Simply Sunday

Kind words
I didn’t know
I needed to hear
You look so pretty
So grounded

From someone
Who has not seen me
In almost a year-
Heartfelt words
Offering
Reassurance
That time
Paired with
Effort and grace
Carries restoration

Twice this week, I ran into friends who are former colleagues. Smiles, hugs, and kind words filled the space we occupied. The visits were brief but left me feeling encouraged.

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

Oklahoma Fall

Playing hide-n-seek
Among the trees
Leaves of Paintbrush Red
And Sunflower Yellow
Wave at purple grasses
Standing strong
In the red clay dirt-
Steady evergreens
Hold tight to
Their needles, while
At the same time
Coaxing those
Approaching
A season of
Visible change
To boldly share
Their transformation-
Oh, they, too
Know change
Roots grown deeper
Branches broken
And re-grown
Changes that
Bring wisdom
Wisdom that
Inspires gratitude
For each new season

The Daffodil and Me

Buried deep
In the earth
Surrounded
By fertile soil
A cycle of
Moisture
And Warmth
From the unseen
Source above
Encouraging
The tiniest
Of stretches
Baby roots
Begin to reach
Grounding
And seeking
In chorus
Ready to follow
An unknown path-
The hard work of
Seed to sprout
The patience of
Bud to flower
All while weathering
Wind, rain, and cold
Until the affection
Of the sun
Lifts her face
Toward the sky
Begging the question-
What comes next?

I am enjoying the daffodils this year. Their resistance to our unpredictable weather is amazing. They may droop a little due to an unexpected cold but stand right back up the next sunny day. They may shiver in the wind, but they don’t fall over. Hmmm…I think there’s a lesson in there somewhere. 😉

Simply Sunday

Yet to Know

For all the hurrying
To complete
The next task
Reach the next
Milestone
I am finding peace
In the unfinished
Relief in knowing
There is more
To become
Simple changes
In the day to day
Or transformation
Across the years
A me anyone has yet to know…
Hopefully, one who is
A bit wiser, one
Who remembers
To slow down
So as not to miss
Even the singular
Steps of growth
Requiring
The most faith
Revealing
The simplest joys

Trouble?

Have you ever heard someone say-
Trouble? That’s my middle name!

The thought of it
Makes me chuckle
Trouble is a word
I typically avoid
As a teacher

Phrases like
Boy, are you in trouble now!
Or
You are going to be in so much trouble!
Erased from my vocabulary

What is trouble anyway?
A challenge
A hurdle
A test
All capable of imparting
Knowledge and growth
Perhaps a drop of wisdom

Hmmm…maybe I should adopt that mantra
Proudly exclaiming
Who, me? That’s right!
Trouble is my middle name!

Pep Talk

Feeling a bit restless
Time for a change?
Not quite sure
The question sounds strange

Looking back ten years
What do I see?
Time for a change
A determined me

Time for a change
No doubt then
Confident and strong
Am I ready again?

Where do I start?
What do I rearrange?
So many questions when it’s
Time for a change