BE WARY OF THE IMPULSE TO HELP SOMEONE

“I guess you wanta help a neighbor out, but, man, ta drop a good routine is dumb! Ta harm your health is nuts, beyond all doubt, be Kind ta YOU, er else you're gonna bum!” Yoga faithfully!

Note: the essence of yoga is action-and-relaxation.

Copyright 2016 Stephen Cromwell Gifford

TO LOVE YOUR GAL

 “Ta be a Saint, without the praise-and-blame, avoid the sadomasochism, sir. Within your soul, there's gotta be a flame, of tender love ya daily show ta her. Ya gotta be a Saint, and not complain, ya can't be mean or cruel, neither one. No, man, ya gotta be real kind, and sane, ya gotta be a perfect gentleman!”

Copyright 2016 Stephen Cromwell Gifford

BE KIND TO YOUR SELF

 “Why Ever hurt yourself the slightest bit? 'Cause You could form a habit hard ta quit! Some types of pleasure lead ta later pain, and self-indulgence, man, ain't ever sane!”

Copyright 2016 Stephen Cromwell Gifford

PRAYER FOR THE POET

“At times I've been as slothful as can be, and done some foolish things that injured me! Lord, help me learn ta Love ta move and Thrive… and Drop the slothful, masochistic jive! And kindly neighbor, pray a Prayer, please, that Heaven me from all those habits frees! In Jesus' name, amen!”

BE KIND TO THE LORD, THAT'S WHO!

 “When something someone's doing 's bugging you, could be you oughta kindly let 'em know. If bein' masochistic 's what ya do, your cool already you done Chose ta blow! Why suffer dumbly, pilgrim, gittin' mad? No way that's bein' nice ta them or you. 'Cause when your attitude has turned ta bad, that isn't kind ta at all ta You-know-Who! Not kind ta the Lord, I'm sayin', ya Dig that?”

Copyright 2016 Stephen Cromwell Gifford

WHAT TO DO TO GET YOUR SHARE

“Ye have not, because ye ask not.” – Jesus of Nazareth

“I'm not ashamed, dear Lord, ta have a need, and praise-and-blame, and guilt, are not fer me, and loving me, myself, is right indeed, 'cause masochism ain't humility. I know that Heaven wants ta prosper me, and people fail at times ta show they care; I ask, and offer thanks, accordingly, that's what ya gotta do ta get your share!”

THE LIGHT OF LOVE

 “Ta keep from doing foolish, hurtful things, we gotta know the love that Jesus brings. So, Jesus, Living Truth, amazing grace, reveal yourself in Fullness, now, this Place! We never could enjoy a sweeter sight, so, please, be ours completely, Lord, tonight!”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

DO YOU HURT YOURSELF?

 “You hurt yourself? You’re hurting others, too. You hurt somebody else, you’re hurting You! ‘Cause everything ’s connected, don’t ya know? Forbearing, loving, that’s the way ta Go! ~ Forgiving anyone who’s done you wrong, now That, right there, can Be quite hard ta Do. But if ya practice love, then You’ll be strong, and maybe you can Prove your love is true.”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

PLEASE HELP ME THINK TO PRAY ii

 “Please, help me form the prayer habit, Lord! The carelessness I sure could do without. It’s better health I Could be Headed toward, so, Help me keep the faith… and drop the doubt! The masochism surely doesn’t pay, and I feel so much better when I cop! Please, help me very often think ta pray... and all the faithless foolishness, just Stop! Please, and thank you!”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

ABOUT THAT HABIT

“Your clever trick is causing you some harm. Dig: self-abuse ain’t never healthy stuff. I’m sure that tickle holds a certain charm, but love brings JOY – why treat your body rough?”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

MERCY FOR MY MONKEY

(to the Lord)

“When slothfulness and self-indulgence mix, now, that’s a fatal combination there! The masochistic mind the monkey tricks; he’s gotta rediscover how ta care! We monkeys need your Mercy every day, so won’t ya pour it out on everyone? And don’t forget that slothful ape, okay? And show him kindliness is much more fun!”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

MOTTO

 “Be happy, well, and sane; refrain from causing pain!”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

LOVING-KINDNESS SAVES

 “Now, why did we elect the shameless ones? We seemed ta have a need ta self-destruct. We’ve killed abroad with missiles, bombs, and guns; in many ways our policies have sucked! When we must choose, let’s choose true kindness first, ‘cause that’s the way ta turn this ship around. The foolish folks may always do their worst, but all the lost will change when they get found! – you better believe it!”

