FOR SOMEONE MAD (at a political scapegoat, at his wife, et al.)

“Your hatred never satisfies your soul, and anger’s never gonna make ya whole. Your fearfulness is undermining you – ain’t more self-care one thing ya need ta do?”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

PROPER SELF-CARE TONES UP YOUR MORALS

"There’s foolish, fearful, angry, cruel ones; there’s hatred, murder, missiles, bombs, and guns. So love the Lord, yourself, and neighbors, too, and trust in love, and love ‘ll see ya through. Why don’t we cultivate brave hearts of peace? Let’s do, and see real justice here increase! We’d be much healthier, and prone ta thrive; we’d keep the hope of heaven here alive. It’s possible we’ll see these dreams come true, and if you’d help, please, take good care o’ you!"


Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

LET'S EACH TELL OURSELVES THIS

Let's Each Tell Ourselves This:

Quite Kind in Ev'ry Way is How ta Be, esPecialLy ta You, yourSelf, my Friend. So, Heaven, Help me, Please, be Kind ta Me, on Loving Just like Jesus Christ dePend!

Copyright 2013 by Marie L. Nickerson

MESSAGE TO MY SELF

Message to My Self

Please, Love your inner monster All the Time! FerGive yourSelf each Ill-conSidered Crime! And Why not Practice Truth... and Beauty Too? And Thank the UniVerse fer Blessin' YOU!

Copyright 2013 by Marie L. Nickerson

LOVE YOUR SELF!

Love Your Self!

Ya Gotta Love your Self, No matter What! So, Love your self, whatEver Else ya Do! Oh, Ev'ryBody Needs some Lovin', But, pal, “EveryBody” Means inCludin' You! 

Copyright 2013 by Marie L. Nickerson

PEACE

Peace

If people drive ya nuts, ya Need ta Pray, and if ya can, ta spend some time alone. My friend, ya might just need ta get away, sink into peace's pool just like a stone. 'Cause everybody needs some time to rest, recuperate, regain some peace of mind. And if ya will, you'll find again you're blest, and even see those clouds are silver-lined. Could be you'll find it easier to love, that's love your self, and other people, too. So leave behind the hurried push-and-shove, and spend some time, dear one, in loving you.

Copyright 2013 by Marie L. Nickerson

SELF-GUIDED PHYSICAL THERAPY

Self-Guided Physical Therapy

“except ye become as a little child”

A Baby Starts with Little Baby Steps, with Not-too-Stressful, Not-too-Many Reps. But If ya be ambitious, folks, you'll Lose; ta Pray and Wait, at First, is What ta Choose. And Then you'll Need ta Pray aLong the Way, ta Rest, an' Pray, and Exercise each Day! 'Nuff said.

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

STRUGGLER'S PRAYER

Struggler's Prayer

Please, Help me Show the Best of Care ta Me, and “Thank You, Lord!” fer All the Grace I Get. Lord, Thanks fer All the Help in Breaking Free! I'm Gonna Be an OverComer, YET!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Prayer for Today

Lord, Help me Be a Soul of Mercy NOW, be Diligent in Care fer All in Need. I've Lots ta OverCome; please, Show me How; I Know self-Care's quite Crucial, Lord, inDeed! Please, Grant me Foresight, Won't you, Lord? ta Help preVent miStakes along the Way, 'cause Hurtful Errors, I canNot afFord! So, Help me, Precious Lord, be Kind toDay! Thank You very, very Much!

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

RETHINKING BAD HABITS

Rethinking Bad Habits

When Wasting Just a little Juice, you Seem to Think it Matters Not – but Sin don’ Wanna Turn you Loose, unTil it’s Taken all you Got! Addictive Pleasures Ruin Our Health – they Ain’t no Good fer Us at ALL! Ya Can’t creAte much Helpful Wealth, if You-Won’t-Answer-Loving’s Call!

So Are you Tough eNuff, or Not? Aren’t You prePared for Life that’s New? Are You inTent on More of Rot, or Are you Faithful, Kind, and True?

There’s Hope for All the Helpless Ones, all Those who Daily just de-Spair; give Up yer Guns, get Off yer Buns, and Show the World you, Too, can Care!

There Shines a Light in Loving Hearts, diRecting Us to Do good Deeds, and If we’ll Only Do our Parts, then Love’ll Meet our Deepest Needs!

Do ya’ll beLieve?

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER

Putting Things Together

(for a loving guy)

To build a Model takes some Glue, applied to All-the-Seams; and When you’ve Filled her Up with Love, you’ve Both fulFilled Your Dreams! How Perfect Love can truly Be, When Both of You will Share; the Bird will Light Upon the Tree... that’s Grown with Loving Care!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

MESSAGE TO A DESPERADO

Message to a Desperado

If Heaven’s Gone, real-Love can Bring it Back; there Ain’t no Need to AngriLy de-Spair. And If it’s Patient Tolerance you Lack, why Not then Treat yourself with Loving Care? ‘Cause You, a Child of God, deServe your Best; there Ain’t no Need ta Do too Much and Bum; no Matter What, ya Need ta Get your Rest; why Not be Kind ta You and Get you Some?

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

THINK ABOUT IT

Think About It

Now, Killing EneMies don't Make ya Cool; and Bein' Kind's the Coolest Thing ta Do. It's Really DUMB ta Break the Golden Rule; it Ain't the Way ta Take good CARE 'o YOU! 'Cause As you Sow, you're Also Gonna Reap, and Killing Others Kills a Part of You! BeFore ya Dig yourSelf a Hole too Deep, could Be some Lovin's What ya Oughta Do!



Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

SOME VITAL INSTRUCTIONS

Some Vital Instructions (to my self)

You’ve Got ta Love yer Self and Daily Pray, if Ever You would Hope to Do oKay, ‘cause You have Gotta Take good Care of YOU! ThroughOut yer Eating, Work, and Rest, and Play, you MUST be Kind, the Will of God oBEY, and Be a Helpful Part of God’s own Crew! Now, Is That Clear?!


Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson