Home

Home

A home is not made of a nice big house
with four fancy wheels on the ground.
Home is a place of the heart,
a refuge for the troubled soul
where love can grow unbounded.
Home is a place you want to return
again, and again, and again.
It’s a place of ease and comfort
where life’s music and dance can blend.
Home is where memories linger
in the darkest night’s unrest.
Home is a place where the sun still shines
and welcoming arms hold your tight,
and you know that you will still be loved
when you wake to the new day’s light.

Some Days

Some Days

Some days are better than others.
You arise with a smile on your face.
You hug the dog and kiss your mate
and walk out into the sunshine.
You raise your hands to God above
and thank him for his care and love.
You see the flowers on the vine
and the weeds peeking out of the soil.
You hear the melody of the birds
and swat at the pesky gnats.
For along with the beautiful things in life
also comes the stress and strife.
We must realize as we grow older
that it's enough to just be here,
breathing in and breathing out,
alive for one more day,
blessed to have family and friends
who supply love and hugs without end!

Bitter

Bitter

He speaks again of his childhood.
The stories I’ve heard so often
come pouring forth like vinegar
from a bottle, his words sour,
briny memories… bitter.

Resentful towards his father,
an indignant recounting of
pain and punishment,
unjust demands on his time,
unpalatable thoughts… bitter.

Remorse that he left his mother
behind to live and cope with
what he could no longer bear.
Dreaming now of the great farmer
he could have been… bitter.

Hatred, simmering, growing,
boiling over year after year
within his mind and heart,
hatred for the abusive father
who controls him still… bitter.

Confused

Not paying attention
My thoughts wander
Unable to focus
Confused

What did you say?
Repeat it again.

My senior moments
Come way too often
Now where was I?
Confused.

Which Is Better?

tell it like it is
open mouth, insert your foot –
or remain silent

Jesus Christ the Servant

I came to be a servant – to teach you how to live.
– to give all I had to give.
– to show you right from wrong.
– to fill your mind with glory
and fill your heart with song

I came to be a servant – to promise you a home.
– so you’d never be alone.
– to pass along God’s grace.
– to show how much God loves you
— any time — any place.

I came to be a servant – to change the ways of man
– all according to God’s plan.
– to be sacrificed, misunderstood.
– to bleed and die at Calvary
upon a cross of wood.

I came to be a servant – to live within your heart.
– to set my own apart.
– to offer hope and conquer sin
– to give you everlasting life
– if you will just invite me in!

Room for Rent

a bird house hangs there
robins flitting in and out
hungry "peeps" within

a bird house hangs there
fluffy chick in the doorway
mother on the ground

a bird house hangs there
silent, motionless, empty
vacant until spring

***


No Vacancy

bluebird at the door
mama is checking it out
papa waits nearby

wrens flit in and out
today a flycatcher too!
same house, same springtime

I think they've joined up
to form a birdie commune -
chillin' at the pad!

Americans

Americans


A nation under God
M oving always toward peace
E nriching the lives of others
R aising awareness
I nviting confidence
C aring for others
A nnouncing our faith
N eighbors worth having
S trong and courageous

A Different Love

Our love began to fade
the moment we said “I do.”
And I never found again
the passion we once knew.
And yet there grew a different love
eventually, over the years,
as passion became unimportant
and togetherness allayed the tears.

Be A Star!

Be a Star!


Nothing is ever perfect,
for perfection just doesn’t stay.
As soon as we think a thing’s perfect,
new upgrades are underway.

And when we acquire
the next perfect thing,
We’ll find it is really
not good enough bling!

Maybe Susie has better
or Joey has more.
If we try to keep up,
we soon may be poor.

Jane and John may be skinny or tall
or athletic or incredibly smart.
But, that doesn’t make them better
than you with your loving heart!

Everybody is different.
Over time we all will change.
So why should we even join in
this silly look-alike game?

Happiness doesn’t come
from everyone being the same
For in time even Jane and John will age
and their bodies continue to change.

Just be happy with what you have
or happy with what you are.
Be the best you can be today —
Be yourself, be unique, be a star!

Do You Ever Wonder?

Do You Ever Wonder?

After leaving here
just where will I go?
The answer to that question
we all would like to know.
But God, in his infinite wisdom
will send us up or down
according to how we’ve lived
and if we’ve turned our life around.
He’ll look for Jesus in our hearts
and count our every good deed.
And if he finds us lacking
we might as well concede
the route that we’ll be taking
though it be lined with fire
will be the only route we’ve earned
when against him we’ve conspired.
But if he finds within our hearts
his own son shining through
he’ll take us by the hand
and give us life anew.
There’ll be no need to wonder then
just where we’ll be going,
for his paths are lined with gold,
shining bright and glowing.
We’ll have no need for GPS,
no need for Google maps.
for God will have taken full control
with his “Angelic Apps!”

Ode to Nowhere

Ode to Nowhere

You’ve kept me awake and guessing
many a long, long night
just where I would be going
when I saw the next dawn’s light.

When my eyes refuse to close
and sleep has taken flight
I’m on the road to nowhere
and anywhere’s out of sight.

Nowhere beckons righteously
as though it thinks I might
really want to go there
when the moon hangs low and bright.

Nowhere occupies my mind
like a deer caught in the headlights
It’s all I see ahead of me
as the clock ticks on past midnight.

But if by chance the slumber train
the tedious hours expedite
and dawn comes sooner than I thought
would it be impolite

To wave bye-bye to nowhere
when I’ve gained a sudden insight
that I’m really headed somewhere
or should I feel contrite?

For nowhere now sits all alone
pondering his pitiful plight
of what to do ‘til I return
on another sleepless night!

What Would It Hurt To Be Ignorant?

What Would It Hurt To Be Ignorant?

I wonder what it would be like
Without a TV or newspaper?
How did the pioneers ever manage
Without instant news
At their fingertips?

I’ve often wondered if we really need
To know all the bad news daily,
Hourly, or minute to minute.
What would it hurt to be
Ignorant of world affairs?

Could we live longer lives
Without the stress of seeing
The world in carnage and sin?
Could we cope with
Peace and serenity?

Could we go about from day to day
Smiling at our fellow man
Knowing that today was ours
And how it turned out would
Not make tomorrow’s headlines?

I kind of doubt that it’s possible,
Not for the youth of today
But there are those among us
Who might find the life of a hermit
To be quite a newsworthy change!