Where Gratitude Grows

I haven’t written poetry in a VERY long time. Since I was a teen possibly. Until this week, that is. Hope you enjoy this one from today!

There once was a man, who for reasons unknown
Traversed a steep canyon each day on his own

The flames of desire burned bright and hot
The whisper of failure, “You won’t reach the top.” 

The angst and the worry of so far to go
Kept silent rejoice of the treasures below

Blinded by lights and the flashes ahead
Overshadowed all peace and rest for his head

Under great pressure – show no sign of pain
His motto was “onward, there’s more ground to gain!”

Uncertain, perhaps the heat or regret
That kept him from seeing the waste up ahead

The ground would be taken no matter the cost
Yet nothing prepared him how much would be lost

Certain that greater would lay up ahead 
So rich and so pleasant with nothing to dread

At last, he shook fist, shouting of woe
All of the heavens heard grumble below

“Why am I forgotten? Why am I so grave? 
Why can’t you make good on the promise you gave?

I’ve toiled and fought each day climbing high 
without one single spot of your goodness in sight!”

Had he but once chosen to bow down his head
Look ‘neath his feet and not up ahead

What beauty he stood right upon as he shouted
Tiny and tender and just barely sprouted

It fought hard each day, pushed aside rocks and tares
But soon it would whither without any care.

It cringed at the shouting and prayed he’d look down.
There where he stood was upon fertile ground

For every steep wall that he scaled on his climb
He’d left lushest valleys intended to find

The tiniest sprigs still lay ahead there
Waiting to flourish, just needing some care

The sparse and scorched land upon which he fumes
Will be quite precisely where all his dreams bloom

The trouble will be, as many have found
To take those few moments and notice the ground.

Release

1. allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free.

2. allow (something) to move, act, or flow freely

I wasn’t looking for a word to define my 2023 but I was given a theme. I struggle with anxiety a bit and feeling like a ball full of ideas and energy and unfinished things. I was praying and asking God…why can’t I finish things? He answered.

The problem isn’t that I don’t finish things but rather that I don’t release them. It didn’t matter what IT was. IT was pretty much everything. A blog post. Something I was making. A song I had written. A word of encouragement for someone. A testimony of what God was doing in my life. A ministry God planted in me. The thought to make a phone call to a friend. The vast majority of things just stayed trapped inside of me or in a closet making clutter.

The problem is I don’t like to share things. IT makes me incredibly nervous. I suppose I have always felt that the external response to anything concerning me is my responsibility to control. So, rather than control it, I will just avoid it all together!

….Pretty unhealthy behavior. Emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

So far this year, I’ve released the ministry, the Facebook posts, the business, the phone calls, the encouragements, the testimonies….and I feel better and less anxious than ever! My mind is even clearer, even though I may be busier. More than all of this though, I feel exceedingly thankful to have a God who answers questions and knows me so much better than I know myself

He cares about us. He cares about our daily lives and activities. He leads us beside still waters, restores our souls and leads us in the paths of righteousness….for His name sake

He has a purpose and plans that I don’t have to understand but I do get the privilege of watching unfold. Both in my life and around the world.

He wants to give His children good gifts. He wants to grow us, guide us and heal all crooked ways in us. He wants to spend time with us and for us to obey His voice.

So, this blog post doesn’t have to be perfect today. Last year, I would’ve tucked it away with the hundreds of others that were never shared. There is more I could say, and I could list references and scripture and sharable images. But I don’t have time today for that. I’ve dinner to cook and papers to grade. So, I will release it as is and trust my Good Father. If this was meant to bless someone – it still will with all its imperfections!

Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. ❤