Mike Sansone

To Love, Live, Learn, and Lauch

Vain Thoughts

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I hate vain thoughts,
They sneak up into my brain
Too often, I notice them for what they are
Late. After they’ve grown, but hopefully
Hopefully before a decision or action.

I hate vain thoughts.
Who am I to think like that or compare
Ego and envy are sneaky opponents within
I so love God’s Word, to my rescue and refuge
The Gospel in my pockets left and right.

A KJV paper in my left thigh, a device in my right hip
So when I recognize my longing or languish
I can reach and refresh and re-realize
God’s gifts and grace and truth.
“I hate vain thoughts
But thy law do I love.” (Ps. 119:113 KJV)

A Deeper Dive

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For me, it is in the early morning, before dawn, that I feel the freedom to go search the depths of thought and feeling.

Giving myself time to go deep – rather than waking up “just in time” – so that I can study or pray or write or research or read. The “just in time” leads to shallow skimming of the surface of each quiet thing I can do more fully in the pre-dawn.

Doing so while others sleep insist on my being quiet, slow, and soft. And deep.

I would rather ponder and pray,
Than in my bed I might rather stay,
So that I can approach the depths of my soul.

And if I take time for rest,
May the next time I better invest,
A deeper dive to quietly know myself whole.

Love is a Only Smile Away

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The loving look of a smile
With a still moment of pause
To show the passerby
They’re important to your cause.

Whether they are young or old,
Or diff in income or gender
Doesn’t matter their race or religion
Whether they are stocky or slender

Just take but a moment
With all the muscles in your face
And let that person know
You’re glad to see them in this place.

There are no coincidences
Only the illusion of chance
And the loving look of a true smile
Will make even the coldest heart dance.

So if it’s in the store or in a cafe
Walking by or driving alongside of
Take a second and smile a real smile
Kindly, with good love from above.

Criticism and Praise

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In this life, you’ll occasionally receive some criticism. You may or may not deserve it. You may or may not respect those who give it to you.

In this life, you’ll receive some praise here and there. Maybe you earned it, maybe not. Maybe you respect those who give it, maybe not.

Don’t get hooked on avoiding the sting of criticism or addicted to the sweetness of praise.

Either way and in any case, don’t let either criticism or praise affect you too much. It could distract you from your goal.

You can’t control either, so don’t let either control you.