no poem but a Eulogy instead

It's been 9 year since I lost one of my oldest and dearest friends. At the time of her passing, we had known each other for 35 years. 9 years ago, my dear friend Donna lost her courageous battle with aggressive lung cancer. No matter how long we had to prepare for this day, it stung so much when I heard the news. My heart crushed as soon as I heard.

This was what I wanted to say at her Celebration of life however I was too choked up. When I returned home, I felt compelled to post this.

 



Good Bye is never easy to say but if you think of its origin “God Be with You” It should be easier. Understanding why some people have longer time on Earth than others is hard and makes saying Good Bye one of the hardest things to say. But what if we said Welcome Home instead? One day I hope we’ll all be where Donna is. However, I know that one day I’ll see Donna again forever. To me that is a comfort. Yes she is gone from our lives in body but her spirit lives among us and always will.

You see we are all on this planet for reasons that none of us know or understand. We may never get it. In Ecclesiastes it says that 1 there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under Heaven. 2A time to be born and a time to die, 4a time to weep and time to laugh, time to mourn and time to dance, 5time to embrace and time to refrain, 6time to search and time to give up, 7time to be silent and time to speak, 8time to love and time to hate. 12 There is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 

Donna did a good job of all that except for hate. Donna and I met at a time when my very young life was turned upside down and I was trying to put it back together. We were about 7 years old. Donna accepted me right from the start. Donna never judged, harmed or slandered. Donna was honest about how she felt about things you said or did. She was caring, loving and compassionate. Donna knew how to have fun and when to be serious. She was always available if we needed her. Donna loved everyone, even her enemies.

Growing up with Donna was special. We shared our dreams and hopes and fears. The difference between us was that she lived out many of her dreams. She never lost sight of them. During the last weekend we spent together before college we spent much time reflecting on life, where we wanted to go and what we wanted to accomplish. I believe Donna accomplished much of what she told me that weekend. It was a weekend that I have treasured in my heart. Things were said between us that will never be repeated. We were kindred spirits. I will forever be grateful for our time together, even though I do regret the times we missed. 

Life got in our way once we left for college. And even though there were many years we missed, there was not a moment that didn’t go by that I thought about her and wondered what Donna would be doing. Then one day social media brought us back together. When we reconnected, it was almost as if time never got away from us. Sure life was different but she was still the same loving, caring friend I always remembered.

I am honoured to have had such a wonderful friend in my life. God truly knew Donna’s huge, kind, loving and accepting heart was exactly what I needed all those years ago. Now that she is no longer here with us, I hurt a lot. We all hurt because that’s what humans do. I believe in my heart that we will have eternity to rekindle our time spent with Donna. So let’s not weep for her but rejoice in the person she was, how she touched our lives, and hope that her purpose here on Earth was fulfilled. Although I think it was. You see we all have one main purpose here on Earth to love each other and teach everyone about love- a love everlasting. Donna was full of love and she always showed it. Today I celebrate that.

Donna you were one of the strongest most beautiful people I’ve ever had the pleasure of having in my life. I’m sorry you had to endure all that you have gone through. I am glad you are no longer feeling the pain and that you are free to live in eternity surrounded by purity and beauty; and much like the hole from the Champaign cork we put in the ceiling of your parents’ house, I will always feel a hole in my heart. Until we meet again my friend. We’ll do our best to help Mike and the boys, as long as they will let us. May your spirit be with them always and May God be with each and every one who is grieving at this time. God Bless You All.

Donna Sept 21 ,1972-June 8, 2015.

I'm still here just having troubles.

Hello fellow readers, I know I've been fairly neglectful in my posts. Truth is I haven't been able to write anything worth posting. It saddens me but no worries, as I have a few in the works. I actually thought I had finished them off, however it seems I have not. So please keep coming back. I promise I'll have something soon. Right now I'm  praying and learning how to tune in and listen to God every day.  For now I just ask that you start each day with a smile and a heart full of gratitude! Perhaps also pray for me, that I can find in my heart where I was when I first gave my heart to Jesus and began this poetry journey. If you could leave comments or suggestions on my older posts, that will help for future poems. Thanks brothers and sister. God Bless you all!

Life's Storm, Who is your Life Preserver

So many of us go through storms of all kinds in our lives. Sometimes they beat us down pretty bad. Other times we go through them unscathed. Probably the hardest part of going through any storm is reaching out for the only One who can guide us through. The Lord, our never changing, ever loving Life Preserver.He never promises an easy passage through, but He will get us through. When you get into the middle of a storm, what life preserver do you reach for?
This first picture is where I got the inspiration for this poem. My 10 year old son drew this in my book as we were waiting for the Worship service to begin. You just never know what inspires me.

Storms of Life

When the storms in life

begin to cause me strife

I run for shelter until they pass me by

As the rains begin to fall

I feel my back against the wall

I run for cover so I won't get wet

When the winds begin to flow

and the thunder delivers it's blow

I cry loud to drown out the storm's thrashing

The storm releases its furry

I cover myself with worry

unsheltered and battered I'm not sure where to go

Just when I feel the storms about

to strike me down for good

there You are to lift me out

As the winds diminish and clouds fade away

rays of sunshine greet a new day

I crawl from under your wing

You are my shelter no matter what I face

I will stand strong and surrounded by your amazing grace 

How could I have been so wrong

I trust Lord that you'll always be near by

For You Lord are my shelter and refuge

I could not imagine surviving a storm so huge

without you by my side

Strong in 3

I've been working on this one for quite some time now. I wanted to capture so much in this. I was picturing a braid as I wrote it. As you begin there are 3 separate parts that kind of don't do much other than hanging there. Once they are woven together they form 1 strong bond. As one you have a strong binding. I believe that in order to have The Father's Love, you need to believe and have Faith in Him and when you trust Him you have hope. All wound together makes one great way to hold on during your ride through this Earth until you get called home.

Stronger in Three's

Entangled through my heart
are three strands that do their part
to guide me along my way
as I face my struggles every day
One gives me something in which to believe
Another gives me inspiration to move on
and one to fill my heart in ways nothing else can
Alone they are but three strands
Together they will help me stand

Miss one I could still go on
Miss two don't know what I'd do
Miss three and I would cease to breathe
Faith to believe
Hope to inspire
Love to fill my hearts desire

Entangled through my soul
I cannot let them go
for from my Father's hand they do unroll
coated in all His goodness, mercy and faithfulness
if my sins I do confess
My life without them I do profess
would be dull and without purpose
So it is with faith, hope and love
I find myself entangled
in these 3 strands held together by the Father's hand

Miss one I could still go on
Miss two don't know what I'd do
Miss three and I would cease to breathe
Faith to believe
Hope to inspire
Love to fill my hearts desire

COME SING WITH ME!!!!

Somehow in editing this poem disappeared. I'm reposting as a result.

So today I woke up tired and pretty much in a daze,however if the birds are chirping so cheerily I got to thinking that maybe I just need to be reminded and perhaps you do too. No matter what life throws at us, we should start our day like this. My usual routine probably will be a bit more difficult because I am not fully rested but I said there isn't much else I can do but sing! Sing praises to the Lord what a great way to start the day. Your attitude when you awake can make or break or your day. Lately I've chosen to work hard on a positive get up and go attitude to get me going. It's working. My moods have changed dramatically and my days go much smoother. Try it you'll agree. It's simple just ask the Lord to walk with you all day and give you a little pinch when things go sour and you want to snarl. I'll admit I do slip up but with in no time I'm back on track. So SING with me will you!Psalm 95:1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

My Heart is Singing

My heart is singing
Come sing with me
For the Love in my heart is deep and strong
I dare not conceal it

My heart is singing
Come sing with me
My cup overflows with the joy from He

My heart is singing
Come sing with me
His love is everlasting and never runs dry

My heart is singing
Come sing with me
He has set me free
Does that not make you want to sing?