MASOCHIST, WHY DON'T YOU LOVE YOUR SELF?

The monkey you’re abusin’ Needs your Love, there ain’t no gittin’ ‘round that crucial fact! The Gift that’s called your “bod”, I’m speakin’ of. Why Not supPly the love ya feel yuh’ve Lacked? It’s never gonna help if you despair, ‘cause that’s the path ta bummin’ more-an’-more. Some Person – Why Not You? – has gotta care, and Lovin’s what your human heart is For!

Copyright 2013 by Marie L. Nickerson

FOR COMPULSIVE PEOPLE-PLEASERS

For Compulsive People-Pleasers

Your being Mean ta You ain't Never Kind, though You may Think you're Helpin' Someone Else. That's Only Mischief Put inSide your Mind; to Love the World, be Kind ta You your Self!

Copyright 2013 by Marie L. Nickerson

SELF CARE PRAYERS

Self Care Prayers

Oh, Lord, don't Let me HURT my Self taDay, don't Need ta Make a Reckless SacriFice! It's KIND-ta-ME is How I'm Gonna Stay, and NOT perSist in Bein' Mr. Nice! Lord, Help me Use my Precious Common Sense, don't Let me Hurt my Self at ALL taday! PreVent my Mind from Bein' Dull an' Dense, an' Help me Live my Life a Wiser Way!

Lord, Keep tempTation Far aWay from ME, 'cuz Self-inDulgent I don't Need ta BE! Please, Help me Think ta Pray, and then ta WAIT, ignOrin' Ev'ry Bit o' Evil's Bait! Please and thank you!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

TWO NEEDED PRAYERS

Two Needed Prayers

Oh, Lord, don't Let me HURT my Self taDay, don't Need ta Make a Reckless SacriFice! It's KIND-ta-ME is How I'm Gonna Stay, and NOT perSist in Bein' Mr. Nice!

Lord, Keep tempTation Far aWay from ME, 'cuz Self-inDulgent I don't Need ta BE! Please, Help me Think ta Pray, and then ta WAIT, ignOrin' Ev'ry Bit o' Evil's Bait! Please and thank you!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

LET THE LOVIN' FLOW!

Let the Lovin' Flow!

Now, Holy Spirit, What am I ta Do?

Please, Strengthen Me ta Do your Perfect Will! DisSolve my Doubts an' Fears, and Tell me True: which Duty Must I Promptly Now fulFill? If Something's Jus' Too Much fer Me ta Do, please, Help me Ask fer What it Is I Need! Some Kindly Person's Aid could See me Through, a Very Welcome, Merciful good Deed. Don't Let me HesiTate a Bit to Ask, no Need ta Be a MasoChist, ya Know? ToGether, We kin Do most Any Task, if We'll be Brave… an' LET THE LOVIN' FLOW!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson 

WHY NOT LOVE YOUR SELF?

Why Not Love Your Self?

Why Wreck your Self to Please your Self, my Friend? Why Wreck your Self ta Please aNother Soul? 'Cause If ya Do, yuh'll Meet an Early End; why Don't ya Try some Love an' Self-conTrol? It Might be Fun ta Wreck your Self, my Friend; such Fun gets Funky Farther Down the Line! Thuh Harm ya Do may Be quite Hard ta Mend, ya Might be BUMMED inStead o' Feelin' FINE! A Little Love can Work a Wonder, Man! So Won't ya really Love yer Self ta-Night? A Little Love's a Much more Healthy Plan, and Much more Likely's Gonna Turn out Right! Why don't ya try a little love?

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

RUEFUL CONFESSION

Rueful Confession

I Don't buhLieve I'm Built like Superman – not Any More, now, After All I've Tried! I Think I'll FormuLate a Gentler Plan, and Ask the Spirit Please ta Be my Guide! 'Cause You kin Hurt Your Self, as I've found Out; it's Taken Me a While, but Now I'm Sure; I Must be Kind ta ME, beYond all Doubt, if I'd the CHALlenGes of Life enDure! Don't Let me Hurt my Self aGAIN, dear Lord! Make ME a Kinder, Wiser Person BE! I'm Sure there's Common Sense inSide my Gourd, so Help me FIND it, Please, imMediateLY! Hallelujah!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson