Tag: prayer

Not Enough

On By Piano girlLeave a comment

Feeling the need to speak
Knowing the importance of
Choosing my words
Carefully-
Not speaking is unacceptable-
Emotions swirl in my head
Threatening to exit in a scream-
Until I pause
Take a breath
Whisper a prayer
Allowing it all to be filtered
Though my heart –
Love your neighbor as yourself
Leaves no room to vilify or dehumanize-
Be kind and compassionate to one another
Holds no space for intimidation and hatred-
Love those who are foreigners,
For you yourselves were foreigners
Carries no capacity for arrogance or exile-
Choosing my words carefully
Knowing they are not enough
And actions must follow

Photos taken by me in Washington, D.C.

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl14 Comments

Prayerfully

If I choose to do
What I know to do
Love
Everyone
No matter what
Little room remains
For hateful words
Or ugly actions
If I choose to do
What I should not do
Hate
Anyone
For any reason
Little room remains
For joyful connections
Or beautiful expression
The state of my heart
Releases with my words
My words guide my hands-
Help me always choose love

❤️

“…no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.”

I Corinthians 13:3 MSG

Evidence

On By Piano girl8 Comments

I’ve held my tears close
Hesitantly accepting
The sun’s warmth
On my face
But the disappointment
And questions with no answers
Will no longer be ignored
Cascading down with today’s rain
I suppose this is where faith steps in
It is, after all, believing
In what I can’t see-
A simple definition, yes
Sometimes those are
The ones to hold close
And I must believe
Love continues to reside
Even in places where evidence
Is not clearly evident-
And if it is lost, to think it can
Once again, be found
It may begin with simple words
I hear you.
I love you.
I see you.
I am sorry.
But its survival requires
Much more than words-
Please don’t give me opinions
Or long-held beliefs
Both are easily skewed
By outward influences
Where truth and lies
Are purposefully blurred
Instead, close your eyes
Open your heart
Focus on the sound
Of your heartbeat
Helping it to grow
More in sync with mine
As we breathe
As we silently pray
Knowing I am afraid, too

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl10 Comments 
Miles in front
Miles behind
Yet, it feels like
I'm standing still
Stuck in a loop
Remembering the past
Looking toward the future-
Past and future
Each holds 
An importance 
Of its own
One influences the other 
The other reflects the one
Perhaps the secret
Lies in the stillness
Of a single breath
When they are
Momentarily the same

I drove from Tulsa to Dallas yesterday. Our nine-month-old granddaughter is in the hospital with pneumonia. I checked the remaining miles on my map at least one hundred times.

Even when I knew I’d traveled a distance, it felt like I would never arrive. Those last ten miles were the slowest. 

But I made it. Held my sleeping granddaughter. Sat still, watched and listened to her breathe. Silently breathed a prayer.
Happy to report our sweet girl is getting better. ❤️

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl7 Comments

The Earth groaned
Waking me from
A deep sleep
Is that thunder?
Growing stronger
And louder with
Each passing minute
Until windowpanes
Began to rattle
And floors shook-
Yet, we were
Motionless
Waiting for the ground
To stop moving
Listening
For the rumbling
To fade away
Realizing there was
Nothing else to do
As is often the case-
Life’s unexpected circumstances–
Sometimes
The best solution
Is to be still…

We know all about tornadoes in Oklahoma. There are sirens and weather reports. But earthquakes? They provide no warning.

Friday evening, we experienced a 5.1 earthquake. No physical damage, just a little jarring.

A reminder that grasping for control does no good. A life lesson I continue to learn.

”Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed…”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Wide Awake

On By Piano girl5 Comments

Internal eye rolls
Awkward silences
Short-lived
Moments
Remaining
In Memories
Holding
Potential
For regrets
That is, until…
I find myself
On the other side
And any possible
Regret instantly
Transforms into
Appreciation
Understanding-
Now, the parent
Then, the child
Now, the one
Wide Awake
Late at night
Praying
As each name
Each face
Each concern
Crosses my heart
The one hoping
To offer reassurance

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl8 Comments

Choosing Thankful

So many things I take for granted.
Today, I am embracing the simple.
Thankful that the sun is shining.
Thankful that the breeze is crisp.
Thankful for the ability to talk on the phone.
Hearing my dad, You will always be my little girl.
Hearing my mom, I am ok. We will trust God to take care of us.
Dad is in the hospital in Arkansas.
Mom is there with him.
I am at home in Oklahoma.
Such is this life. And that is ok.

October Drought

On By Piano girl6 Comments

Muted colors
Hazy sky
Tired eyes
A thin film
Masking
Autumn
As if looking
At the world
Thru obscure glass

Not the expected scene

Bright yellows
Burnt oranges
Fiery reds
Fair sky
Cool, crisp air
Waking senses
What I remember
What I hope for

Praying for rain

Praying for Rain

On By Piano girl4 Comments

The ground
Is parched
Grass once green
And inviting
Grows brown
Crunching
Beneath my feet
Trees struggle
To survive
Their leaves
Hanging on
For it’s too soon
For them to fall
One single spark
And the results
Would be
Devastating
Praying for rain

The Earth
Is parched
Tears shed in
Sadness and grief
But also in
Reconciliation
All dried up
People struggle
To survive
Their children
Hanging on
For it’s too soon
For them to fall
One single spark
And the results
Would be
Devastating
Praying for rain

How can this be?
Seems only yesterday
The ground was wet
With the tears of an entire world-
Are there no more left to cry?
I do not believe so, but what is the answer-

My soul
Is thirsty
Longing for
A cool breeze
A steady rain
Not a storm
Filled with
Lightening
And thunder
No loud voices
Sharing dissent
For all to hear
Instead, the quiet
Whisper of love
Sent in raindrops
Coaxing our tears
To once again join in
Watering the ground

Morning News

On By Piano girl5 Comments

I sit quietly
In my house
This morning
Drinking hot tea
Watching the morning news
Never having experienced the kind of fear
That would cause me to flee my home
Searching for a place of safety
A shelter under the ground
Where explosions above
That will destroy my home
And those of my friends and family
Cannot reach my children
I don’t know that kind of fear
Not fear of natural disasters
Unavoidable depending on location
But fear of weapons
Created by man
Neighbor against neighbor
Strong overtaking weak
Seeking what?
Power and greed
Seem the most common answers-
I sit quietly
In my house
This morning
Unable to erase the image
Of a precious little girl
On the morning news
Her big eyes filled with tears
Hiding underground
Unable to block
The sounds of bombs
Exploding on the surface
Perhaps I should not try
To erase her image
Instead, let it sear into my memory
Reminding me to pray for light
To find her in that dark place