My heart is singing
Come sing with me
I am forgiven of sin because of Him

My heart is singing
Come sing with me
The Lord loves me no matter what

My heart is singing
Come sing with me
My God loves you too!

My heart is singing
Come sing with me
Let’s praise Him again
‘Cause that is how it ought to be!

Come Sing With Me!


Psalm 95:1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Don't Ask Me to Say GoodBye

So many of us deal with friends and family with terminal illness everyday. Some have faith that they'll be healed or live in eternity. None of us really know but we can be assured where we can expect to go when our time here on Earth is complete. When faced with the reality that your life is ending much faster than you hope wouldn't it be relieving to know you'll live in eternity. I have a friend going through an illness right now who has some belief in God and faith she'll get through this but I'm not ready to say good bye. She's not where she needs to be. I pray The Lord grants us the time to get her there. I know many of you reading this are either thinking I whacked or I'm right on the nail. Either way when faced with terminal illness, so many feelings of fear, shock, denial, hurt, anger frustration, sadness come forth but what about the peace and joy and hope? Is it possible to have that in such a situation? I believe there can be if you seek The Lord. I wrote this for my friend and pray that it reaches her heart not as a poem to make her cry but one to bring her to peace within and with the Father. May God bless each of you who are dealing with such a storm. May you find the peace of God in amidst the storm.

Don't Ask Me to Say Goodbye

Don't ask me to say goodbye
until I tell you about this totally awesome guy
who did what had to be done for us,
who withstood the wrath and took the blame so we could free
though He deserved none, he did it so we could live eternally

Don't ask me to say goodbye
until I tell you why
it was done to close the gap 'tween Heaven and us
to cleanse us of our sins
and make us fit to live forever within the walls of Heaven

Don't ask me to say goodbye
because more to share have I
He saved, He loves, He lifts
He does not judge, shame or hate
He can keep us from a horrible fate

Don't ask me to say goodbye
until I show you how you can tuck this guy
deep within your heart
Believe me when I say you cannot live or die without
Beyond a shadow of a doubt

Don't ask me to say goodbye
Until you have said hello
to the kindest loving saviour I've come to know
Let him bring you places that without him you'll never go

Don't ask me to say goodbye
if you haven't met with him,
Our brother in the sky
because I couldn't bear to live my life
knowing this would be our end

Don't ask me to say goodbye
till I know you'll be with Jesus
when the end of your time on Earth comes
I won't live in eternity without you
Nor will I accept goodbye

Don't ask me to say goodbye
I will not, because in eternity there are no byes
Just peace, love and joy
I expect to see you there.
Till we meet again my friend.

A sweet serenade

I've been treated very many mornings by the beautiful song of the cardinal. This beautiful red bird serenades us all winter long. One morning as I was reading and studying my morning devotions he came to serenade me and I could not concentrate. My distraction became the words in this poem. I've also included a picture of the little red creature responsible. Sorry if it's not that clear. 

The Cardinal's Song

High atop the maple tree

A little red cardinal sings to me

Good morning my friend he seems to say

Open those eyes and greet the day

Come see what the Lord has for you

and sing like me in all you do 

High atop the maple tree

A little red cardinal sings to me

a message so sweet

that to hear is a real treat

Come near and listen

as the first morning light begins to glisten

High atop the maple tree

A little red cardinal sings to me

to the sky your eyes must raise

and give The Lord your praise

for today He gives you a clean start

Don't you just love His heart

High atop the maple tree

A little red cardinal sings to me

come fly with me my friend

I'll show you the Lord's creation reaches no end

it unfolds around each bend

High atop the maple tree

A little red cardinal sings to me

A message from The Lord just as the sun lights the sky

Don't be afraid, I will always be near by

and when you begin to worry

call my name and I'll fly to you in a hurry

High atop the maple tree

A little red cardinal sings to me

Good morning my friend he seems to say

Are you ready now to start your day

Get out of that bed

and strive to do what The Lord has said

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:3, 4 NIV)

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV)