Rhonda Bronte Brown is a National Board-Certified Teacher and retired teacher/counselor whose work has appeared in Better Than Starbucks, The Trouvaille Review, Meat for Tea, The Orchards Poetry Journal and The Best Haiku 2025 international anthology and several online journals. She holds both a BS and a Master’s degree and writes children’s literature and poetry exploring nature, SEL, and STEM.
Take care in what you say.
Take care in what you hear,
Take care in what you see.
Take care in what you taste and eat.
Take care with what you think.
Sticks and stone
May break my bones
But words will never harm me.
This poem is about your head protecting your heart, shielding your heart from stinging words that go deep.
The truth is your heart and mind are a balancing act. They work together to decipher facts.
God doesn’t measure you by what others say.
God doesn’t measure you by how you look.
God doesn’t measure your worth by success or failure.
God measures beauty by the kindness of your heart and the renewing of your mind.
Imagine if you were as tall as you were kind. You grew an inch for every ounce of kindness.
You would be mighty tall, and some would be very short.
Imagine you were as bright as your depth of knowing God’s Word. God’s word allows you to reason, question, seek and learn.
God measures a man by how he was made. You are wonderfully made, and God knows it very well.
You have gifts, talents, strengths, and struggles define who you are. God says not to covet what others have. It is because they are on a different road than you are and will need their God-given ability to meet the challenges they face. Everyone will make an account of how they used their talents to glorify God.
Take care with what you think. Lace it with God’s word.
Compare what you hear by the truth of God’s Word.
Avoid, run from evil sights and sounds that entice and trick you into false confidence.
Take care not to compare yourself with others today. Take time to praise God just for how you are today-
Take care to spend time with God today and know who you are.
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14
My mother and aunt love to visit estate sales. (Reading Kate’s blog brought them to mind; they are both with the Lord.) They usually came home with an antique from bygone days. They bought a memory. I have even purchased furniture, thinking I would pass it down. My family has great memories of sitting around an oak table. My daughter’s trinket box is full of flattening pennies from the places we visited.
It is not the object, but memories of a moment that echoes of the past.
It is not the things or objects but the memories tied to a moment in time that fleshes out echoes of the past with family.
God established the family as the basic societal unit long before He established the church. Worship begins at home and sets the heart toward God. Raise a child correctly; when they are old, they will find the truth again. Worship was the responsibility of the head of the household.
Cain refused to worship God but instead offered his work, offering instead the fruits of the cursed ground. Only God saves and offers forgiveness. Our efforts always fall short. The Ten Commandments proved our need for Jesus' death on the cross. After the flood, God removed the ground curse, but the other three remained. Through progressivism, Marxism, and a few more isms, the family as the basic unit in society has been under attack for the past 100 years. From Woodrow Wilson's payroll taxes and centralized banking to allowing pornography to blanket the airways, removing prayer from schools, and teaching false history to abortion, the family is suffering. The family is a child's first clan, first home, and the first taste of love and security. It is worth saving as an independent unit, separate from government interference. These comments may seem like a weird direction for the blog, but as a teacher who has taught the significance of the family, it flowed out.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying. Jesus is merciful. Jesus will save. The word rescue brings this song to mind immediately.
The twentieth anniversary of 9-11 is upon us, and Americans still need to be rescued from Afghanistan. Our country needs saving from a socialist/Marxist agenda. Our school children need protection from the indoctrination of radical thinking. They need rescuing from social media, movies, and music. People need to be rescued from apathy and busyness. The church needs rescuing from adopting worldly philosophy. Victims need rescuing from trafficking, drugs, lies of worthlessness. Still, so much rescuing is needed.
I pray for the rapture to come quickly but what about those who still need rescuing.
Jesus will rescue you- from drug addiction, from trafficking, from terrorist, from apathy, from cruelty, from empty thoughts, from lies of all kinds. How?
