You Are Not Alone #song #hope #faith

This lovely praise song O My Soul (Casting Crowns) echoes in my head.

“Oh my soul

you are not alone

there’s a place where fear

Has to face the God you know

One more day

He will make a way

Let Him show you how

You can lay this down, you can lay this down…”

There are so many places we look for assurance when we are lonely, dejected. Jesus really does want us to run into His arms and throw all these cares to the side. Yes we will cry, yes we will ask why, yes we will…

There are so many places in Psalms to curl up with a coffee or tea and be encouraged.

“”May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you.” Psalm 20:1

“Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted, The troubles of my heart have enlarged: bring me out of my distresses.” Psalm 25:16 & 17

“Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. Attend to me and hear me; I am restless in my complaint and moan noisily.” Psalm 55:1 & 2

“But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer (s).” Psalm 66:19

“If I say ‘my foot slips,’ Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up,” Psalm 94:18

“I cry out with my whole heart…” Psalm 119:145

Cry out with your whole heart. He hears you and and wishes to comfort you in your days of sorrow and trouble.

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Looking Back #suffering #hope

Behind me

shadows of frozen pain

I choose to forget

It was many winters ago now. Life was empty and what little I had was slipping through my fingers. “You have cancer” were words I could not bear to add to my void.

The scepter of fear wanted to rob days and precious memories that might be the last with young children.

Hope comes in strange forms as does healing.

The hospital I was admitted to was an Oasis for those with little to cling to.

This week I lost my little sister to Cancer. Her fingers slowly lost grip of this life. She was cheerful at the end and surrounded by love.

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

~Hebrews 1:3

We have no control or our days or when they might slip away but we have a hope in Christ. He cures the sick, the suffering and the person in bondage.

Tomorrow’s Hope #Covid-19 #faith #children

“I was just thinking about a friend of ours.” Bethany looks at her lion friend.

“Who is that Bethany?”

“Her name is Christine. Several of her children have attended our class.”

“Oh yes I remember her. The last time I saw her she was very sad.”

“Many of her tribe didn’t want the baby in the village; they said the baby was cursed.

A tear falls from Judah’s eye. “How can a baby be a curse?”

“It is our fallen world Judah.” Bethany holds his paw. “Broken people have little hope.”

“But there was one who came to give hope to the broken. His light breaks through darkness.The Gospel of John talks about light: “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.” John 12:35

“Judah, We need some of that light during Co-Vid pandemic. There are some families who have lost many people to the disease. ”

We can’t be afraid though: “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, Be strong, do not fear! Behold your God will come with a vengeance.” Isaiah 35:4

“No, Judah, you are right we must hold fast to Jesus, because our Tomorrow is filled with eternal hope. ”

 

So many of us are dealing with uncertainty. Are you afraid? Ask God to help you be strong. The Bible says God will come and be with you in your dark and fearful times.

Rebirth #easter #love #sacrifice

It was a chrysalis; a pod that holds a baby butterfly. I looked up in the tree above.

“You fell didn’t you? How can I get you back?” There was no answer, no help.

I carried the chrysalis to my cave and put it in a very safe place. “What should I do with you? Should I bury you? I can’t.”

For 3 days Judah paced and mumbled in his cave. He couldn’t eat because he was sad about the small creature who had died.

Then on day 3, he heard a tiny voice. “Hello.” Is anyone there?”

“Hello” I saw the pod changing colour and I was afraid. “How can I help?” I said rather loudly.

“I must be hanging from something or I cannot come out the right way.”

I looked around in my cave. Then I grabbed the stub where the chrysalis had been attached to the tree. I let it hang down between my teeth. “Okay.”

I spent many hours as my wings little by little came out of the pod. When my eyes popped open, I saw something large and sharp. “What are those?” I tried to sound calm.

“My teeth.”

“What do you use them for?”

“Eating.”

“Like small creatures?”

“I eat many things.”

“Um, Mr Lion can you put me back where I came from.”

“The tree was too high. I can’t do it.”

