Smile



She smiled at a sorrowful stranger
The smile seemed to make him feel better
He remembered past kindnesses of a friend
And wrote him a thank you letter
The friend was so pleased with the thank you
That he left a large tip after lunch
The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip
Bet the whole thing on a hunch
The next day she picked up her winnings
And gave part to a man on the street
The man on the street was grateful;
For two days he'd had nothing to eat.
After he finished his dinner,
He left for his small dingy room
He didn't know at that moment
That he might be facing his doom
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy
And took him home to get warm
The puppy was very grateful
To be in out of the storm
That night the house caught on fire
The puppy barked the alarm
He barked til he woke the whole household
And saved everybody from harm
One of the boys that he rescued
Grew up to be President
All this because of a simple smile
That hadn't cost a cent




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Friendship



If there is one ingredient which adds warmth and love to our lives it is friendship

If there is one relationship to help us through all the others, it is friendship

Friends surround us with the beauty of their caring

With friends we can share what we see, what we feel and whate we love

Friends help us with our problems because they listen and as the listen we begin to hear the language of our own hearts

With friends we can walk along the remembered paths of our lives and completely share our experiences

With friends we can work the soil of forgotten dreams that needed to be tended and nurtured once again

With friends we can plant the seeds of our hearts and new dreams

We can always return to a friend like going back to a special place and find the same warm felling unchanged by time or distance

Life gives us friends so we can share the precious times and memorable moments of being children, teenagers, adults, parents, and grandparents

Life gives us friends so we can share the growing up and growing down and growing old

With friends we have a place to go to be accepted and understood

Together we can laugh
Together we can cry

Our thoughts are heard, our feelings are held in the heart of a friend

With friends our lives are made more full, more rich, more open and beautiful and blessed




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Camp Friendship Roses
by Diane Labor
Camp Director 1980-89



I give you a rose for Friendship
A yellow rose so fair
Its soft glow reflects the kinship
Of friends who really care.

I give you a rose for friendship
A rose of red so bright
Its color deep as in our hearts
Our friendships come to light.

I give you roses for friendship
Their beauty then does shine
The red and yellow colors glow
As hope and love combine


December 29, 1982




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Heaven's Very Special Child



A meeting was held quite far from earth
It's time again for another birth
Said the angels to the Lord above
This special child will need much love

His progress may be very slow
Accomplishment he may no show
And he will require extra care
From the folks he meets down there

He may not run or laugh or play
His thoughts may seem quite far away
In many ways he won't adapt
And he'll be known as handicapped

So let's be careful where he's sent
We want his life to be content
Please, Lord, find the parents who
Will do a special job for you

They will not realize right away
The leading role that they're asked to play
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love

And soon they'll know the privilege given
In caring for this gift from Heaven
Their precious charge, so meek and mild
Is Heaven's very special child





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For Friends of the Handicapped



Blessed are you who take the time
To listen to difficult speech
For you help me know that if I persevere
I can be understood

Blessed are you who never bid me to "hurry up"
Or take my tasks from me
And do them for me
For I often need time rather than help

Blessed are you who stand beside be
As I enter new and untried ventures
For my failures will be outweighed
By the times I surprise myself and you
For my greatest need is to be needed

Blessed are you who understand
That it is difficult for me
To put my thoughts into words

Blessed are you who with a smile
Encourage me to try once more
Blessed are you who never remind me
That today I asked the same question twice

Blessed are you who respect me
And love me just the way I am




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The Volunteer
by Julie Clary 1992



Qualifications:

Must be able to spend countless hours in training,
....without pay
Must be able to make split-second decisions
whenever help is needed
Must be sensitive to needs of others
warmth and caring are daily requirements
Must be able to cry and laugh at the same time
Must be proficient in giving and getting compliments
Must be willing to lend a hand
wherever and whenever
Must be able to function with little sleep
for days on end
Must accept love and caring
as payment in full
If you can give your time and dedication
you heart and your hands, and more...
and more...
and more...
Apply in person to Camp Friendship. EOE
(must pass HUG screening)