By renewing your mind, it is transformative; it is healing. It brings peace. Romans 12: 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The consequences are not gone, your free will still exist, but your eyes are opened to Truth. Truth heals. It will be painful, and trust must be rebuilt, patterns of behavior altered, changes in your lifestyle. On the road to recovery, you will face difficulties. As you strengthen your heart and mind, you will find courage. This time you are not alone. Your faith in Jesus is your rescue. He will walk with you on your road of recovery. You are no longer alone.
For me, a Haiku is a 17-syllable verse that captures an image or moment that touches the heart when the reader grasps its meaning.
Some are still a work in progress.
The Haiku is a
seventeen syllable-verse,
understood by the heart.
Depicts a moment
in nature filled with simple
wonderment and awe.
Perspicacity
Reach into the world of words,
to find clear insight.
Slipping through morning dew, first blush hues cast,- dawn's chorus begins.
Antiphonal tweets robins, warblers, blackbirds sing day-spring's symphony.
The woodland world wakes.
January sky
Its sheer so clear, so blue.
Nothing leaves a mark.
On gradient winds,
matching a clarion call
Eagles hitch a ride.
Spring buds pop their heads,
February trickery-
Winter snaps, not yet!
Loam stirs, breaking free
Roots stretch in fertile earth
March howls for spring's warmth.
Sky looks down on earth
Eyes as dark as a new moon,
Winks in the spring night.
Loam stirs, breaking free
Roots stretch in fertile earth
March howls for spring's warmth.
Ode to Daffodils Bordering Mamaw’s cotton field Beside Mamma's fence To my backyard Daffodils. Posted on February 25, 2022 by Posted in #HaikuSeed Daily Haiku Prompt
Longing for a sidewalk stroll
along the storefronts of a –
five-and-dime
boutique
coffee house
with friends
. . .mask less.
Winter folds a tree- into a counterfeit death – Gray, bony, lifeless.
Cold, still, frosty white
Frozen precipitation
The glistening sun
Icicle droplets
Drip amid a frozen field
Robins drink mid-stream.
Kindness ripples when
interjected precisely
and rips through meanness.
kindness ripples and rips through meanness.
Tempean ox-eye titivated petals sway as butterflies dance
Hidden Object
The only reason
I've never been snake-bitten;
I pound when I walk.
The object I seek
is blatantly obvious.
but it's not a snake.
A trim crimson comb
Proud strut, surefooted, perched high.
First to greet the day.
Calls the world to wake.
Rises with the morning sun.
Cock-a-doddle-do
Prayer is your weapon. Like the soil loves the tree and gives life to the tree so does prayer nourish your soul. Prayer cradles life whether answered here or there (heaven).
The first big city I ever visited was New York city. It was crowded, noisy and full of life.
I was preparing to go overseas with Campus Crusade for Christ. The training session diverted to New York City. Teams were assigned to study various ethnic groups; my assignment was to observe the Russian-speaking community. We traveled by train, subway, or walked. I will admit to having a headache at the end of the day from the noise.
Surprising was, as soon as I entered the Russian Burroughs, the atmosphere changed. Signs were in Russian; everyone spoke Russian, the food, the smells, people’s dress, and mannerisms took on a very different cultural feel. It was utterly foreign to me.
I experienced the same thing when I rounded the corner to Sak Fifth Avenue. The business district was ablaze with lights, crisp, warm, and inviting. Each borough had its feel and a community that brought it to life. I will admit, too, that I thought the city was full of separatists. Everybody seemed to stick to their community. But each community had its take on life.
Nine months later, I’m Manilla, capital of the Philippines: God prepares you for where he will take you. I traveled all over Manilla by Jeepney. The craziest drivers in the world were there. Jeepney drivers never stop until you tap the roof indicating you want off. Traveling across the world as a missionary allowed me to see people as they lived. I lived where they lived, and that experience taught me to value life. People love their homelands.
