Comment from BethShelby

Excellent

Thank you for sharing the prayer and your thought. Starting a day with God is important. Whether we acknowledge that each day, He is there alwarys but our day would go better if we remember to thank him and ask for guidance. I always enjoy whatever you write, and so don't wait to intil you have some earthshaking to write to write about. Just share what's on you mind.

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Oh Beth,
how very kind of you to say that. There is so much to read on this site, and so many talented writers, that I don't want to just throw out anything. Frankly, I've not been on here as much as I was during the winter. We still have lots of snow on the ground here, but the days are getting longer, with it still being light at around 9:00 PM, and it is getting warmer, so my inner clock is starting to awaken like an old grizzly. I feel like doing more than staying on the computer, and I need to start getting things squared away around the house so that when I go south to fish, I won't be leaving Jan in a lurch. Hopefully my muse will awaken as well and I can sneak in a few more stories.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom

reply by BethShelby on 28-Mar-2023

i found out from Helen's interview that you are a fisherman. I imagine there is a lot in your protfolio I don't know about you. Are you still in Alaska?

reply by the author on 28-Mar-2023

Hi Beth,
Yes, I still live in Alaska. We spent 44 years in Southeast Alaska about forty miles southwest of Juneau in a native village called Hoonah. The first ten years we were living on a farm, a Christian community about four miles outside of town. That was tough duty, and I ended up writing a book about it. I've always liked to fish, and when I moved to Alaska, and found out that they would pay me to catch fish, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I still have my third boat, the F/V Bonnie J. It's home ported in Hoonah, and I'm planning on going down to haul her out and paint and zinc the bottom, and then fish it for a month or two while I'm there. Presently I live about forty five miles north of Anchorage in Wasilla. It's much bigger and busier than Hoonah will ever be, but we have easier access to doctors and a hospital, and I can actually afford to buy groceries here. Plus we can drive wherever we need to go. Hoonah was located on an island, so the only way to get anywhere was by boat or plane.

reply by BethShelby on 28-Mar-2023

I think you've had an interesting life. I"ve only been to Alaska once on a cruise. We went to Juneau, Sitka, Skaway and Ketchikan. and took a train ride up into Canada and back.
I guess it is good place to fish. We were there in August. I think the winter would be brutal for a Southerner like me. Thanks for sharring the info. I hope you wrtie more about your like. I wondered if all your kids stayed in Alaska as well.

reply by the author on 28-Mar-2023

Hi Beth,
Well, you got to see Southeast then. It's a beautiful place, and all the areas you mentioned are in the Tongass National Forest. Of course Southeast is all rain forest, so that accounts for all the large spruce and hemlock trees. It's a great place to fish, and August is usually a very good time to catch Coho salmon as they are starting to come in from the ocean and head up the streams to spawn.
Two of my daughters live in the lower 48. One lives in Iowa, and one lives in Wyoming. The other five kids live in Alaska, two of them right here in Wasilla.
Periodically I write something about my time on the farm and I've written quite a bit about various things that I've done here. I may write something soon about one of the characters that I knew in Hoonah.

reply by BethShelby on 29-Mar-2023

I think the characters would be interesting to write about. A bus driver on my trip, said the natives weren't so pleased when the US made Alaska a state.

reply by the author on 29-Mar-2023

I'm not sure that the person who said that was correct, but he could have been. The natives have gotten a lot from the federal government, free housing, free health care, subsistence hunting and fishing rights. Before Alaska became a state in 1959, the federal government was in charge of all the fisheries. The canneries had unrestricted access to the salmon that came into the creeks. They ran fish traps at the mouth of the creeks, and just about wiped out all of the salmon runs. When statehood came, fish traps were outlawed, and the salmon runs rebounded. One doesn't have to look very far to see how incompetent and corrupt the federal government is. States always know more about what works for them than some buffoon sitting in an office in Washington DC getting a payout from lobbyists. I guess everyone has an opinion.

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

A beautiful prayer Tom and I enjoyed the sentiments and your gratefulness about life here. Yes we have busy days and it is only when we take time to reflect that we can write a prayer like this, much enjoyed, love Dolly x

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Hello Dolly,
It's always a delight to hear from you my British friend. Thanks for the delightful review and comments. I really appreciate Dr. Stanley who wrote the prayer. His kind spirit really shines through and we all get to benefit from it.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom

Comment from Carol Clark2

Excellent

I like the prayer you included by Dr. Charles Stanley. Its words are powerful. I understand your not wanting to let it lose meaning in repetition. It is good for us to start the day by talking with God. Thanks for sharing. Blessings. Carol

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Hello Carol,
thanks so much for the fine review and comments. I'm not sure how much influence we could possibly have on earthly matters once we're no longer here, but for now, being able to pray for ourselves and our families, our country and for those whose needs far exceed ours seems to be a good thing. I think when we pray, we get to take part in what God wants to do anyway, and we get to share in the blessing.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom

reply by Carol Clark2 on 27-Mar-2023

Amen! It's wonderful that God includes us in His plans, sometimes even without our asking.

reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

You made me laugh Carol. Yes indeed, He always knows what's best for us, and we get to be blessed as He shares His plans with us.

Comment from royowen

Excellent

I have the same wish as you Tom, I'm in the same boat, I hope that each day I utter, write or have a revelatory thought that I can use to leave a mark where I walk, or sit, or even plant a seed to grow, beautifully written my friend, blessings Roy

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 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Thanks so much Roy, for the great review and comments. You have a good heart my friend, and I know that you want to impact the world around you in a way that will matter for all eternity. As we all send our prayers heavenward, who knows what good is being done, and what evil is being averted because of our faithfulness? Prayer is a powerful force, and it doesn't cost anything more than a little time and heartfelt desire. Have a blessed day.
Tom

reply by royowen on 27-Mar-2023

I?m proud of you. Tom

Comment from damommy

Excellent

I firmly believe in the power of prayer. So many things have happened in my life that I know was from prayer. We Episcopalians are sometimes criticized for having a prayer book. My point is it's no different than when one prays The Lord's Prayer. It can be just recited, or it can be said with deep sincerity. I love Morning Prayer in my prayer book. You're right - there's not enough praying going on. I firmly believe if everyone would pray daily, and I know a lot of people who do, but if EVERYONE prayed, we'd change the world.

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 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Hello Yvonne,
I too have benefitted much in my life because of prayer, sometimes my own, and sometimes because others have interceded in my behalf. I don't know why anyone would criticize you for praying. We can't let our differences separate us, there's too much of that going on in the world right now. I believe a heartfelt prayer is always going to be heard by the Lord. We may not always get the answer we want or see the results of our prayers when we intercede for others, but I believe God is pleased when we speak to Him. Thanks so much for the great review and comments.
Have a blessed evening my friend.
Tom

Comment from lyenochka

Exceptional

Amen!! Thank you for sharing that prayer and all the introduction to it makes it uniquely your post so it's not breaking any rules. The prayer hearkens to scripture and cones from a humble thankful heart that pleases the Lord.

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Oh my word Helen,
Thank you so much. I value your wisdom and your opinion and appreciate the kind words. Thanks for the six as well, I'm honored.
Have a blessed evening my friend.
Tom