[After 66 years in California, my husband and I moved to Ohio,
to be near kids and grandkids. For whatever reason, it was emotionally
heartwrenching. This poem expresses those things that kept me going,
especially verses four through six. The person mentioned is a female in-
law, who helped me by her friendliness, and introducing me to many
people and places. Never underestimate how your kindness will help
people!]
If not for the bird songs,
My mind would be lost –
With all the changes,
With all the strangeness.
If not for the fairy fireflies,
I would have lost the wonder,
My mind torn asunder,
I would have gone under.
If not for the thunder,
I would make the blunder
Of sinking in sadness,
Being blind to the gladness.
If not for your smile,
I would have dwelt a long while
In a pit of despair;
Might have torn out my hair.
If not for your kindness,
I’d live only in blindness,
A desert of dryness,
So listless and lifeless.
If not for God’s comfort,
My life would be forfeit,
My joy would be dormant,
My thoughts tending morbid.
O, the greatness of God,
Who lifts up the lowly,
Who brightens our story;
Let us give Him the glory!
clarakatalin 
The Confiteor
Some of you may be familiar with the prayer called “The Confiteor” (“I confess”). The form of this prayer that I’m most familiar with is:
“I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, (And, striking their breast, they say) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.”
Some time ago, I realized something new about the Confiteor. When we say the words, “Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault,” it’s not about me beating myself up and blaming myself for everything, it’s more about the fact that, compared to God, I am an extremely faulty creature, and in His great mercy, He has made a way for me to be saved.
When I compare myself to others (or focus on myself), it creates misery, but when I compare myself to God, who is all Perfection, it creates humility and gratitude.
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