Now imagine heaven full of Burroughs with every people group imaginable. Each borough fulls of scents, spices, and flavors—flowers from every region on display, children at play—a calm and peaceful reign in the air knowing that our Lord Jesus is here.
Jeepney: After WWII, the Americans left behind their army jeeps. Phillipino people are very resourceful.
Death's grim triumph of the fallen thirteen, betrayed, left behind. Our soldiers' demise at the hands of a few won't be forgotten.
The Afghan Thirteen The pulse is weak, life's last vapor vanishes. Death grins when breathing ceased.
Thanatos’ grim triumph- of the Afghan thirteen, fallen, betrayed from within, and left behind.
A country's demise at the hands of a few. America's heart bleeds. They will not be forgotten.
Hope hurts. Hope heals! Hope shatters the grip of hate- the past and present repeat. 1776 to Aug. 26, 2021.
In memory of the thirteen men and women who died in service of our country and who fought to defend the freedom loving Afghan people.
Sgt. Johnny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, assigned to 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Naval Support Activity Bahrain.
Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California, assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah. His military occupational specialty was 0369, infantry unit leader. Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California, decorated marine.
Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, assigned to 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California, decorated Navy Corpsman.
Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee. Knauss was assigned to 9th PSYOP Battalion, 8th PSYOP Group, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
Short Version: The Afghan Thirteen by RL Brown
Death's grim triumph-of the fallen thirteen, betrayed, left behind. Our soldiers' demise at the hands of a few won't be forgotten.
A Call to Arms: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Arms yours self with the Gospel; it is time to fight. How? Prayer and fasting is the key to winning this fight. Find your prayer closet, your church pew, and get on your knees.
2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
A Call to Arms: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Arms yours self with the Gospel; it is time to fight. How? Prayer and fasting is the key to winning this fight. Find your prayer closet, your church pew, and get on your knees.
As a teacher, my first thought when I saw the word teach was Bloom’s Taxonomy which is very applicable to the Christian life.
Knowledge is remembering, discovering, naming, and labels. Hearing the Word is the first step. Matthew 28: 19 & 20, Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age. (This is the church’s directive now and will again be Israel’s directive after the rapture with the 144,000 Jewish men.)
Comprehension is understanding and discussing. I Peter 2:1-2 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy, and all slander (judgmental attitude) like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
Application or applying is your testimony, young and immature but yours. Allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life to change the desires of the flesh. 2 Peter 1: The whole chapter. As you grow in God’s Word, expect a more profound understanding, but you must move away from things found in I Corinthians 3:2-3.
Analysis or analyzing is to break apart the whole to grasp a deeper meaning. Inspect God’s Word compare scripture to scripture, don’t rely on others to tell you what to think. Romans Chapter 5 illustrates this progress or growth beautifully- Peace, introduction by faith, tribulations produces endurance or perseverance, to proven character to hope. And hope does not disappoint. Also, read Romans 5:8-9
Evaluation- measure what you know by God’s Word with understanding, with application to your heart and soul by standing on the solid rock of God’s Word, not being an ignorant doormat—calling sin a sin. It’s adultery, fornication, murder, and it’s a lie, it’s is a depraved mind, it is witchcraft, etc. It is a deception, subtle and insidious. John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the LIfe, no one come to the Father but through Me.” Time to measure scripture by scripture, if you believe there are many ways to God; know that it is not so. Scriptures call for you not to be subtly deceived by the empty philosophy of this world. God calls for the renewing of your mind by faith and understanding will come. Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who have their senses trained to discern good and evil because of practice. (Ouch!) Colossians 2:8.
Synthesis. Go and tell the world with full meaning and understanding, no longer babes on the milk of God’s Word but dine on the meat of God’s Word with full awareness, able to stand against the winds of empty philosophy.
