Many things in life causes our heart to break.

And we ask ourselves, how much can I take?

Tears well up and fall like rain,

A cleansing release for all that pain.

After a night of desperation and despair,

We awake to find the morning light still there.

We stand on the promises of God’s love,

Assured there are no tears in heaven above.

The last week has been a walk down memory lane for me. Certain dates trigger a time of reflection and a time of remembrance for friends and loved ones who are no longer with us. Tears flow as we relive the pain of saying good-bye for the last time here on this earth. I am grateful to have a way to release that hurt and am peaceful in the knowledge that one day, there will be no more tears.

A beautiful glow paints the eastern sky,

Telling nights darkness another good-bye.

The birds break out in a morning song,

The whole world wakens and joins along.

Sunrise is the promise of a sparkling new day,

It chases the nighttime fears far away.

The suns warmth and glow bring a brand new start,

God sends it faithfully to plant promise in your heart.

I am thankful for morning sunrises. As I look out my window each morning and see a beautiful picture painted on the horizon, I am awe struck. Each day brings the promise of a brand new beginning and a chance to stop and enjoy the beauty that is all around us.

Memories come silently floating in,

Bringing you back to me again.

The laughter and tears that we shared,

The love which showed how much you cared.

Bittersweet memories on my mind,

Playing over and over on rewind.

They bring comfort and joy to my heart,

Even though you are gone, we’re never apart.

Loved ones depart this world too soon, leaving us alone with our grief and pain. We have the ability to remember the times we shared, to recall their face, to hear their laughter and the sound of their voice.  Memories are a beautiful blessing reconnecting us to those we have lost and miss so much. I am grateful for the memories.

I am grateful for the gift of laughter. When my grandson was in elementary school, I went to watch a presentation the class was giving. Every time he looked at me, he giggled. It was priceless. Have you noticed how giggles and laughter are contagious? One person starts it and everyone joins in, we just can’t help ourselves. This is a healing gift for our bodies and our soul.

LAUGHTER

When daily stress takes a toll.

A good belly laugh sooths the soul.

Giggles are contagious, it is true,

Sometimes they arrive out of the blue.

Laughter is the best medicine they say,

It can brighten even the dreariest day.

So grab your belly, wipe your tears,

Chase away anger and all your fears.

I am grateful for the promise of eternal life. Throughout my life, I have said good-by to so many people and pets that I love. The pain of those losses leaves a lingering, gaping hole in my heart, but I find peace in knowing that we will meet again. One day, I will also depart this earth and travel to my heavenly home. I pray that my life reflects God’s love in all that I do and say.

ETERNAL LIFE

Jesus died on Calvary,

To ensure eternal life for you and me.

Our physical lives will fade away,

But, our spirit can fly to heaven one day.

We’re given the freedom to decide,

And our choice from God, we cannot hide.

We can live our lives with truth and love,

Following the example of God above.

And when we breath our last breath here,

We can meet our maker without any fear.

 

I am grateful for the promise of spring. This is my favorite time of year, a time of renewal and rebirth. After the dreary days of winter, there is nothing more beautiful than spring breaking out. Baby animals, spring flowers, the songs of birds and warm breezes, it’s a touch of heaven here on earth.

SPRING

Daffodils are breaking through the ground,

Frogs are croaking in the background.

The birds are singing their morning song.

We’ll soon tell winters cold so-long.

The trees will break out in bloom and flower,

The rain will give an April shower.

New growth, new beginnings, a fresh new look,

God’s handiwork opens like the pages of a book.

 

Love will always overcome hate. We see the stories of the acts of violence done by evil men play out on TV and social media on a daily basis. These stories get attention and boost ratings. I wish we would see more about the love of people caring for one another. I ran across a story the other day about a couple in Greenwood, Indiana who opened a pizza place that gives jobs to the homeless and donates all profit to an organization which helps homeless. These are the stories I want to see, the stories of love triumphing.

LOVE OVERCOMES

Hate again reared it’s ugly head,

Lives were lost, souls are dead.

We cry out in our despair and pain,

And wonder if right will ever rule again.

Most peoples hearts are full of love,

Instilled in them by the creator above.

Kind words spoken, a gentle hand,

Always and forever, love will stand.

God promises one day, justice will come,

In heaven and on earth. God’s love will overcome.

I am grateful that unseen angels are at work in our lives all the time. When we open our heart to them, we may get the chance to feel their presence. A few years ago, I was working outside, lost my balance and fell backwards. Instead of crashing, I felt unseen hands gently lower me safely to the ground. An unseen angel has stepped in and saved me from pain and injury.

UNSEEN ANGELS

God’s unseen angels are everywhere,

Providing his protection, love and care.

They intercede when problems arrive,

Keeping us safe and helping us thrive.

We often do not know they are near,

God sends them because he holds us so dear.

After my late husband died, I sold my home in the city and moved to the country, away from the noise. I am surrounded by woods, open spaces, wildlife and the beauty God’s creation. I am closest to God when I am outside, just enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. The world can be a cruel and stressful place but, during these peaceful, quiet times, my heart and soul heal. It is during these times that I hear the voice of Jesus calling me.

QUIET TIME

Our heart and soul needs quiet time,

To bask in the light of the divine.

We cannot think, or dream or pray,

When bombarded with the chatter of the day.

Watching a sunset or viewing the night sky,

Will connect us with our creator on high.

Turn off the TV, walk away from the phone,

Everyone needs quiet time spent alone.

 

Day 7 0f the gratitude of Lent

I am grateful for the storms of life.

We all have storms in life, sometimes they are little inconveniences that disrupt our daily routine and other times they are tsunamis which roar in, knock us off our feet and shake-up our whole world. It took me a long time to learn to be grateful for them. I can look back on those times and see how much I grew in my faith.

I thought that the 6 year battle with cancer that I walked through with my late husband and the aftermath of his death was as bad as it could get. During that time, there were days that I had no strength left and I thought I couldn’t go one. God became my constant companion and it was on him that I depended. He carried me when I could not do it myself, I learned to rely on his strength.

This strength I learned to tap into would come back to serve me in 2014. When I left my home that November morning for the hospital, I expected to be home and healing from spinal surgery in three days time. Over three weeks later I returned home after becoming paralyzed. This began a long and painful battle to return to health and mobility. As frightened as I was when it happened, I remember thinking that God’s got me and he won’t let me down. During the whole ordeal, my mantra in my head was a verse from Philippians, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

I am not looking forward to the next storm but I know that with God’s help, I will survive and grow from it. For that, I am grateful.

LIFE STORMS

Like waves crashing on the shore,

Trouble comes and knocks on your door.

Your not prepared. you wonder why,

The storms crush you and make you cry.

You reach out to God for help and care,

You finally go to your knees in prayer.

You find your strength by relying on him.

It’s then you realize, that’s where it’s always been.