From time to time Linda Ellis, a talented writer in Georgia, sends me poems. Here's an excerpt from "One More Day."

This day, this precious, wonderful gift has been bestowed upon me free!
And whatever I choose to do with it remains entirely up to me.

I could squander these given hours, treat each task as if it's a chore
And mark this day off my calendar like so many times before.

I could overlook the blooming flowers and ignore the sun's warm light
Before it inevitably sets again, turning my gift of day to night.

I could dwell upon mistakes I've made and cry regretful tears
And live my life in the shadow of my own anxieties and fears.

Or I could make a resolution, before one more day has passed,
That I shall live it to its fullest, live it...as it if were my last.

Then I shall, as I awaken, relinquish my fret and my sorrow
And accept one more day to love and laugh with no guarantee of tomorrow.

At night, as I lay down my head only to wake again, I'll pray,
And if I do, then I'll thank God for giving me "One More Day."

The theme of gratitude and appreciation for every day reflects old but important wisdom like this from an unknown author: "Yesterday is a dream. Tomorrow is a vision. But today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope."

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

To thank Linda for her lovely thoughts and to read more of her poems,
visit www.lindaellisonline.com.