4/11/23, 6/4/23

Thank You for this precious gift
Burdens of my life You lift
Abundant grace You now bestow
With strength to love each friend and foe

How small I am!  I don’t deserve
This Love now filling every nerve
Grant that I may pay You back
With my whole life and faith not lack

Trusting in Your Providence
I see so strong the evidence
Of Mercy: Love You offer all
Who seek You after every fall

5/29/23

What am I to do, my Lord?
So few things these days afford
How can I put order here?
Actions call from far and near

Use the means to you disposed
Act before the day has closed
Trust the One who sent you here
Serve and don’t be filled with fear

Prudence lends a day well-thought
Fortitude fuels battles fought
Justice gives to each their due
Temperance makes all things feel new

Love as heroes giving life
Hope when faced with mounting strife
Faith in All you’re fighting for
Till you reach that heav’nly door

5/22/23

An anger-filled email
Was blasted my way
It stung like a cat’s nail
And long did it stay

Perhaps I deserved it
Perhaps I did not
Regardless, I felt it
And grew quite distraught

Shall I hang the towel?
The thought crossed my mind
Could one be so foul
And later be kind?

Keep going, I heard
Don’t let such a day
Be your final word
Now up, on your way!

5/7/23

The heart of a mother
A sight to behold
A love like no other
It never grows old

When stormy and sunny
So caring it stays
When noses are runny
It finds curing ways

How grateful we are
For such motherly love
Yet still very far
From us praising enough

4/27/23

I long to see Your face
In Your dwelling place
Let it come to be
That You I finally see

4/23/23

Alas!  A longer list; it grows
There’s always more to do
How long to end it?  No one knows
Yet try to see it through

3/4/23

A hero’s journey often isn’t sought
And unforeseen are many battles fought
But when the call arrives to such an ear
The hero ventures on despite the fear

The glory and the crown is often dreamt
But rugged is the path and oft unkempt
That leads to such an end with victory
Obtained through sweat and toil and misery

Happy is the one who perseveres
In taking on the call to new frontiers 
Though suffering, rejoicing on the path 
That wins for friends a saving aftermath 

3/1/23

Alas, an absence we did not intend
But nature’s laws decided to contend
Good to great, the family, strong at heart
In spirit will not be so far apart

I’ve heard it said that “those who go, stay”
And “those who stay, go” along the way
We keep with us a part of those who go
And those who go keep part of us to know 

The gift of life, so deeply grateful for
We cherish those around us all the more
And those who pass recalling lovingly
The ones who stay, who go, to later see

2/24/23

Fuzzy head and dreary eyes
On the verge of compromise
Weary soldier, aimless course
Voice and legs have lost their force

Rest, my friend, and then take heart
Gearing for a strong restart
Fresh returning to the fight
Bursting forth to day from night