Give sorrow words...

"Give sorrow words..." Shakespeare
Shakespeare certainly had a better grasp on the written word than I do, so maybe that is why I find it difficult to give sorrow words. Sometimes there are no words.

Presence in the Valleys

Valleys are:
dark
long
cold
scary

Presence brings:
light
endurance
warmth
courage

Spirit Blow Through Me

Spirit blow through me
blow away stagnant staleness
blow away road worn weariness
blow away faithless fear

Grace wash over me
Soften the hard edges
refresh the parched places
shine the dulled luster

Spirit blow through me
blow in fresh starts
blow in new energy
blow in perfect peace

Suffering Silences

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." Romans 8:26

Suffering silences,
feelings choke words.
Only sighs speak.
Sighs,
welling up from soul's darkness
Speak,
spirit to spirit
without words, nor voice.
Suffering steals words
Sighs confessing helplessness
Sighs expressing connectedness
Spirit speak
with my sighs,speak.
Say something...
of comfort,
for healing,
about peace,
for I have no words...
only sighs
Suffering silences, sighs speak

Recipe for a Life Well Lived

What is the recipe for a life well lived? I found it in a woman who died at the age of 88. Her recipe was an overflowing cup of family, a full measure of friends and a bountiful cup of faith mixed together with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
The recipe resulted in a family who loved her, friends who surrounded her and a faith that sustained her. She treasured wonderful memories, lived with great satisfaction and had no regrets.
What is your recipe for a life well lived?

Enfolded in God's Embrace

Today, as I rejoiced in the lessons that I was taught by a dying woman over the past several weeks, my teacher was enfolded in God's eternal embrace. She is at peace in God's love.

Dying is Like Giving Birth

Dying is like giving birth. One does not know exactly when it will come or what one will have to go through to reach the end result. A person can experience pain and suffering in the dying process just like a woman who is giving birth. Once a baby is placed in the mother's arms the pain and suffering become a distant memory. I think that is how it must be when the dying are placed in the mothering arms of God, the process of getting there is quickly forgotten.
Heaven is God rejoicing at the child enfolded in God's eternal embrace and the child is at peace in God's love.