"It is never too late to be what you might have been."

~ George Eliot





Comments - and even criticisms - are welcome. It encourages me to know if my words touched a place in your heart; and criticisms show me how to improve. Thanks and have a wonderful day!




Tuesday, October 13, 2015

The Empty Nest


















The Empty Nest

Whose tired wings here used to rest,
upon this intricate, empty nest?
Too messy to be a robin’s bed,
perhaps cardinal lay here instead.

I can see a blue jay scolding here,
any predator that came too near;
yet I think he would build higher though,
to better see who come and go.

Maybe the musical mockingbird’s
fledglings’ notes here first occurred;
then when strong enough, they took wing,
left this nest and even now sing.

No speckled eggs or powder blue,
no feathers found to give a clue;
whose feathered wings from here once flew?
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Have you ever watched a bird build its nest? Watched them hop across the ground to gather twigs, leaves, mud, even bits of trash for that purpose? My mother once noticed a wren gathering bits of hair she had thrown out after cutting my father’s hair. After that day, she placed all haircut trimmings in a plastic bag and hung it outside for them to collect. One brave little wren got carried away though and one day landed on Mom’s head and began tugging away at the hair still attached. We still laugh about that to this day. They are amazing, these winged-weavers of creation!

All birds and their nest have some things in common; and yet, at the same time each is unique in their own way. Sounds a lot like people doesn’t it…the same, but different? Consider this, if a little bird can take broken bits and pieces of discarded “nothing” and tuck and weave it together to create a home, a place to take shelter, a place to lay eggs and raise their young; how much more can the Creator of those creatures, the Lord of our own lives, take our broken pieces and weave something wonderful from them?

Next time you see a bird’s nest, think of the work a tiny creature put into creating it and take hope. Just as they wove broken pieces into something beautiful, God is still weaving His astounding work in you!
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 Wonderful Weaver of my life, thank You for taking all the bits and pieces that make up me and creating something new and beautiful for Your glory and my good. My life, I trust in Your hands. You are my Creator and I give myself to You. In Jesus name I pray. ~ Amen





Friday, October 9, 2015

Questions for a Fallen Leaf


Questions for a Fallen Leaf

Wondering…where will the wind lead     
and which winding way will you blow?
Crossing this twining asphalt road;
little orange leaf stumbling slow,
tossed like a drifting tumbleweed  
leafy head over brown stemmed-toe;
wandering where the wind may lead.      
Watching to see which way you blow…

Did you cling to your mother-tree,
last of her children to let go?
Afraid of what the world might be,
did you cling to your mother-tree?
Or with excitement did you flee,
floating with the first Fall wind’s flow? 
Did you rush from your mother-tree,
first of her children to let go?

Were you captured by screeching tines,
before your travels could take flight,
shoved against others ‘neath rake’s whine?
Were you captured by screeching tines,
not knowing what you’d face, but find
freed by kids diving with delight?
Were you captured by screeching tines,
then by little hands flung to flight?

Wondering…where will the wind lead     
and which winding way will you blow?
Crossing this twining asphalt road;
little orange leaf stumbling slow…
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"...He did fly upon the wings of the wind." Psalm 18:10

Thanks to my dear friend, Carolyn, for the story that inspired this poem. On her drive home one day - kid free, which means free to let your mind wander - she noticed a single leaf tumbling across the road. Carolyn found herself wondering where that leaf was going and where it had been. When she told me about it, I could see the story of the "wandering leaf," And so, this poem was created with those thoughts in mind. :-)

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Rider of the Wind, I thank You that no matter which way the winds blow us in life, You are already there. May we find Your peace as we wander. In Jesus holy name I pray. ~ Amen