106 Comments
User's avatar
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser's avatar

I looked to the sky today

and saw a morning star,

and I'm amazed now at the way,

that no matter how things are,

that little bitty point of light

that shines against the coming dawn

calls me to keep up the fight

and keep on keeping on.

Sure, the cancer's gotten worse,

but today is gonna bring

well, not a curse; I'm gonna sing

about the life that I still love,

inspired by that star above.

Leslie A's avatar

I'm sorry it's worse. I didn't get good news from my oncologist yesterday. There was more cancer than they originally thought. Andrew, I'll fight along with you!

Lori C.'s avatar

Prayers for you Leslie and Andrew too 🙏

Leslie A's avatar

Thank you, Lori.

Anne Arthur's avatar

Prayers for you, Lesly. May God lay his healing hands upon you. HE has the last word, not the doctors alone.

Leslie A's avatar

Thank you for your prayers, Anne. Yes, I lean upon Christ for comfort and healing.

nelle's avatar

Still praying, Leslie.

Leslie A's avatar

Nelle, I thank you for your continued prayers.

nelle's avatar

Leslie, check out Alan Ames. I've asked him to pray for you and Andrew.

Sharon Thomason's avatar

Prayers for both of you, Andrew and Leslie 🙏🏼♥️🙏🏼

Leslie A's avatar

Thank you so much, Sharon.

cindy mac's avatar

Prayers for you Leslie and for your fight !

Leslie A's avatar

Cindy, I so appreciate it!

Leslie A's avatar

Andrew, let's do this!

Andrew Budek-Schmeisser's avatar

I will take your hand, Dear Heart,

and won't you please take mine?

Let our bodies fall apart;

together, we'll be fine.

I see the laughter in your eyes,

I see the smile upon your lips,

I feel the courage that applies

from your gentle fingertips,

and I draw bravery from you,

I am better for your love,

and I think it must be true

that when we are as stars above

we through the firmament will dance,

once strangers, friends now, by bright chance.

Leslie A's avatar

Up at 3 am, sipping a cuppa joe, with a cat in my lap softly purring, as if to calm my fears. Then, here you are, up too early along with me, also helping to calm. When I read your poem, I wept. Thank you, my dear friend whom I've never met, and probably never will, for your kind and beautiful words to help soothe my tortured soul. Perhaps one day we will meet among the stars.

Andrew Budek-Schmeisser's avatar

Of course we'll meet way up yonder! And we'll laugh and dance and sing, 'cause you have a piece of my heart.

Anne Arthur's avatar

Amen, Andrew. Keep fighting, keep living, keep writing.

Andrew Budek-Schmeisser's avatar

Anne, I won't give up. I love my life.

nelle's avatar

Andrew, I'm praying for you and Barb.

Andrew Budek-Schmeisser's avatar

Thank you so much, Nelle!

nelle's avatar

Andrew, I've asked Alan Ames to pray for you. I love your spirit!

Peyton & Sissy Lingle's avatar

I read your beautiful poem to my husband. Prayers going up.

Andrew Budek-Schmeisser's avatar

Prayers are the greatest gift.

cindy mac's avatar

Prayers and fortitude for healing you Andrew. Appreciate you sharing your talents !

Andrew Budek-Schmeisser's avatar

Cindy, thank you so much for the prayers, and I'm so glad you like the sonnets!

Pam McCarty's avatar

Thanks for uplifting news as I eat my thin mint Girl Scout cookie.

Therron Kokales's avatar

We have thin mints in the freezer as we type. Cheers!

SteveA's avatar

Save the whales. Save the rain forests. Buy the cookies and support prison rehabilitation. I think we are better folks when we are for something than against something. I am for all us of treating the rest of us better.

MaryBeth Lathrop's avatar

I did hear about a Girl Scout troop that set up next to a marijuana dispensary--and made out like gangsters. Smart girls.

Thank you for the good read, and the rest of the story, Sean.

JeffQ's avatar
8dEdited

When you gotta have munchies go for the best - Girl Scout cookies!

Donna Buchanan's avatar

They need this to advertise their cookie sales.

Jim Yancey's avatar

I’m tuning out the Oscars while I eat Girl Scout cookies and consider the good life. In your troubles make room for the “good life”.

Ernie in River City's avatar

Appreciate the positive kickstart. And for those of you worried about your waist, you can always make a donation to the Girl Scout troop near you. Or get a twofer and buy some cookies and donate the cookies to someone who needs their day brightened a touch.

Joesmoe3's avatar

You’re right. You report the news that matters, and why many of us so distrust mainstream media — whatever that is anymore.

Be well.

Kathy's avatar

I try not to focus on all the bad news out there. But sometimes the good news is hard to find when the news outlets focus mainly on the bad news! Love your good news stories though.

Dan Davis's avatar

Thank you Sean for the good news. I have already read some of the articles. We do not watch the network news except for Friday evening.

We get our news everyday from alternate good news web sites. That is whey we still have our JOY. That and Jesus. Enjoy your cookies and always buy Girl Scouts cookies! Amen

Joe Horton's avatar

“… you can always start by buying some Girl Scout cookies.”

Pro tip: If you have to get them delivered, order them during cold months. The chocolate can-and does—melt….

Patricia Hayes's avatar

I love you Sean you start my day with a smile and love in my heart

Dayle Rogers's avatar

The beauty and wonder of hopeful things that still happen in the world should make us glad we still have the opportunity to hear both sides of the coin. Life is not all bad. The good gets ignored much of the time, but the joy of a good Girl Scout cookie is the reminder that we do have hope. Even in a dark time of war. Thanks for sharing all this, Sean. Being reminded of the good is always a gift.

Martha Iverson's avatar

Ok, Sean, you just made me smile ahead of my stressful day. Thank you, as always your humor & positivity is good.

Matt Ovaska's avatar

The Boy scouts promise to to be Reverent. We did away with them. We have lost the freedom of religion. So sad.

Hopefully the girl scouts will be allowed to sell cookies. Tax free.

Donna Buchanan's avatar

The boy scouts were selling bags of popcorn for $20. I had already said thAT I WOULD BUY ONE WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT. I would much rather pay for the cookies!

My sons were boy scouts and I was the leader. We had a lot of fun and one became an Eagle scout. I am proud of them.

Ruth Mostek's avatar

I like the one about the former inmate buying a prison and transforming it