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Camp Friendship
by Teresa Krier 1988



Camp Friendship is a place
to make friends and meet new people

Camp Friendship is a place
where you play games and have fun

Camp Friendship is a place
where it's quiet and peaceful

Camp Friendship is a place
where you can do so many things

Camp Friendship is a place
where you can find good friends

Camp Friendship is a place
where you give awards to people that you love

Camp Friendship is a wonderful place
to be when you're having fun




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untitled
by Cindy Boehm



Touch gently the life of your fellow man
for the human heart shapes as easily
As clay upon the potters wheel








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This Too Will Pass Away



If I can endure for this minute
Whatever is happening to me
No matter how heavy my heart is
Or how "dark" the moment may be -
If I can remain calm and quiet
With all my world crashing about me
Secure in the knowledge God loves me
When everyone else seems to doubt me -
If I can but keep on believing
What I know in my heart to be true
That "darkness will fade in the morning"
and that This Will Pass Away Too...




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Make a Difference



I am experiencing something
that everyone experiences and many take for granted
Life
In the past, I, too, have taken life for granted
But never again
In their lifetime, most people make a difference in the world
Whether they know it immediately or whether they do not
Everyone makes a difference in some way
I do not know if I have made my difference yet or not
But I will continue to strive toward this goal
I will not take life for granted
I will bask in it


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Forever Friends
by J. James



Friendship is a strange thing
We find ourselves telling each other
the deepest details of our lives
Things we don't even share
with our families who raised us
But what is a friend?
A confidant? A lover?
a shoulder to cry on?
An ear to listen?
A heart to feel?
A friend is all these things and more
No matter where we met
I call you friend
A word so small
Yet so large in feeling
A word filled with emotion
It is true great things come in small packages
Once the package of friendship has been opened
It can never be closed
Friendship is a constant book alway written
Waiting to be read and enjoyed
We may have our disagreements
We may argue
We may concern one another
Friendship is a unique bond
that lasts through it all
A part of me is put into my friends
Some of it is my humor
Some of it is my listening ear
Some of it is real life experiences
Some of it is my romanticism
But with all it is friendship
Friendship is constructed stronger than steel
Built as a foundation
Necessary for life
And necessary for love
Friends, you and me...
You brought another friend...
And then there were 3...
We started our group...
Our circle of friends...
And like that circle...
There is no beginning or end




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Our Friendship



Your are my friend
We share the best of memories together
You brighten up my day
When I'm feeling down
You are very special to me
I can never let that go

We tell each other secrets
Not telling anyone
What we have
No one will understand
For we share a special bond

I accept you for who you are
And ot what you seem to be
I'll always tell you the truth
And you do the same for me
I can never let that go
You will always understand me
And I will always understand you
Neither of us is ever alone
For we will always be there for each other

I'll treasure this friendship forever
For I know we will never part
Our friendship will last forever
In my heart
Nothing can equal our friendship

~Never take a friendship for granted~




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Heartprints



Where ever our hands touch -
We leave fingerprints
On walls, on furniture
On doorknobs, dishes, books
As we touch we leave our identity

Oh please where ever I go today
Help me leave heartprints
Heartprints of campassion
Of understandng and love
Heartprints of kindness
And genuine concern

May my hand touch a lonely neighbor
Or a runaway daughter
Or an anxious mother
Or, perhaps, a dear friend

I shall go out today
To leave heartprints
And if someone should say
"I felt your touch,"
May that one sense be...
Your love touching through me





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Shining Star



A friend is like a shining star
Coming out where ever you are
When the darkness is all there is to greet you
Your star will be there to always lead you
Shining the way for you to see
The path you need forever to be

So when the darkness falls before your eyes
Your shining star is there
Just look toward the skies





