First in the Heart is the Dream

Today I'd like to share an excerpt from a poem called Freedom's Plow by Langston Hughes.

When a man starts out with nothing,
When a man starts out with his hands
Empty, but clean,
When a man starts to build a world,
He starts first with himself
And the faith that is in his heart-
The strength there,
The will there to build.

First in the heart is the dream-
Then the mind starts seeking a way.
His eyes look out on the world,
On the great wooded world,
On the rich soil of the world,
On the rivers of the world.

The eyes see there materials for building,
See the difficulties, too, and the obstacles.
The mind seeks a way to overcome these obstacles.
The hand seeks tools to cut the wood,
To till the soil, and harness the power of the waters.
Then the hand seeks other hands to help,
A community of hands to help-
Thus the dream becomes not one man’s dream alone,
But a community dream.
Not my dream alone, but our dream.
Not my world alone,
But your world and my world,
Belonging to all the hands who build.


                                                                    *****

Today I am excited to share that we've had our first local customer, who also happens to be our friend!  The beautiful child who wears Knees and Paws in this picture wants to be a puppy when she grows up.  Yesterday she visited our home and fell in love with Ozzie.  When it was time to leave, she patted his head very gently and said "I'll never forget you."

I can assure you I'll never forget that. Ever.