IT to 60.... by then you build up so much speed .... you HIT 70 !!!!! After that, it's a day by day thing. After that you HIT Wednesday... you get into your 80's, you HIT lunch. You're TURNING 4:30, my grandmother won't even buy green bananas.... "well it's an investment, you know, and maybe a bad one" And it doesn't end there..... Into the 90's, you start going backwards.... I was JUST 92......Then a strange thing happens, if you make it over 100, you become a little kid again.... I'm 100 and a half!!!!! All Women Are Special (Author Unknown) Women have strengths that amaze men. They carry children, they carry hardships, they carry burdens but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. Women wait by the phone for a "safe at home call" from a friend after a snowy drive home. Women have special qualities about them. They volunteer for good causes. They are pink ladies in hospitals, they bring food to shut ins. They are child care workers, executives, attorneys, stay-at-home moms, biker babes and your neighbors. They wear suits, jeans, and they wear uniforms. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up for injustice. They vote for the person that will do the best job for family issues. They walk and talk the extra mile to get their children in the right schools and for getting their family the right healthcare. They write to the editor, their congressmen and to the "powers that be" for things that make for a better life. They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They stick a love note in their husband's lunch box. They do without new shoes so their children can have them. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. Women are honest, loyal, and forgiving. They are smart, knowing that knowledge is power. But, they still know how to use their softer side to make a point. Women want to be the best for their family, their friends, and themselves. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a new marriage. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They have sorrow at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. A woman's touch can cure any ailment. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. She can make a romantic evening unforgettable. Women come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes. They live in homes, apartments and cabins. They drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world spin! Women do more than just give birth. They bring joy and hope. They give compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family and friends. And all they want back is a hug, a smile and for you to do the same to people you come in contact with. Women have a lot to say and a lot to give. This was sent to you by someone who respects you as a woman and who sees many of your qualities in this letter. Why not pass it on to someone you recognize and know? Not a chain letter or anything like that, just a pat on the back. Ancestor Woman In The Field (©Mildred Kopecky)
I see you in the clumps of clay
Your image is before me on
I taste you in the creamy papaws
You call to me on summer nights
I hear you in the pulsing of
Walk in beauty Daughters, At 40, Every Woman Should Have (Author Unknown) One old boyfriend she can imagine going back to ... and one who reminds her of how far she's come. Enough money within her control to move out and rent a place on her own ... even if she never wants or needs to. Something perfect to wear, if the employer or man of her dreams; wants to see her in an hour. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella, she's not ashamed to be seen carrying. A youth she's content to move beyond. A past juicy enough ... that she is looking forward to retelling it, in her old age. The realization that she is actually going to someday be "old age" ... and some money set aside to fund it. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, AND, a black lace bra with matching panties. One friend who always makes her laugh, and one who lets her cry. One good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else. Eight matching plates, wineglasses with stems, and ... a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored. A resume that is not even the slightest bit padded. A feeling of control over her destiny. A skin care regime, an exercise routine, and ... a plan for dealing with those facets of life that don't seem to get better after 40. A solid start on a satisfying career, and/or the choice to be a mom, a satisfying relationship ... and ALL those other facets of life that DO get better with age. At 40, Every Woman Should Know... How to fall in love without losing herself. How she feels about having kids. How to quit a job ... break up with a man ... or confront a friend ~ Without ruining the relationship. When to try harder, and when to walk away. How to kiss a man in a way, that communicates perfectly, what she would and wouldn't like to happen next. How to have a good time at a party that she would have never chosen to attend. How to ask for what she wants assertively, in a way that makes it most likely; she'll get it. That she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips ... or the nature of her parents. That her childhood may not have been perfect; but it's over. What she would and wouldn't do for love, or more. How to live alone, even if she doesn't like it. Who she can trust, who she can't ... and why she shouldn't take it personally. Where to go ... be it her best friend's kitchen, or a charming inn hidden in the woods ... When her soul needs soothing. What she can, and can't accomplish, in a day, a month, a year, or a lifetime. Why they say life begins at 40! Celebration Of Aging (Author Unknown) Age 8: Looks at herself and sees Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty, etc. Age 15: Looks at herself and sees Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty/Cheerleader or if she is PMS'ing: sees Fat/Pimples/UGLY ("Mom I can't go to school looking like this!") Age 20: Looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly - but decides she's going anyway. Age 30: Looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly - but decides she doesn't have time to fix it so she's going anyway. Age 40: Looks at herself and sees "too fat / too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly - but says "At least I'm clean" and goes anyway. Age 50: Looks at herself and sees "I am" and goes wherever she wants to. Age 60: Looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore. Goes out and conquers the world. Age 70: Looks at herself and sees wisdom, laughter and ability, goes out and enjoys life. Age 80: Doesn't bother to look. Just puts on a red hat and goes out to participate in the world. Age 90: Can't see and so doesn't worry about it!
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