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A Friend
by Diana Mitey



A friend is like a flower
A rose to be exact
Or maybe like a brand new gate
That never comes unlatched
A friend is like an owl
Both beautiful and wise
Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost
Whose spirit never dies
A friend is like those blades of grass
You can never mow
Standing straight, tall, and proud
In a perfect little row
A friend is like a heart that goes
Strong until the end
Where would we be in this world
If we didn't have a friend




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HUGS


Its wonderous what a hug can do.
A hug can cheer you when you're blue.
A hug can say "I love you so." or
"Gee, I hate to see you go."
A hug is "Welcome back again!"
And "Great to see you!" or "Where've you been?"
A hug can soothe a small child's pain
And bring a rainbow after rain.
The hug! There's just no doubt about it,
We scarcely could survive without it.
A hug delights and warms and charms,
It must be why God gave us arms.
Hugs are great for fathers and mothers,
Sweet for sisters, swell for brothers.
And chances are some favorite aunts
Love them more than potted plants.
Kittens crave them, puppies love them.
Heads of state are not above them.
A hug can break the language barrier
And make the dullest day seem merrier.
No need to fret about the store of 'em,
The more you give, the more there are of 'em.
So stretch those arms without delay
And give someone a hug today.




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I'M SPECIAL


I'm Special...
In all the world
There's nobody like me
Nobody has my smile
Nobody has my eyes, nose, hair or voice.

I'm Special...
No one laughs like me
Or cries like me
No one sees things just as I do
No one reacts just as I would react

I'm Special...
I'm the only one in all creation
Who has my set of abilities
My unique conbination of gifts, talents and abilities
are an original symphony

I'm Special...
I'm rare
And in all rarity there is great value
I need not imitate others
I will accept - yes, celebrate - my differences

I'm Special...
And I'm beginning to see that God made me special
For a very special purpose
God has a job for me
That no one else can do as well as I do
Out of all the applicants only one is qualified
That one is me
Because...

I'm Special !




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The Eyes of Our Hearts



The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Beneath the long, straggly brances of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.
And if that weren't enough to ruin my day,
A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,
I faked a smile and then shifted away.
But instead of retreating he sat next to my side
And placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise,
"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful too.
That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."
The weed before me was dying or dead.
Not vibrant of colors: orange, yellow or red.
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So I reached for the flower, and replied,
"Just what I need." But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it mid-air without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the first time
That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.
I heard my voice quiver; tears shone in the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me
And for all of those times I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that's mine.
And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in hand,
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

(Author Unknown)

May God open the eyes of our hearts!




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FRIENDS ARE SPECIAL



So many times we take each other for granted...
So many times we forget what is truly important ...
So many times we feel like we are the only ones who feel pain...
So many times we hear but don't listen...
So many times we look but never see...
But true friends care...
True friends are our support...
Friends understand...
Friends share when there's nothing to share...
Friends love...always love, always loving you...
Friends are for everyone, and everyone needs one...
So friend, I care for YOU as you ARE, and that to me is SPECIAL...
I will always be your special friend...




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CIRCLE OF FRIENDS



A ball is a circle,
No beginning, no end.
It keeps us together
Like our Circle of Friends
But the treasure inside
for you to see
is the treasure of friendship
You've granted to me.
Today I pass the friendship ball to you.
Pass it on to someone who is a friend to you.....
FOREVER FRIEND



Forever Friend  Sometimes in life,
you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life
just by being part of it.
 Someone who makes you laugh
until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe
that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for you to open it.
This is Forever Friendship.
 When you're down,
and the world seems dark and empty,
 Your forever friend lifts you up in spirit
and makes that dark and empty world
 suddenly seem bright and full.
 Your forever friend gets you through
the hard times, the sad times,
and the confused times.
If you turn and walk away,
your forever friend follows.
If you lose your way,
your forever friend guides you
and cheers you on.
 Your forever friend holds your hand
and tells you that
everything is going to be okay.
And if you find such a friend,
you feel happy and complete,
because you need not worry.
You have a forever friend for life,
and forever has no end.




"A part of you has grown in me,
together forever we shall be,
never apart, maybe in distance,
but not in heart"

~~~ unknown

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