THE WILLOW
Once upon a blessed thoughtThat came from deep withinA voice said, "Tell of WillowWho vowed he'd never bendTell how Willow stood so proudHis branches lifted highHe would not bend for anyoneSaid, I would rather die"Stiff like stone his eleganceAs stately he did growBut one day dark clouds hoveredAnd the wind began to blowThe raging wind cried, "Bow down low!Reach down and touch the ground!There's safety there - don't be too proudIn pride your life is bound!"Willow did not want to bowIt pierced his proud old heartBut deadly was this mighty stormThat tore him all apartSo Willow humbly lowered limbsWhen branches bowed their lengthThe storm lost all its' powerThis old tree found hidden strengthA Voice then said, "How beautiful!This tree bowed to the sodAs if his branches loweredIn the presence of his God"Now Willow has found safetyAnd great beauty from aboveHe bows to show pure humblenessAnd grateful, heartfelt Love.Mary Kiker_______
PROVERBS 16:18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall._____
LUKE 18:10-14Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.And the publican, standing afar off, would notlift up so much as his eyes into heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.I tell you, this man went down to his house justified,rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himselfshall be abased; and he that humbleth himselfshall be exalted.