On this page, you will see a new work, a favorite work, or a comment (mini musing) posted every so often, not necessarily once a month. The category page from which each work is taken is listed in parentheses ( ). JULY 1,2020 Years ago, someone in my church was offended by something I did. To this day, I don't think I did anything wrong. But, that's not the point. He did. He felt wronged. I apologized. He asked his wife to stop talking to me. I was devastated because she was my best friend and he had put her in a terrible position. So, my good friend and I didn't speak, while we prayed and cried a lot. This poem came out of that experience. Given the tense climate in the US right now, I imagine there are many different kinds of people who are experiencing emotions similar to mine, the terrible ache of Hurts Unforgiven. I'm happy to say, two weeks later, the Lord had graciously moved in this man's heart and my friendship with his wife was restored. May we all learn the difficult ministry of forgiveness. (From: Fellowship with Believers) Hurts Unforgiven
My pleasant thoughts of you have been interrupted by this ache… I would really like to be free again, the latter is too hard to take.
The former mind of smiles and cheer, of friendship –warm and clear, Is clouded by the muddy waters of hurts unforgiven, I fear.
I hurt you, yes. And you hurt me. We didn’t mean to, though. Apologies were spoken, but the wounds were deep, as you know.
You backed away, withheld your love, “And moved on” without me. I stand alone and grieve to God— How I miss what ought to be! “Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him… in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:7,8,11. NIV
gratefulsue 4/6/00 © 2015 gratefulsue JUNE 16, 2020 The end of May and beginning of June was a difficult period for the United States. Fresh examples of police racism, and brutality against Black men in particular, and African American people in general, delivered fresh trauma to the collective psyche of the Black community. Protest marches in support of the Black Lives Matter movement were held in nearly every major city in the US and even in many cities overseas. Almost everyone, Black, Brown, or White, was outraged at the dismal state of prejudice and injustice which continues to exist in the U.S. The images in online videos and news reports and written accounts online reminded me of how systemic injustice is a form of ongoing trauma to the entire community, from torturous thoughts and concerns, day after day, after day. Here's the first part of a poem I wrote titled, Trauma. Mind videos and audios, are stuck on “instant replay.” Like a “broken record,” they continue night and day.
Exhausting thoughts, ferocious fears; raw feelings barge right in— at any moment, without welcome, relentlessly, they begin.
Depression enters, falls, and feels like a blanket, wet and heavy. Endless details overwhelm, and drown me without pity.
My mind becomes a second foe, besides the trauma’s furry. A battleground for fractured faith, hard questions, doubts and worry. For the remainder of the poem, go to poem # 7 (From: Suffering). JUNE 1, 2020 In February of 2017, I was volunteering with a local program, run out of a church, to teach English as a second language (ESL) to Internationals. On one occasion, I was having a private conversation with a woman named Nursen. She is a very warm person, the child of devout Muslim parents, but herself, an atheist. She said she was "tired of people who claim a religion but don't follow the core principles." Her philosophy now is to "Love, love, love!" and to always help any person who needs it. How right she is about that (Lev. 19:18, Matt. 22:39, Gal. 5:4) The following year at Christmas time, the director of the church ESL program wanted to give a small gift to each of the 83 students. Nursen knew how to knit and so she helped out the director by knitting 83 3x4 inch squares with a cross in the middle, to be used as Christmas tree ornaments. Her labor of love inspired the following poem. (From: People)
What an example, her heart of love! Hours and hours knitting eighty-three crosses To bless eighty-three new friends.
She does not believe in the One she honors, And yet, she displays His character— Much more than many who claim to believe.
is LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!” She preached to me some time ago.
Yes, you’re right, my Turkish friend. So said the man on the cross. And, in that pursuit, you are ahead of me.
My Lord and Savior sees and smiles. “Look how well she uses the gifts I shower on all mankind!”
Oh, that all would have this purpose— to, “LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!” Like that of sweet Nursen.
Oh, that I would be so generous— handing out care and acceptance Even to ones so different from myself.
gratefulsue 12.12.17 © 2018 gratefulsue (for Nursen, who is from Turkey) MAY 28, 2020 The current health and political situation in the United States is very polarized, as you may have noticed. Haha! How could you not notice? Most everyone has strong opinions about what's best for the economy and the country, in combatting the Covid-19 virus; likewise regarding what is best in regard to whether or not our current President should be re-elected in the fall. Relax. I'm not going to talk about those subjects! However, I will share what I think we should be focusing on instead. "Love! Love! Love!" Watch for the background on this poem, on this page, June 1st! MAY 14, 2020 Do you ever suffer from daydreams and depression? I have that bent because I tend to imagine my life in different circumstances from the ones I have! Not that I "own" a bad life or even difficult life circumstances at the moment. Yet, I still tend to long for and wonder about what I do not have. Contentment is a virtue! Below, is the first verse from my poem, "Here is Where I Live." It's poem # 7 in Contentment Musings. Click the link for the remainder of the poem. Why do I sometimes wish for lives I do not have? Dreams which cannot happen, and more choices, good or bad? MAY 2, 2020 This morning I was thinking about the relationship between truth, light, and the Holy Spirit, while reading in the book of John, chapter 3, verse 21. Jesus says, "... whoever lives by the truth comes into the light," and in chapter 4:23 Jesus says, the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth." Truth is the common thread. I believe that people who are seeking the truth are well along the way on the path that leads to the Father, or to greater spiritual growth. Truth brings with it, light (deeper understanding); and deeper understanding leads to faith, or increased faith in the Lord. Faith in the Lord brings the Spirit, so those three work together: truth, light, and the Spirit. See also, my poem, "Truth's Friends," in Doctrines. April 28, 2020 This poem, written about six months after I became a Christian, describes me before I understood how to have a relationship with God through faith in Christ. I was very afraid of dying, and wondered how anyone could know if there was a God. I was dying to know... I was gasping for God. (From: Evangelism) Gasping for God
Fear… (full of forever, moving forward fast, and anxious animosity, almost sadness, is sometimes superficially suppressed. Someone’s intimate intangible emotion) …is silently gasping for God.
gratefulsue 5/3/77 © 2015 gratefulsue Most recently featured works: April 1, 2020 Wavering (From: Songs) MARCH 1, 2020 Human Condition (From: People) |
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