A Poem by my Grandma

Be Thankful

When you feel downhearted and lonely,

and everything seems to go wrong,

When your heart is burdened with troubles,

When it should be be lightened with song;

Just stop for awhile and consider

The blessings God gives you each day,

The love of our dear ones, the friendships

We share as we walk in life's way.

Just look at the blue sky above you,

At the sun giving forth it's warm light;

The great fleecy clouds, white and lovely,

And the star studded heavens at night.

The beautiful rolling foothills,

The mountains majestic and grand,

With lakes here and there, cool and lovely,

Rivers and streams in the land.

Gaze out at the wonderful ocean,

So unfathomable, deep and so wide,

Graggy rocks that for ages and ages,

Have been washed by the incoming tide.

Waves restlessly tossing and roaring

 Beat upon boundaries of sand,

But try as you they will, they cannot past,

They're held there by Gods mighty hand.

The song of the birds, the beauty of the trees,

And the grass making carpets of greens;

In summer the flowers in colors so bright, 

And in winter the snow white and clean.

You could go on and on and think of things

That God gives for our joy and our pleasure,

So look up and thank Him for His wonderful love,

And the blessings He gives without measure.

Lillian Porter 1955

Written soon after Bill died

William Hull Porter, my Grandfather died of non-hodgkin's lymphoma. He was only 40 years old. He left his beloved Lillian and his only son Bob behind. Bob, a pilot and mechanic like his Daddy was in the Air Force at the time. He was newly married with a young daughter. He left the Air Force to help run the family airplane business when news of his illness came. Grandpa had built the business, the hangar, runway, and office. After his death the business was sold to the county. My Dad, age 25 continued on as a pilot for the East Side Mosquito Abatement until his retirement at age 50. This I believe was the first hardship endured in the young couple's married life. Bob and Mariana who at the time was pregnant with my sister Valencia moved back to the Modesto area from Orangevale. Bob had been stationed at Mather Airforce base in Rancho Cordova, Ca and was given a leave. A few years later he was given a honorable discharge. Valencia Marie was born in July of 1954 and soon after Grandpa Porter passed away.  The poem was written by Lillian Marie Porter soon after he passed away. It was found in a shoe box in a dresser in my Dad's bedroom. 

As I read and copied the poem I could sense my Grandma love of nature. She's seems to find peace and solace in gazing at the sky with it's fleecy clouds or gazing at the ocean. I am struck by the imagery when she writes of the ocean. These lines in particular,

Waves restlessly tossing and roaring

 Beat upon boundaries of sand,

But try as you they will, they cannot past,

They're held there by Gods mighty hand.

I too find comfort and solace in gazing up at the sky. Watching the birds. Seeing the sun rise above the horizons. When the valley is dark and shadowy look up.  Realms of beauty and light penetrate the darkness from above. 

Signing off,

Lynette