POETRY FROM THE SOUL
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
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LETTERS FROM ABOVE
Poetry Resident Jeffrey Cargill
Hello my son, let Me tell you how this began!
In the beginning when they said you were going to die, I moved upon that doctor to give it another try.
He put you in a room full of My love and showed you compassion that was sent from above.
Remember that time when you stood in that line?
I’m the one who touched you and brought you into My embrace.
Remember how you floated to the floor in My grace? Like a feather on the wind, I took you to another place.
I showed you that day that I was real, because I knew how the world had hurt you and how it still will.
I knew in your teens you would be driven by fear and hate. To Satan’s drum your lusts you did gate.
But I knew how again our paths would meet. Remember in that county jail when you gave your life to Me?
With cloven tongue you spoke mysteries so divinely. How proud I am to call you Mine.
But with lack of understanding how quickly you did go back to the world and the lust of below.
How proud I was in a jail cell to find you crying out to Me, yet one more time.
With mercy and grace, I did incline My expectant face. As you asked for help with your long-distance race.
A laborer I sent, one of My saints, to instruct you on the narrow path that leads to My pearly gates.
He and his wife took you in and showed you a Father’s love that you did not have to win.
But with tears they watched you run back to the world in which you had come.
So one more time to county jail, then to a prison cell.
In a open dorm with window flung, I poured into you a dream of things to come.
And yet if that was not enough, I woke you with a word. You were to go into all the world and tell them what you heard.
I was not surprised how quickly you did turn when the cares of this world became your main concern.
Oh, how drugs and women, just wanting to get high, carried you so far away from a disciple’s life.
So here we are My son, you are going to make it this time.
Because I knew from the very beginning how I was going to make you Mine!
Reflections and Gratitude
​​Some nights I sit in the quiet
and think about the road behind me.
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The cold walls.
The long years.
The mistakes that carried heavy consequences.
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I think about the man I used to be—
angry, restless, lost inside himself.
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And then I look around now.
​A small room.
A steady job.
A few honest people in my corner.
Simple things.
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Things I once overlooked
now feel like blessings too big to measure.
Morning coffee in peace.
Freedom to walk outside at sunset.
The sound of rain without bars on the window.
I am still finding my way.
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Some days confidence comes easy.
Other days the past still whispers loudly.
There are setbacks.
There are lonely moments.
There are battles most people never see.
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But there is also growth.
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I’ve learned that rebuilding a life
doesn’t happen all at once.
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It happens in choices.
​In patience.
In humility.
In getting back up again and again.
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And somehow, through all the struggle,
gratitude has begun to grow in me.
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Gratitude for second chances.
For people who didn’t give up on me.
For family slowly healing.
For work that lets me stand with dignity.
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Gratitude for mercy.
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Because I know
where I could still be.
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I know the roads that almost claimed me.
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Yet here I stand—
not perfect,
not finished,
but moving forward.
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The future no longer feels impossible.
​It feels earned one day at a time.
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And tonight, under an open sky,
I breathe deeply and thank God
for freedom,
for growth,
for hope…
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and for the chance
to become better
than the man I once was.
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-
Ray Riddle
ANGEL'S PENNIES
Borrowed and Contributed by Resident Poet Otis Cole
as told to Otis, as a young child, by his father
Starring: "SISSY"
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PENNIES AND ANGELS?
The United States government has announced plans to gradually phase out the production and circulation of the penny due to rising manufacturing costs and declining purchasing power. The cost to produce a one-cent coin now exceeds its actual face value, making continued minting financially inefficient. Supporters of eliminating the penny argue that the change could save taxpayers millions of dollars annually, streamline transactions, and modernize the nation's currency system. Critics, however, express concerns about rounding prices and the sentimental value of the penny in American history. If fully implemeted, cash transactions would likely be rounded to the nearest five cents, while electronic payments would continue to be charged to the exact amount.
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The most important concern is what Angel's will do without pennies to dropped from Heaven?????
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WHAT WILL ANGELS SEND FROM HEAVEN, IF NOT PENNIES?
Since pennies will one day disappear completely, people may begin to believe that Angels will send new little signs from Heaven — tiny reminders that love, memories, and hope never truly leave us behind.
Perhaps instead of pennies, Angels will send:
• White feathers drifting gently in unexpected places
• Heart-shaped stones discovered along a path
• A sudden rainbow after a difficult day
• Butterflies appearing at just the right moment
• A favorite song playing when someone needs comfort most
• Warm sunlight breaking through clouds like a Heavenly embrace
• Nickels or dimes carrying the same message pennies once held
• Cardinals or small birds believed by many to be visits from loved ones
And maybe the message will always remain the same:
“When Heaven wants you to know you are loved, remembered, and never alone…
Angels will always find a way to reach your heart.”
A little sign from Heaven can still bring comfort to the soul!
WHO WROTE THE ORIGINAL POEM
"Pennies from Heaven" poem is a beautiful piece of Americana-how something as small as a penny became connected to comfort, memories, Angels, and loves ones watching over us. The idea survived for generations because it gave people hope during grief and difficult times.
The exact author of the modern "Angel Pennies" or "Pennies from Heaven" poem is somewhat disputed. For many years the poem circulated as "Author Unknown." One of the earliest widely credited versions was written by Charles L. Mashburn in 1998 under the title "Pennies From Heaven."
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The well-known lines include:
"Found pennies come from Heaven,
That's what my Grandpa told me.
He said Angels toss them down..."
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Over time, the poem became extremely popular online, in memorial cards, sympathy gifts, churches, and social media, often without attribution, which is why many people believe it is anonymous.
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The broader phrase "Pennies from Heaven" itself is much older and dates back at least to the 1930s, especially after the famous 1936 song "Pennies from Heaven" written by Johnny Burke and Arthur Johnston and made famous by Bing Crosby.
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Sometimes God sends us little reminders that we are never alone. A simple penny lying on the ground may not seem like much to others, but to someone who is hurting, grieving, or feeling forgotten, it can become a beautiful reminder of love from heaven.
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This poem touched my heart because it reminds me of the simple faith and comforting stories many of us grew up hearing from those we loved. Whether it is from the memory of a Grandpa, a loved one now in heaven, or simply a gentle reminder from God Himself, these little “Angel’s Pennies” can bring comfort, hope, and a smile right when we need it most.
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So the next time you find a penny, don’t just see a coin. See it as a reminder that you are loved, thought about, prayed for, and never forgotten.
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May God bless you with peace, comfort, and many little reminders of His love today.
