Spreading ripples

May 28, 2008

Hello, I’m starting this news update with some changes to Pals details.

Alex C and Alex William H now have new forwarding addresses and they have been updated on their pages.

We also have some Pals moving on – Ethan C, Jessica M and Jordan T. Jordan’s Mum says;

Jordan is turning 16 in July and thinks that it is time for him to “move on” from Post Pals to give younger pals more “space”. He is VERY VERY grateful for his time as a pal though… thank you so much.

 

We have a scheme where every child is assigned a writer who sends at least one card/letter every two weeks. The children love hearing from someone regularly but we are still several people short, so if you’re interested in taking part or are currently already volunteering for this but can take on an extra child, please email.

We know that the post really makes the featured children smile but it also makes the volunteers smile too, much like the ripple poem below. We would love to hear how Post Pals has touched you, if you would like to share please leave a message in our guestbook!

I’ll sign off with the poem, keep dropping those pebbles and spreading ripples.

Drop a pebble in the water:
just a splash, and it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center,
flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling
where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water:
in a minute you forget,
But there’s little waves a-flowing,
and there’s ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing
to a great big wave have grown;
You’ve disturbed a mighty river
just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless:
in a minute it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading
from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them,
once you’ve started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless:
in a minute you forget;
But there’s little waves a-flowing,
and there’s ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart
a mighty wave of tears you’ve stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy
ere you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
just a flash and it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort
on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn’t believe the volume
of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
in a minute you forget;
But there’s gladness still a-swelling,
and there’s joy circling yet,
And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort
whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water
just by dropping one kind word.

~By James W. Foley~