I moved this paragraph to the end instead it being the first paragraph because blaming teachers for what a student isn’t learning is just wrong. Kids must come to school with basic skills. I will say teaching children to be quiet on Sunday morning is a skill that kindergarteners need. I agree that a teacher is full of knowledge but may not have excellent classroom management skills. Management skills comes with experience. Today, teachers are not allowed to discipline students, fail students, and are mandated what to teach. But that story is for another time. But even an inexperienced teacher can teach what they know, they may not manage a class well at first, but they can still teach. What a student learns is always up to them, not the teacher. The rate one learns is always depends on the individual: willingness, ability and determination. Teachers know this. So does God.
a word package neat and tidy a haiku R bronte brown
Grey shrouds disallow.
Perseid, wherefore art thou?
My wish bound by clouds. by Tony @TonyPictureBook
I didn’t catch the meaning of this Haiku until I looked up the word Perseid. Before reading further, stop and look it up if you need to.
Once I read the definition, I instantly understood, and a burst of conflicting emotions rolled over me. If you love stargazing, you will instantly understand. If you watch action movies, you know where the names of heroes and villains come from.
A once-a-year event was disallowed. The grey shrouds that streak brightly across the sky when entering our atmosphere were hidden behind the clouds. But there was a double meaning in this Haiku for me.
It was early August in the nineties on a clear night. My two children each had a friend spend the night. Dad and I set up reclining lawn chairs for the best view. I got them up at 4:00 am. Still wearing PJ’s, wrapped in thin blankets, sipping hot chocolate, we watched the Perseid Meteor shower. It was fantastic. We stayed out till the sun rose, then went to McD’s for breakfast.
My children have families of their own and live very far away. I asked my husband if he wanted to drive out at night to watch the meteor shower this past week. His response was that he would be asleep. I was a little sad. I wondered if my kids took the time to watch. I thought of how much fun we had. Then, I laughed.
Yes, we did have fun. It was a spectacular meteor show that night, and I have a precious memory.
A Haiku is a 17 syllable verse that captures an image, or a moment that when the reader grasps the meaning, touches the heart.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Joel Weatherly in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, captured this photo of Perseus and surrounding constellations on August 14, 2019. He wrote: “This illustration of the Perseids radiant point was made using an actual image of the night sky near Edmonton. A faint Perseid meteor can be seen to the upper left.
Accountability rings with drudgery. It comes with duty, work, follow through, keeping your word, task after task, get it done, then go play.
Everyone loves summer fun: swimming, picnics, vacations, family visits, etc. Everyone loves the leaf turning green, flowers in spring, the return of summer fruit and vegetables. Everyone loves the colors of fall and the first snow flake.
When I look at those spring bulbs in full bloom that I planted last fall, I smile and think effort well spent. When I take out a package of sweet corn that I put up this summer for Thanksgiving, I will smile and remember the taste of summer. When I am raking up leaves, I will remember that I planted that tree and how I relish the shade it provides in the summer heat. In the depth of winter, I will remember the seeds planted, steps taken, tasks finished, things still to do, and know that God is good. When I looks at things accomplished and see smiles, I will think this was time well spent.
From there to here, here to there, God’s presence is everywhere.
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the LORD’s name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory is above the heavens. Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high. Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
Laura Rowe captured the picture of a lifetime on (May 17, 2021)
The uniqueness of creation is that God’s fingerprint is present from the tiniest of molecules to the vastness of space. Sometimes, we lack perspective to see the whole picture.
In Job, God rebukes Job’s counselors by saying, “Who is this that darkens counsel by word without knowledge (of ME)? (Job 38:2) Have you ever commanded the morning and caused the dawn to know its place? (v.12)
I stop here thinking the science behind that statement is immense. God set boundaries for the sea and made a cloud its garment. He binds the chains of Pleiades and loose the cords of Orion (v. 31). Is it by my understanding that a hawk soars or nature fulfills it course? Of course not.
Then God asks Job (paraphrase) Do you condemn me to prove yourself right?
Job’s reply: (paraphrase): Whoa, I shut my mouth!
The book of Job is a lesson in perspective from heaven to earth, earth to heaven. God’s Presence is everywhere.
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