Weekend Wisdom

Weekend Wisdom: Now the Day Is Over

A calm, peaceful poem for the end of the day. I highly recommend listening to Michael Crawford’s version on the CD On Eagles Wings. His version is very soothing. You will find the entire CD a joy to listen to anytime you need a dose of comfort and joy.

Now the day is over, Night is drawing nigh,

Shadows of the evening Steal across the sky.

Now the darkness gathers, Stars being to peep,

Birds and beast and flowers Soon will be asleep.

Jesus give the weary Calm and sweet repose;

With thy tend’rest blessing, May our eyelids close.

Grant to little children Visions bright of thee;

Guard the sailors, tossing On the deep blue sea.

Comfort ev’ry suff’rer Watching late in pain;

Those who plan some evil From their sin restrain.

Through the long night-watches May thine angels spread

Their white wings above me, Watching round my bed.

When the morning wakens, Then may I arise

Pure, and fresh, and sinless In thy holy eyes.

Glory to the Father, Glory to the Son,

And to thee, blest Spirit, Whilst all ages run.

Sabine Baring-Gould (pg 570 of A Sacrifice of Praise, An Anthology of Christian Poetry in English from Caedmon to the Mid-Twentieth Century, Second Edition, Edited by James H. Trott)

P.S. Michael Crawford is the original Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, The Phantom of the Opera. Other credits in his extensive career include the role of Cornelius Hackl in the movie musical Hello Dolly!, P.T. Barnum in the musical Barnum and the role of Frank Spencer in the British TV Comedy Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em.

Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her widowhood adventures hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. A graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor’s degree in communications, she’s currently using those skills as a virtual logistics contact center representative for a Fortune 100 company. She’s also managed call center teams, co-facilitated a grief support group, and helped small businesses with various writing assignments. Michele is a bookworm, and a lover of history, music, chocolate, red roses, and golden retrievers. She is also the amateur photographer behind the blog OgleOhio.com.

grief, Joy

“Help Me Make The Music Of The Night”

Twenty-Seven years ago tonight, Joe and I danced to The Music of the Night from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.

We saw the The Phantom of the Opera in 1992 in Toronto, Canada. He loved it even though his taste in music was not musical theater but Def Leppard, AC/DC, and Depeche Mode.

I decided that the music for our bridal dance had to be something different, something other than a mushy pop love song. So I selected The Music of The Night. Joe loved the idea.

Tonight I will be enjoying an Oreo Cheesecake Blizzard from Dairy Queen as my quiet celebration of a wonderful, joyous event that happened 27 years ago.

Sarah Brightman as Christine and Michael Crawford as the Phantom (Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals YouTube Channel)

You alone can make my song take flight.

The Music of the Night by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Charles Hart / Richard Stilgoe
June 19th, 1993

For 14 3/4 years we made each other’s song take flight as we helped each other make our own music of the night.

Thank you my dear Joe for the honor of being your wife.

I will always love you.

Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her widowhood adventures hoping to encourage widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. A graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor’s degree in communications, she’s used those skills while managing call center teams, co-facilitating a grief support group, and helping small businesses with various writing and administrative assignments. Michele is a bookworm, and a lover of history, chocolate, red roses, and golden retrievers. She is also the amateur photographer behind the blog OgleOhio.com

Weekend Wisdom

His Faithful Promises

Here is part of Psalm 91, the basis for the song On Eagles Wings. May knowing His faithful promises are your armor and protection bring you comfort and joy no matter what you deal with this week.

And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His Hand

On Eagles Wings
as recorded by Michael Crawford

Disclaimer: This gentleman is not an eagle.

Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her widowhood adventures hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. A graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor’s degree in communications, she’s currently using those skills as a virtual logistics contact center representative for a Fortune 100 company. She’s also managed call center teams, co-facilitated a grief support group, and helped small businesses with various writing assignments. Michele is a bookworm, and a lover of history, music, chocolate, red roses, and golden retrievers. She also does not think or pray like you normal people. Michele is also the amateur photographer behind the blog OgleOhio.com