Tomorrow

I cried and tears streamed down my face,
My heart cried out to You…
O Lord how I am in disgrace!
There’s nothing I can do.

It burdens me, my trouble, Lord…
Why here, why now, why me?
Life was as it should have been
But my future now I can’t foresee.

I’m anxious, Lord! My spirit fails
I meditate on trouble…
My mind is constant on the ways
And times that I shall fumble.

I want to dance and yet my heart
Is so burdened as to weigh
My whole being, my spirit, and my mind
As I wonder beyond today.

No longer do I jump and turn
To the music of your blessing.
But instead I feel the steady drag
And know that You are testing.

I’ve failed it Lord, without a pause!
Forgive me for my fear…
I’ve turned my trust away from You
And held other things to dear.

But now I lift my eyes to You
And long to give you glory…
And pray that I should give you praise
In all you set before me.

I dance, and not just with my feet
But also with my heart…
You take my hand, You lead me again
As I hear the music start.

There is no hope for tomorrow
No meaning for the day
Unless I dedicate my dance
To the One to which I pray.

I cried and tears streamed down my face,
My heart cried out to You…
You answered me despite my err
And helped me dance anew.

The Storm

I stepped along the road of life
And thanked You for the sun
I turned my head to the warm, gentle breeze
And felt no need to run.

The weather was calm and warm
The breeze just touched my face…
I walked along the level path
And moved with ease and grace.

I bent to pick a flower
And I marveled at Your love
I thanked You for what makes it grow-
For the warm and golden sun.

But as I reached a clearing
I saw clouds begin to roll;
My light and sun had disappeared
Leaving all so dark and dull.

The rain began to fall
And it pelted on my back
The road I could not see
As my world was turning black.

I struggled through the wind
But still I lost the path…
What ever had I done
To deserve Your holy wrath?

The minutes seemed as long as years
And I felt so weary and old…
I prayed with every struggling step
You’d take away the cold.

But even as I wondered
Just how far away You are
I bent against the raging wind
To glimpse a hopeful star…

It glimmered in the drenching rain
And shone despite the grey;
It’s smile peeked right through the leaves
It’s colors bright and gay.

I bent to touch the flower
And the memory returned
Of a sunny, perfect, peaceful day
When for me God was concerned.

And as the rain poured down my face
And the wind blew on my back
I realized that it never was
Your mercy that I lacked.

For even in the worst of storms
Your love grows strong and sure
And reminds me of Your promise
That I’ll be alone no more.

An American Christmas

Dreams of Christmas often mean
Seeing food, and things, and not the King
We smell the candles, see the tree
And focus all on you and me.

Make the cake and hang the lights
Must be good; Santa comes tonight
Do not scream or make a noise;
It all depends on behaved boys.

Rush into the crowded stores
Shop and drop among the scores
Do not leave until you’re done
Shopping for practically everyone.

It doesn’t matter how you feel
Angry, tired, what’s the deal?
Suck it up and go along
Sing the happy Christmas song.

Presents and food and all that good stuff
What’s Christmas about? It’s all about us!
We please the in-laws with extravagant gifts
We stuff all the kids with the food and the fibs.

We like all the stories of saints who bring
Tons of gifts fit for a king
But year after year the spirit wanes
And we get sick the cookies and candy canes.

For really after once or twice
We’re sick of food, of cake and spice
We want something that is more than us
We’re tired of the noise and fuss.

Well here’s the good news; you don’t have to be
The one to spread the gifts to me
If I relied on earthly cheer
Then “Christmas” would so not be here!

For through the years, though watered down
Christmas remains about a crown
That a precious baby was born to wear
And thus spread love and Godly cheer.

Just as fruitcake never satisfies
We flit around like fireflies
In search of something more than fun
Until we find the Precious One.

Frodo's Struggles

Walking through the marshy land
And sleeping in the rain
My heart is heavy, the rain is steady
And I feel a dull, dark pain.

With each step I take it grows
And it clutches to my soul
I feel it’s weight like a closing gate
And I can’t resist the pull.

I rest under a dying tree
With the fires of hell beyond
And I think way back to my homey shack
And the comforts of which I’m fond.

I see the green grass and giant trees
I hear the children playing…
I smell the food, and know the mood
Of a people who know no pain.

Why was I called from my home
To travel long through hell?
From home I am gone, and all is now wrong
And I wish with my all I were well.

But as I see in the corner of my reddened eye
The fires of hell; mount doom
I know that my life, which was such a delight
Is now one of pain and of gloom.

Oh where is the strength that I need to go on?
Where is the courage and hope?
And how can I, who is longing to die,
Keep climbing the steepening slope?

But as I gather my ragged cloak
And wearily rise again
I know I’ll go on, as I’m singing the song
Of a home that is now a heaven.

Happy Birthday Emily!

Dear sister! Do look up and see
This poem I write for you…
Though words can never ease your pain
I know just what to do…

I’ll make you laugh, I’ll make you smile
It works most every time!
(But then there are those horrid days
When my words just never rhyme.)

Oh, I know; it’s just the thing-
I’ll dance to happy Tchaikovsky…
But no, I got a blister
And there’s a painful sphere about me.

Well what about my singing?
Will it do the job to cheer?
No, when you come to ponder it
I think I’ll get a beer.

I’ll serenade her with my song
Upon my violin…
But oh it grates upon her ears
With notes so high and thin.

So what is left to spread the cheer
Of a birthday to be celebrated?
For this one comes but JUST THIS YEAR!
And we all should be elated.

No song, no dance, no violin
But this year just my poem
To let you know I’m proud of you
Who make our house a home.

Happy 18th Emily... we love you!

The Question...

The young man walked up to the door
And raised his hand to knock
He seemed, at first, to hesitate
Then glanced up at the clock.

The minutes rang into his head
As he paused to take a breath
And then he knocked upon the door;
Prepared for sudden death.

He stepped inside and smiled
Though it was less then genuine
For the man that sat across the room
Seemed more evil than refined.

He took a seat and swallowed
And tried to speak with ease
But the words came out in jumbles
Almost shaking like his knees.

The sweat began to form
And the air was getting thick
He thoroughly expected
To receive the painful kick.

He finally did swallow
And breathed some needed air
To let the words come tumbling out
That were so true and fair.

The moments seemed like hours;
The seconds lingered so…
And yet as he looked up to see
The old man seemed to know

And he thought he spied a smile;
Rather sad though it be
It slowly turned to laughter
As it let the young man free.

For both men now could understand
The test of trying to ask
The question each man hopes to find
Their most accomplished task.

Jennifer:)

P.S. did I get it right?

The Mailman

He comes driving by our place
Most every single day
And yet we often fail to thank
The guy who makes it gay…

For many country bumpkins
Such as us who school at home
The time he drives past with the mail
Means entertainment’s come.

We wait, we sigh, we check again
For contact with the world
And when his car has finally come
Our excitement comes unfurled.

So now I write this poem for him
Who works to bring us this;
The highlight of our every day-
The mail we meet with bliss.

Jennifer