DOT'S CORNER PAGE 7

ABC'S OF A MOTHER'S LOVE

ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU
BELIEVE IN YOU
CARE FOR YOU
DEDICATED TO HELPING YOU ALONG THE WAY
ENCOURAGE YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS
FEEL YOUR JOY AND PAIN
GIVE YOU WORDS OF WISDOM
HOLD YOU ALWAYS IN MY HEART
IDENTIFY YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL
JOURNEY WITH YOU ON LIFE'S ROAD
KEEP ALL MEMORIES OF YOU
LOVE YOU ALWAYS
MAKE LIFE SEEM BETTER WHEN YOU'RE UPSET
NOTICE YOU WHEN YOU FEEL NEGLECTED
OFFER A HELPING HAND IF A PROBLEM SHOULD ARISE
PRAY GOD WILL KEEP YOU SAFE AND WELL
QUESTION SOME OF YOUR DECISIONS AS A CARING MOTHER SHOULD
REASSURE YOU WHEN YOU FEEL INSECURE
STAND BY YOUR SIDE WHEN YOU NEED SOMEONE TO LEAN ON
TALK WITH YOU WHEN YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO
UNDERSTAND YOU WHEN YOU FEEL OTHERS DON'T
VALUE ALL YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, LARGE OR SMALL
WANT YOU TO DO YOUR VERY BEST
X-PERIENCE OF KNOWLEDGE I TRY TO PASS ON TO YOU
YIELDING OPEN ARMS ANYTIME YOU NEED TO BE COMFORTED
ZEALOUSLY SUPPORT YOU IN ALL YOU DO

Written by Dorothy S. Craig

A WONDERFUL LOVING DAD
Written by Dorothy S. Craig

HE WASN’T FINANCIALLY WEALTHY,
HE DIDN’T HAVE A FAMOUS NAME,
HE DIDN’T HAVE MUCH EDUCATION,
BUT WE LOVED HIM JUST THE SAME.
HE WASN’T A CORPORATE VIP,
HE WAS A LABOROR ALL HIS LIFE,
BUT HE WAS A VERY IMPORTANT MAN,
TO HIS CHILDREN AND TO HIS WIFE.
HE WASN’T A HEFTY PERSON,
AND HE WASN’T VERY TALL,
BUT IN HIS FAMILY’S EYES,
STOOD THE TALLEST MAN OF ALL.
THEN, GOD SAID ONE DAY,
“YOUR WORK ON EARTH IS DONE,
YOU’VE EARNED YOUR TITLE ON EARTH,
AND I’M GIVING YOU ANOTHER ONE.
AND HE BECAME AN ANGEL IN HEAVEN,
BUT THE TITLES HERE HE HAD,
WERE A DEAR LOVING HUSBAND AND
A WONDERFUL LOVING DAD.
(IN LOVING MEMORY OF SILAS “DOCK” ROLAND SUGGS BORN: FEBRUARY 20, 1913 - DIED: OCTOBER 18, 1982)

LITTLE BROTHER, YOU CAN’T GO
(WRITTEN BY DOROTHY S. CRAIG ON BEHALF OF MICHAEL)
NINE YEARS OLD IS NOT A GOOD AGE
WHEN HE WANTS TO BE WITH YOU,
HE CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY
YOU TREAT HIM AS YOU DO.
I KNOW YOU CAN’T ALWAYS HAVE
A LITTLE BROTHER TAGGING ALONG,
BUT HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THAT IN
THE TEEN WORLD HE DOESN’T BELONG.
IT’S TOUGH FOR HIM, AND HE THINKS
YOU’RE BEING MEAN,
RIGHT NOW IT DOESN’T HELP
TELLING HIM SOMEDAY HE’LL BE A TEEN.
JUST THINK HOW GOOD YOU’LL FEEL
TO SEE HIS SHINING SMILE,
TO FIND IT IN YOUR HEART
TO TAKE HIM WITH YOU ONCE IN AWHILE.
BE UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENT
AND JUST LET HIM KNOW,
HOW MUCH YOU STILL LOVE HIM
WHEN YOU TELL HIM “YOU CAN’T GO”.

MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
Written by Dorothy S. Craig

MY SISTERS PLAYED
A SPECIAL PART
IN MY LIFE AND
IN MY HEART.
THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME….
A BOND OF CLOSENESS BETWEEN US THREE.
MEMORIES OF WHAT WE ALWAYS HAD….
THE THREE OF US AND MOM AND DAD.
WE WEREN’T RICH, BUT WE SURE WERE BLESSED
WITH LOVING CARE AT ITS BEST.
THIS BOND OF LOVE IS WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO ME
TO PASS IT DOWN TO MY OWN FAMILY.

JUST MY MOM AND DAD
WRITTEN BY DOROTHY S. CRAIG
YOU’VE NEVER BEEN WEALTHY
NOR BEEN PERSONS OF FAME,
YOU ARE JUST MY MOM AND DAD
AND A CREDIT TO YOUR NAME.
YOUR TITLE REPRESENTS YEARS
OF GIVING YOUR LOVE AND CARE,
AND MAKING PROBLEMS SEEM SMALLER
JUST BY YOUR BEING THERE.
I’M NOT ASHAMED TO TELL THE WORLD
IN CASE YOU DO NOT KNOW,
I’M PROUD YOU ARE JUST MY MOM AND DAD
AND I LOVE YOU SO.

SPENDING SPREE
Written by Dorothy S. Craig

I BROUGHT HOME A MONTH’S SALARY TODAY,
PAID SOME BILLS I HAD TO PAY,
BOUGHT SOME GROCERIES AT THE STORE,
MY SALARY WAS LESS WHEN I WALKED IN MY DOOR.
POCKETING THE REMAINDER OF WHAT I HAD,
MY SON WALKED IN SAYING HE FELT BAD.
A DOCTOR’S BILL WAS NOT ON MY LIST,
AND OF COURSE, A PRESCRIPTION WOULD ALSO EXIST.
HOME FROM THE DOCTOR, I FOUND THE TV ON THE BLINK,
AND THE PIPES WERE CLOGGED IN THE KITCHEN SINK.
IT’S NOT AS BAD AS IT MAY APPEAR TO BE,
TOMORROW, I ‘LL START AGAIN FOR NEXT MONTH’S SPENDING SPREE.

FUTURE TEARS
WRITTEN BY DOROTHY S. CRAIG
I KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN SOMEDAY,
MY SON WILL COME TO ME AND SAY,
“THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES I MUST PURSUE,
I HAVE GROWN UP AND WILL BE LEAVING YOU.
IT’S HARD TO THINK OF HIM AS GROWN,
AND READY TO GO OUT ON HIS OWN.
I WILL NOT STOP HIM AND ASK HIM TO STAY,
ALTHOUGH MY HEART WILL BE RACING AWAY.
WHEN THE TIME DOES COME AND HE’S READY TO GO,
LORD, LET HIM ALWAYS KNOW THAT I LOVE HIM SO.

THE OTHER WOMAN
Written by Dorothy S. Craig

I’M TRYING HARD, BUT CAN’T DISGUISE
THE TEARS THAT ARE FALLING FROM MY EYES.
I’VE KNOWN FROM THE VERY START
THE DAY WOULD COME FOR US TO PART.
I GUESS JEALOUSY SHOWS UPON MY FACE
EVEN THOUGH I KNOW SHE CAN’T TAKE MY PLACE.
YES, SOMEONE ELSE HE HAS FOUND
TO HOLD HIS HAND WHEN I’M NOT AROUND.
IT’S NOT AS BAD AS IT MAY APPEAR TO BE,
I KNOW HE’LL COME RUNNING HOME TO ME.
PERHAPS YOU THINK I’M BEING A FOOL,
BUT HEY, IT’S MY SON’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
THERE HE GOES, WALKING OUT THE DOOR___
THE BEGINNING OF MANHOOD, A BABY NO MORE.

IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT LONG AGO
WRITTEN BY DOROTHY S. CRAIG
WATCHING OVER YOU AS YOU GREW,
LOVING YOU THE WAY I DO,
FUSSING WITH YOU ONCE IN AWHILE,
SMILING WITH YOU WHEN YOU SMILE.
TRYING TO TEACH YOU RIGHT FROM WRONG,
WANTING YOU TO GROW UP HEALTHY AND STRONG,
SINGING YOU A LULLABYE SOFT AND LOW,
ROCKING YOU TO SLEEP NOT LONG AGO.

I THOUGHT OF YOU
Written by Dorothy S. Craig

SOMEONE TO COMFORT ME WHEN I AM SAD,
SOMEONE TO CALM ME WHEN I AM MAD,
SOMEONE TO ENCOURAGE ME ALONG THE WAY,
SOMEONE TO STAND BESIDE ME EACH DAY,
SOMEONE TO LIFT ME IF I SHOULD FALL,
SOMEONE TO HEAR ME IF I SHOULD CALL,
SOMEONE TO TRUST THAT I CAN GO TO,
OTHER THAN GOD…. MOM, I THOUGHT OF YOU.

TELL YOUR PARENTS
WRITTEN BY DOROTHY S. CRAIG
TELL YOUR PARENTS YOU LOVE THEM SO,
DON’T TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THEY KNOW.
THE WORDS, “I LOVE YOU” SHOULD ALWAYS BE SAID,
MANY WISHED THEY HAD AFTER THEIR PARENTS ARE DEAD.
TAKE THE TIME TO SHOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE,
WHEN YOU NEEDED THEM, THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE.
IN THEIR PRIME YEARS THEY MAY FEEL ALONE,
IN AN EMPTY HOUSE WITH THEIR CHILDREN G0NE.

MY LITTLE BOY
Written by Dorothy S. Craig

WEEP NOT, OH MOTHER, AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND,
HE NO LONGER NEEDS YOU TO HOLD HIS HAND.
THE FEELINGS YOU WISH TO EXPRESS IN TEARS
ARE RECORDED IN MEMORIES OF HIS CHILDHOOD YEARS.
HE NO LONGER PLAYS WITH TOY CARS AND BOATS,
HE’S 18 NOW AND READY “TO SOW HIS OATS”.
YOU MUST FACE THAT YOUR LITTLE BOY IS GROWN
AND FEELS HE’S NOW READY TO BE ON HIS OWN.

OUR GRANDCHILDREN
WRITTEN BY DOROTHY S. CRAIG
SENT ESPECIALLY TO US FROM THE LORD ABOVE,
TO HAVE, TO HOLD, AND TO LOVE.
WE THANK THEE LORD FOR THE JOY YOU SENT,
FOR THEY ARE TRULY A BLESSED EVENT.
HELP US TO GUIDE THEM IN THE RIGHT WAY,
AND PLEASE WATCH OVER THEM NIGHT AND DAY.
GOLD HAS LITTLE VALUE COMPARED TO THEIR WORTH,
FOR THEY ARE OUR PRECIOUS GEMS ON EARTH.

LIVING WILL AND TESTAMENT
Written by Dorothy S. Craig

TILL DEATH DO US PART,
DARLING,
I GIVE YOU MY HEART.
I GIVE YOU MEMORIES OF
LOVE WE’VE SHARED
AND OF LITTLE THINGS THAT
SHOW HOW MUCH I CARE.
I GIVE YOU MY DEVOTION
AS YOUR WIFE
AND WISH YOU HAPPINESS
THROUGHOUT LIFE.
I GIVE YOU ALL THAT
IS A PART OF ME,
UPON THIS WORLD
AND IN TO ETERNITY.

TESTIMONIAL LOVE
WRITTEN BY DOROTHY S. CRAIG
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE ON A CLOUDY DAY,
THE GLOW FROM A LAMP TO LIGHT MY WAY.
THE ONLY RICHES I NEED TO HOLD,
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH AS I GROW OLD.
THE WARMTH I FEEL WHEN THERE’S NO FIRE,
THE BEAUTY OF LIFE THAT I DESIRE.

LOVE AND MOTHER NATURE
Written by Dorothy S. Craig

LIKE THE OCEAN, LOVE HAS IT’S WAVES;
LIKE THE SUN, LOVE HAS IT’S WARMTH;
LIKE FLOWERS, LOVE CAN GROW;
LIKE THE SEASONS, LOVE CAN CHANGE;
LIKE MOTHER NATURE, LOVE IS UNPREDICTABLE.

BE PREPARED
WRITTEN BY DOROTHY S. CRAIG
NO ONE KNOWS WHEN THE LORD SHALL APPEAR,
IF IT WERE NOW, WOULD YOU RUN IN FEAR?
WOULD YOU WANT A PLACE TO HIDE,
OR WOULD YOU BE READY TO STAND BY HIS SIDE?
THE SIGNS ARE CLEAR, IT’S NOT THAT FAR AWAY,
WILL YOU BE PREPARED ON JUDGEMENT DAY?

VACATION SYNDROME
Written by Dorothy S. Craig

IF YOU’RE GETTING UP IN THE MORNINGS MOVING RATHER SLOW,
KNOWING YOU HAVE TO GO TO WORK, BUT NOT IN THE MOOD TO GO.
IF IT SEEMS YOU’RE UPTIGHT AND JUST NEED TO UNWIND,
YOU’VE GOT A COMMON AILMENT OF VACATION ON YOUR MIND.
EASILY DIAGNOSED WHEN SYMPTOMS BEGIN TO APPEAR,
WHICH CAN AFFECT MOST ANYONE ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.
THERE IS A SPECIAL REMEDY THAT I STRONGLY RECOMMEND;
DIRECTIONS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED WITH A MAP IN YOUR HAND.
DISSOLVE SOME OF YOUR HEADACHES, GET AWAY FOR AWHILE,
YOU SHOULD START FEELING BETTER WITH EACH ADDED MILE.
THIS PRESCRIPTION SHOULD LAST UNTIL YOU RETURN HOME;
REFILLABLE EACH TIME YOU SUFFER FROM VACATION SYNDROME.

MY PATRIOTIC SON
WRITTEN BY DOROTHY S. CRAIG
MY SON WAS A TYPICAL TEENAGER WHO LISTENED TO THE ROCK AND DISCO SOUND,
I WAS A TYPICAL PARENT WHEN I INSISTED THAT HE TURN IT DOWN.
ONE DAY A DIFFERENT SOUND WAS COMING FROM HIS STEREO,
AND I SAW A PART OF MY SON THAT EVEN I DID NOT KNOW.
HE WAS LISTENING TO “AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL” AND I WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE
AS I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE TEARS IN HIS EYES.
REALIZING THAT I HAD SEEN HIM, HE QUICKLY TRIED TO HIDE
THE TEARS OF LOVE FOR HIS COUNTRY, TEARS OF PATRIOTIC PRIDE.
I QUICKLY RESPONDED "YOUR TEARS ARE OF NO DISGRACE,
PATRIOTIC SONGS BRING TEARS TO MY FACE".
WE LISTENED TO IT TOGETHER, AND WHEN THE SONG WAS DONE,
I FELT A SENSE OF PRIDE IN MY PATRIOTIC SON.

I'LL BE WITH YOU
Written by Dorothy S. Craig

WHEN THE SUN BRINGS A GENTLE WARMTH TO YOU,
I’LL BE WITH YOU.
WHEN THE RAINDROPS FEEL REFRESHING,
I’LL BE WITH YOU.
WHEN YOU ARE DOWN AND OUT,
I’LL BE WITH YOU.
WHEN YOU THINK OF ME,
I’LL BE WITH YOU.
THIS I PROMISE UPON MY PASSING.

WANTED
WRITTEN BY DOROTHY S. CRAIG
HEAVEN HAS FUTURE OPENINGS,
GET IN TOUCH WITH GOD TODAY.
HE ALREADY KNOWS YOUR BACKGROUND
AND WILL NOT NEED A RESUME.
DURING LIFE’S JOURNEY,
YOU WILL BE PUT TO A TEST,
MISTAKES MAY BE FORGIVEN,
BUT DO YOUR VERY BEST.
YOUR RECORDS ARE KEPT ON FILE
UNTIL IT’S TIME FOR YOU
TO STAND BEFORE GOD
FOR YOUR FINAL INTERVIEW.
THERE'S EQUAL OPPORTUNITY,
NO DISCRIMINATIONS OF ANY KIND
AND REWARDING BENEFITS
THAT YOU SHOULD KEEP IN MIND.
INTERESTED IN THE POSITION? WELL GOD IS STANDING BY
GIVE HIM A CALL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPLY.

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE
WRITTEN BY DOROTHY S. CRAIG
EXCLUDING ABUSE IN A MARRIAGE, ONE REASON SOME MARRIAGES DO NOT WORK IS BECAUSE TOO MANY COUPLES WANT THE "FOR BETTER" PART AND DO NOT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO DEAL WITH THE "FOR WORST" PART.