Horrid, plastic supermarket bag
Floating in my stream
Turning sparkling water to ugliness
Shattering my dream.
Carelessly thrown without a thought
I’m sad that someone has never been taught
To notice the beauty all around
To listen to the lilting sound
Of birds in the overhanging trees
The whisper of butterflies, buzz of bees
If they had been taught I know that they
Would never have thrown that bag away.
Did you weep Father God
When your only Son died?
I know Jesus cried
When his best friend died.
But today I was wondering whether
Tears and death for you
Also went together
As they did for me
When my loved one died.
And if my limited love
On this earth makes me cry
I think the God of Love’s eyes
Did not remain dry.
Yet God knew of course
Death was not the end
That on the third day
Christ would rise again.
His victory over death
Includes everyone and me
I can have certain hope
In this reality.
So the tears of sorrow
Become tears of joy
Knowing those who have died
Down through the years
I shall see again
In God’s home above
When reunited with Father
And all that I love.
Following a departure
And ensuing deep sorrow
Every memory stored
Is a pearl to treasure
Ponder. Thread together
One after the other
Into a beautiful necklace
Enhancing the wearer
Delighting the observer
Pearls of great price
Bring the past into the present
Hope for the future
A lasting peace
Even joy.
When you feel such deep sorrow you want to die
Bitter tears flow and you wonder why
Why this has happened? Why now? Why me?
You feel numb and through misery unable to see
Unable to see what the future might be.
It is then you must move forward day by day
Till out of such desperation you find a new way.
Completely discouraged
When low in the dust
Revive me by your Word Lord
Weary with sorrow
Weeping with grief
Comfort me by your Word Lord
When making my plans
Help me understand
May I meditate your commands Lord
I will always hold fast
Keep me from shame
Strengthen me by your Word Lord
Lord, I choose your way
Set my heart on your law
Help me appreciate it more and more.
Psalm 119:25-32
I have a heartache that no one can see
For it’s hidden deep internally
Occasionally showing itself by a streak
As a tear escapes and flows down my cheek.
Yet there is a way that this secret sadness
Gets removed and when I’m filled with gladness
It is when from a heart that is open and true
My small grandson says, “Grand-mère I love you.”
When I hear these words spoken from the heart
They encourage me to make a fresh start
Look around me to see what I can do
For there are others who need me to love them too.
Regret is such a horrible word
So much disappointment and sorrow
It’s a word that sadly looks back to the past
Never forward toward tomorrow.
If I want to look back at the end of my life
And see there is no regret there
I need to be thankful for all that I have
Be kind, loving, share and care.
Silent sobs deep within
Stir but do not surface
Emotions too profound
To come into the light.
Will I ever feel again
Loving happiness?
I think not.
Yet I do have moments
When former joy returns
But it never stays
Slips from my grip
As I try to hold it.
Life has lost meaning.
Please God help me
Restore to me
The joy of your salvation
Pour your oil of gladness
On all my sadness.
Yesterday I received a gift
A bunch of daffodils.
They bring such joy
But at what cost?
I felt their pain
When I snipped their stalks
And saw them crying sticky tears
Trying to retain some moisture.
The buds were tightly closed
Colourless and sad.
In the vase today
They are thirstily drinking
Bravely flowering
Yet I’m thinking
Wouldn’t they be happier,
Wouldn’t they have lasted longer
Joined to the bulb
Nodding and dancing in the breeze
Eventually fading
Returning goodness to their life source?
I ponder this anomaly
Of intermingling sadness and joy.
