Blooms and Blessings

Had you asked what I did today,

I’d tell you what went wrong.
And, though so much went very well,
I wailed a mournful song.
 
But, as I cursed the frustrations
That had made up my day,
I spotted a new poppy bloom,
It’s beauty on display.
 
I realized that it had bloomed
As morning warmed the air,
But I’d been too wrapped up in pique
To notice it was there.
 
How many other blessings then
Have I looked past today,
As I went roaring on my path,
Frothing in my dismay?
 
So I sat down to count the buds
That promised blooms to come
And smiled because I recognized
Who those blessings were from.

Little Ones

They are so young, while she grows old,

And yet they make her laugh.
They magnify the joy she feels
And cut her tears in half.
 
Though she is grey with all the years
That slipped by so quickly,
Their joyful colors fill her eyes
And warm her memories.

Patience

It bides its time and slowly grows,

Some things cannot be rushed,
It has the patience that it takes
And faith that can’t be crushed.
 

For all that happens at God’s pace

Works only for our good,
And God gives everything the time
To turn out like it should.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Blackberry Blooms

Silent as a whispered thought,

They bloom beneath the tree
And focus all their efforts on
A plump, sweet blackberry.
A simple life, a perfect plan
Without complexity,
Yet with a patient diligence
They spread prolifically.
How rich would be the lives we touch
With their philosophy,
Live simply, but give it our all
And share abundantly.

No One Says Good-Bye

She wept as she spoke of her pain

For those she’ll leave behind
And worried that a final peace
Was something she’d not find.
 
So many came to say good-bye,
But could not speak that thought,
As if they broke beneath the pain,
That single word had wrought.
 
“I don’t feel sorry for myself,
At least I try not to,
I just wish I could show them all
How their love pulls me through.”
 
“I wish the words still found their way
From my thoughts to my voice,
But what comes out of my mouth now
Is often not my choice.”
 
She cried a little as she spoke.
Of course, it broke my heart,
And I held her in trembling arms
As her world fell apart.
 
But then she straightened up and smiled,
And wiped a teary eye.
She said she wanted to be strong
Each time she said good-bye.
 
She hugged me tightly, one more time,
Then held me by the hand.
“I’m glad you came to see me, Dear,
I knew you’d understand.”
 
“And now I think I need to rest,
Come back if you’re nearby.
I’ll see you soon,” she said to me,
“Cause no one says good-bye.”

For a dear friend who is on Hospice.

Trying Again

I realized, again today,

I’m not who I should be.
So, I apologized and asked,
Once more, for God’s pity.
Although I did not deserve it,
God still showed Grace to me.
And now, I start out once again
To live more faithfully.
 
Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Looking Up

However high in life I climb,

I still look up to see
That I have much farther to go
To be whom I should be.  
 
You laid the path out for us, Lord,
When You walked on the earth
And I still have so far to go
To come close to that worth.
 
So any time I feel too proud
Of all I think I’ve done,
I look to You and realize
That I have just begun.

Perfect Day

Some days you have to let them play

And just kick back a while.
Let all the hassles of your day
Give way to their sweet smile.
 
They’re this little for just a bit
And then they’re on their way,
But you’ll keep these times in your heart;
The perfect, joy filled day.

Tight Spots

Sometimes I get caught in a place

That’s just a bit too tight,
In fact, I’ve even found myself
Someplace that’s just not right.
 
It’s not that I’ve planned things that way,
But things happen to me,
Things have a way of not being
What I’ve planned them to be.
 
Right now is one of those times, Lord,
I’m stuck without a hope,
But knowing You’ll be watching me
Is helping me to cope.
 
I know that You watch over me,
You likely laugh a lot,
But You will always have my back.
That’s one truth that I’ve got.
 
So, let me thank You for Your help
With this tight spot I’m in.
I’m glad You watch me closely, Lord,
Things might get tight again.
 
Psalm 121:7-8
The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Hiding in View

There are those who hide in plain sight,

Too average to see,
And I have no doubt in my mind
That one of them is me.
 
But that’s okay, I don’t seek fame.
I hold the point of view
That, I’m okay, unseen by all
If am seen by You.
 
In fact, I crave the silent world
Of living out of sight,
But I’m delighted when night falls
That You make my world light.
 
So I will hide out in plain sight,
Because it’s what I do,
And I’ll rejoice that You see me,
When I call out to You.
 
Psalm 139:11-12
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Afraid To Move

I am content right where I am,

I see no need to move.
Moving might put me more at risk,
And I’ve nothing to prove.
 
Of course I can’t try something new,
Unless it happens by,
But then again, I cannot fail,
If I don’t move and try.
 
Yes, I’m content to sit right here,
I’m no one, bound nowhere.
Cause If I should try something new
I risk worry and care.
 
Oh Lord, I know it’s an excuse
For fearing too much change,
But, if I leave what’s familiar,
Then I’m left with what’s strange.
 
I know you want me out there, Lord,
You have work I’m to do,
But I am so afraid to move
Unless I move with You.
 
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Trapped

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel so trapped within my life,

Hemmed in on every side.
I can’t seem to escape the pain,
And there’s no place to hide.
 
I know you have a reason, Lord,
For what I’m going through,
But I am frightened and alone
And calling out to you.
 
Please help me find the right way out.
Oh Lord, please be my guide,
I tried to do it by myself,
And failed each time I tried.

Someday, perhaps, I’ll understand

Why I’m so hurt today,
But answers aren’t what I need now,
Lord, lead me through, I pray.

Ecclesiastes 9:12
Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.

Unripend Berries

It lingers just beneath the bough,

Where shade and shadow meet,
And yet, it’s sunlight’s gentle touch
That makes the berry sweet.
 
Sometimes, in life, we are the same,
We hide our greatest needs,
But God is always waiting near
To sweeten unripe seeds.

Taking a Moment

Sometimes you simply have to stop

And take a look around,
For, everywhere you turn to look,
There’s beauty to found.
 
There is upheaval in the world
And life can be quite rough,
But, if you find a peace filled place,
A moment is enough.
 
There’s chaos in our day to day,
Of that there is no doubt.
Yet there is also loveliness,
For those who seek it out!
 
So seek the beauty, find the peace;
Give it time to sink in.
You’ll find life easier to face
When you set out again!!

Anoint Me, Lord

Anoint me, Lord, with Your sweet Grace

As I start out anew;
Bless each endeavor as I work
To find what I should do.
 
I find myself with options, Lord,
Though none of them seem right.
I know that I must make a choice,
However much I fight.
 
So I ask blessings on this choice,
And courage not to balk.
Anoint me and show me the path
That You want me to walk.

Father's Day Thoughts

On Father’s Day my thoughts still turn

To one who’s lost to me,
At least, he isn’t there each day
To talk to or to see.
And it’s at times, much like today,
That we most inclined
To speak of all the things we miss,
Not those he left behind.
So let me mention all the things
That I don’t miss today
Because he left them here with us
That day he went away.
 
I see his smile on each grand child,
His strength lives in his son,
The wisdom that he shared, in love,
Still guides us everyone.
One sister has his focused mind
Another his kind heart,
While yet another lives the faith
He taught us from the start.
His brilliant mind, his gift of gab,
He left those with us all,
As well as the will to defend
The helpless when they call.
 
His face, his eyes, his loving smile,
His brilliant quirky mind,
The heart that loved all those he knew…
These things he left behind.
Although I miss him every day
I don’t have far to look
To see the pages that he wrote
That fill my family’s book.

A Mother's Prayer

Oh Lord, I bow my head in prayer,

Please guard the young I soon will bear.
Keep them wrapped in Your loving care
In times when I cannot be there.
For life has so much pain to spare
And little joy it’s wont to share,
But I won’t worry or despair,
For I know You can hear my prayer.  
 
Matthew 21:21-22
“Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Lost and Joyful

Though she is lost and out of place,

Far from kin and kind,
Yet still she blossoms with more joy
Than most of us can find.
 
She does not need a special place,
She blooms right where she is,
Because, no matter where she grows,
She blooms because she’s His.
 
Someday I hope to have her faith,
To bloom despite my place,
And I am growing deeper roots
Secured in God’s own Grace.
 
Psalm 119:176
I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.

A Parent's Love

She guarded them and guided them,

Sheltered beneath her gaze,
That they might grow to live full lives;
Thriving for all their days.
 
So fragile is the mortal heart,
And sinful to alarm,
Yet that heart rises to the need
When its young faces harm.
 
How much more then is God’s own love,
Not born of fallen earth,
To those who call Him “Father”, “Lord”,
Despite our lowly birth.
 
Matthew 7:11
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Braced

What can be passed by, let me pass,

For what can’t, give me strength
To hold in faithfulness that You
Will pull me through, at length.
 
I find myself braced for each day,
Fearing what I can’t see,
But I know what I’m going through
Is not what life should be.
 
So I will fight through with good cheer,
Though braced for what’s to come.
I’ll live believing in Your Grace,
And I will not succumb.

Turning Back

I always was a wayward child,

Heading off my own way.
I never wanted to sit still,
For I was bound to stray.
 
Yet You were patient as I strayed,
And kept an eye on me,
Knowing full well that I’d be back
Where I was meant to be.
 
Lord, You knew that the day would come
When Your voice made it through.
The willful child, with her hard head,
Would circle back to You.
 
So thank You for that patient grace
That taught me not to roam,
And let rejoicing fill Your heart;
This sinner’s coming home!
 
Luke 15:7
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Got the Point

Okay, I think I got the point,

But now I’m stuck up here
Where it’s a bit precarious,
So I hope you’re still near.
 
You told me not to make that move,
I clearly heard Your voice,
But I was feeling confident
In making my own choice.
 
I thought, this once, “I’ve got this, Lord,
No need to lend a hand”,
But that was a bit arrogant.
Yes, Lord, I understand.
 
Sometimes you let us take the leap
And fall flat on our face,
So that we learn to rely on
Not us, but on Your Grace.
 
But now I’m out here on the edge,
Clinging with all my might.
So, Lord, I’ve learned my lesson now,
Please help me make it right.
 
2 Corinthians 1:9
Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

Always Cheerful

Even swimming in all that muck,

She wore a cheery smile,
As proof, no matter where she is,
She’s joyful all the while.
For she believes what she’s been told,
That God will keep her near.
So, whether life is smooth or rough,
She’s always of good cheer!
 
Habakkuk 3:18
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Unexpected Joy

Expecting the unexpected,

You never know what life will bring.
Even if you’re just sitting still,
Some joy might just sneak up and spring.
 
There’s so much joy all around you
And you don’t know where it will land.
Expect it over your shoulder
Or sitting gently on your hand.
 
Live in joy filled expectation,
Don’t doubt that it’s out there for you.
For God has plans in abundance,
There’s joy waiting out there for you.

 

 

Time To Contemplate

When I sit still, take time to think,

I’m sometimes mystified
At why you would step down to earth,
And then be crucified.
 
You cast the stars across the sky
And call them all by name,
Yet you chose to become so small
And suffer for our shame.
 
What is it that you see in us
That made that sacrifice
Something that You would choose to do,
Paying an awful price?
 
You are so great, we are so small.
It’s hard to contemplate
A love so rich I cannot help
But want to emulate.
 
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Memories and Peonies

Pink peonies and memories,

They both can be so sweet.
Especially when there’s a place
Where both are bound to meet.
 
Mom used to love her peonies,
Their fluffy, fragrant blooms.
She’d pick a few to scatter through
Her house’s many rooms.
 
She’d leave many there in their beds,
And some she’d even share
With neighbors who stopped by to chat.
There were enough to spare.
 
But she’s not here to see them now,
For earth has set her free,
So I now bring home peonies
In my mom’s memory.

Whispers and Rebirth

It is not in the mighty wind

Nor in the raging sea,
Not even in the shaking earth
That knocks me to my knee,
Not burning sun nor darkest night
Define, for me, God’s force.
But in the whispers of the spring
I hear His true discourse.
 
1 Kings 19:12
After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Patient Faith

From winter’s cold and naked branch

To summer’s laden bough.
Each year they live the miracle,
Although they don’t know how.
They live in faith that what should be
Will happen through God’s will.
So they wait patiently for spring
Throughout the winter’s chill.
 
Romans 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently.

F.R.O.G.

I faithfully rely on God
In all I do each day
For, when I’ve tried it on my own,
I flounder on the way.
 
I faithfully rely on God
To guide my daily walk,
And lead me in the words to speak
When He asks me to talk.
 
I faithfully rely on God,
I trust His loving grace,
And I will walk in faithfulness
Until I see His face!
 
Faithfully
Rely
On
God
 
Galatians 3:8-12
Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Thank you, to JN for giving me this lovely acronym.

A Peaceful Day

There is a joy in peaceful days,

A time to rest your mind.
They give you space to find the calm
You thought you’d never find.
 
They’re not always what you expect,
But they’re still gifts of grace,
Because the let your busy mind
Find a sweet, quiet place.