I was too tired to argue. Maybe he would give me time to fly away. It was not easy, but I kept unfolding and drying my wet wings. I finally climbed on his big nose. I waved a wing at his eyes. “Hello, I’m Bethany. Can we be friends?”

“Oh yes. You are so beautiful. I would like to be friends very much.”

“Do lions eat their friends?”

“Never.”

***

“My God my God why have You forsaken me?” Mark 15:34

Many of us feel forsaken during these days of CoVid 19. God has not closed His eyes to our suffering. He’s right there.

Jesus died on the cross for our sins. His heart broke because our sins separated Him from the love of God  (for those 3 days.) Why would he do that? Because He loved us and wanted to free us. Judah the lion didn’t save the cocoon to then eat the butterfly. Jesus didn’t die for ours sins to then condemn us to eternal hell.

No one expected that in three days he would rise from the dead.  He is very much alive and we can be redeemed because sin has no hold on us in Christ. Just like Bethany the beautiful butterfly was reborn so can we be reborn in Jesus.

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” Matthew 28:6

So rejoice-  Easter is the promise that death could not hold Jesus. It cannot hold us either.

 

 

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, (nor CoVid19) neither angels nor demons,^[b]neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~Romans 8:38 & 39

 

Be suspended in the rays of Easter’s hope. Be loved by the one who died on the cross for YOU!!!

 

 

Fragile #Elderly #atozchallenge

 fragile skin

fall crackles beneath feet

blue eye question

 sky hidden behind clouds

arms reach for emptiness

wind blows yesterday

your toes wave at me

another good day

***

People may not know it but skin is a barrier to disease and in the elderly skin is a battle front.  Broken Skin breaks and tears like tissue paper. A little bump against a chair can cause a big bruise or even a tear which can then be a wound. When we are “young” and active a wound heals in days in the elderly that same wound can take weeks to months. The worst wound I saw when I was a wound care nurse was in a bed bound woman whose bed sore had become a tunnel. That tunnel was about 305 mm (approx 1 foot). Through daily care, hydration and diet we were shrinking that tunnel. Needless to say those wounds on your backside are painful.

One of my main goals (with the elderly) is always up and out of bed. If they are now bed bound they need to shift as often as possible. If they can do that themselves so much the better but everyone favors their left or right side so they need to shift. In the hospital we often have to position our patients that used to be every two hours.

If you have a family member who is now in bed, get that person moving. If they cannot use pillows to wedge them on one side then the other. Legs up (on a pillow) legs down. And please keep them clean. Uric acid in briefs and just from our skin breaks down skin.

Places where we become fragile are sacral area (its boney there) elbows, ankles.

If you read my post a few days ago I mentioned water. Water will actually help keep skin cells plumper. Elderly do  not drink alot of fluids because then they have to get up (and go).

I think my letter “W” will be for water. I have learned to have a great respect for that molecule.

My leaf photograph reminds me so much of the elderly clients I have had over the years. They are fragile but with a singular beauty.

Any good skin tips? Lotions or awesome soaps????

Hope you are enjoying the A to Z challenge and thanks for your visit.

 

I Want To Die… #devotion #prayer #Covid19

A wave pushes me under

look in eyes of anathema

there’s never been love’s glow

my spirit is weak

I tremble alone

you hand me the knife

“Do it. “

die- get it over with

there is one

heard my cry in the wilderness

***

The words pour out. One woman echos the words of thousands of other women as the hour is sounded.

“I WANT TO DIE…”

She is weary from hope. Desperation claims her breath, anguish has consumed her life force.

The will that remains is for an end – death.

I cannot reach a hand of hope to hers. I cannot touch her heart with my tears, but there is one who can.

His name is Jesus.

Two thousand years ago this humble servant walked dusty roads to love the lost, heal the lepers, free those in bondage, die for the sins of the world.

 

“As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy and dark day.”

Ezekiel 34:12

Jesus came not to be served or elevated to a kingly throne “but to seek and save the lost.”

A woman lonely, distressed with a disease is emptied of hope. She hears about Jesus and believes that his love will save her.  As she barely touches the hem of his tunic, she is healed and saved..

This nameless women cry in the night. He holds bottles filled with their tears. “Lord heal me, Lord save me, Lord forgive me, Lord LOVE ME.”

This day as you look at Corona Virus death tolls look to the shepherd who knows your name. He hears your cry, knows your fear, and with grace and mercy longs to rescue you!!!!

 

Sands Of Time #life #hospice #poetry

I draw an endless line

I’ve forgotten where’s the start

fingers know the texture

lines drawn upon my heart

*

countless beyond measure

the sands beneath my feet

a child’s toes remember

sea memories so deep

*

I’ve drawn an endless line

forgotten where’s the start

at times I’ve lost all hope

those lines have etched my heart

*

a hand full of grains

unbidden do they fall

a place to return to

changeless after all

*

I’ve drawn an endless line

forgotten where’s the start

dreams to the four winds

poetry is my heart

*

today I sketch a new life

the dawn is just ahead

new hope in the making

the sand my faithful friend

*

I draw an endless line

forgotten where’s the start

fingers know the texture

lines drawn upon my heart

A dear patient passed two years ago today. Hospice is a hard world. Each caregiver/nurse gives a piece of heart. Thankfully like the sand there are many pieces. Thank you for reading…

Images Sand Meet Wave copyright  2015 & Alone at Dawn copyright 2019

 

 

Why We… #women #moms #wives

There are moments in our lives

(too many to count)

the flames scorch our brow

a touch leaves a bruise

even those close

our hearts twist and use

But

 in stone there’s etched hope

with strong fingers we must choose

weak days there will be

“give up” is not in our vocabulary

 

It doesn’t matter what country I travel to I hear and see the results of abuse. Women even little girls are the fodder of all society (rich, poor, indifferent). There is no excuse yet the abuse (even subtle) continues. Don’t believe me when I tell you that an 85 year old woman has been accosted by her male neighbor. Don’t believe me when I tell you that a man of faith raped his wife for 20 years (we don’t call it rape we call it “free access”).  Don’t believe me because I am a single mom and the school just allowed my child to come to harm; I am the one  being sent to court.

These offenses continue but if you have been raped, accosted, mis-understood, lied to, over-looked, underpaid… Continue to be Strong and Hope.

 

Charlotte #wordsoflove #death #poetry

The words in bold I pulled from a gravestone poem written by a grieving husband to his wife who had passed so young.

 

Charlotte

I spoke your name in harmony with the lark

now the marble holds memories cold

I caressed your hand through the bitterest of fights

now I seek your shadow as you slumber at night

*

silvery clouds trace your smile’s mark

I hear your sweet whispered tone

rustle through the breeze

as you say my name, I freeze

*

a shiver runneth over me

soft hands reach for embrace

we never ever do quite touch

I look  toward heaven far too much

*

longing to catch your loving trace

tears wet my brow, cheeks, face

that once held hot, warm kiss

can only mouth the things I miss

*

I struggle not to throw myself away

 I am yet buoyant on life’s ebbing waves

“May I be faithful to your name  my dear

    nothing in life seems very clear

*

 

I’ll not forget kindness  from above

delivered treasure from the one I love

Next to you darling reserve for me a place

  eternal destiny full of grace”

This is from a previous poem written in 2014. I work with elderly and see so much love in the last unspoken words. This poem reflects the love from both sises of the grave.

~Thanks for reading

 

Seek and You Will Find #poetry

You cant see my toes

squish, wiggle in the sand

and where the tuba blows

Ill whistle with the band

you cant know my thoughts

though a smile you might see

some things can be taught

not my giggle and  glee

you wont hear the whispered hush

goodness daily do I pray

God is where I put my trust

each and every day

and with much hope

courage for the King

if I have one vote

its to serve Him faithfully

 

Art:  Winslow Homer “Boys Wading” photo taken at National Gallery of Art