The Introduction to beginning To Learn

To Be Thankful For Everything

I began my learning

to be Thankful for everything

the hard way

Just like everyone else

that ever begins to learn

this odd non-sensical facet

of Spirit-Understanding

There is no pleasant path to travel

in learning to be Thankful for the death of a Child

There is no easy way

to begin to be Thankful for pain

It is no gentle journey

that will lead You to the place

where You start to accept as Truth that

Only Humility

Only Self-Sacrifice

Only Waiting

Patiently

with Your heart focused steadfastly

on the goal of maintaining an

"Attitude of Gratitude"

for EVERYTHING

even

for the very fact

that You have been

allowed

to be where You are

NOW

will open the Door

to the place

where You long to go

Curtis D. Rose

November 15th, 2002

references:

(This is the order in which they were

burned into my heart)

Ephesians, Chapter 5, Verse 20

First Thessalonians, Chapter 5, Verse 18

Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 28

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THANK YOU FOR LOVING me

(Dedicated to my Best Friend,

who "will never leave me and

always sticks closer than a brother". )

When i was worthless

You didn't think so

When i was helpless

and hopeless

You didn't let go

When i was too blind

to know what i needed

You helped me,

guiding me gently

in spite of my outraged

cries of protest

to a place of Refuge

and a New Life

You loved me even when

my diapers hadn't

been changed for years

The putrid excrement of self-centeredness

and selfishness

was smeared all over

and all around me

like the other side of Midas

everything i touched turned to ashes

You reached down

into my self-inflicted misery

and began the job of

cleaning me up

Some people would have said

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

Others might have scoffed

"Waste of TIME!"

But not You!

You loved me in spite of myself!

It must have taken a sledgehammer

to break through

the crusted pus of

self-righteousness in which i

was nearly cocooned

You didn't let

that stop You either

You gave my withered limbs

Your special physical therapy

You held me up

as You taught me to walk

taught me to feed myself

and eventually

with Your special help

i began to learn to

clean up my own messes

"Life" is really

different since You

came along!

Thank You for loving me

Thank You

Thank You

Thank You!!!

Curtis D. Rose

3/25/96