Steps

Are you ready?
The word, ready, stings
I crosses an ocean to come to this land so that I could serve
Now all I want is a warm cup of tea and a soft bed
Anxiety sweeps over me as I look at the people
Sickly, desperate, hungry
I shut my eyes praying it will all go away
I can't do this
Mother walks over to me and puts her arms around me
One step at a time
That's how Our Lord carried the cross
One step at a time

Storm

I am on a boat
The waves crash
Lightning parts the sky
Thoughts turn to death
Lord, do you hear my pleas
Your child are crying out for help
No answer
Storm gets worse
Surely I will die
Just before lighting strikes the boat
Storm vanishes
Rainbow appears
A dove flies overhead

Formed

You formed me with purpose
A purpose I must figure out
At middle age I found myself still in this maze of life looking for a sign that reads purpose
My mind's imagination led me to believe it would be grand
The age of 42 brought with it a realization that I am small
As small as a grain of sand
My purpose, although small is to love
Do small acts with love
Find beauty in all around me
Give joyfully

Today

Today is the day
I know it
My face softens in a smile
Many around me have tears in their eyes
Why, I ask the Lord
For four months, I have been laying on this cot knowing this would end soon
My life was short
Full of hardship and heartaches
Begging for food to survive
These four months have been the most peaceful
I sleep under a real roof
I am fed and bathed each day
The ladies that take care of me greet me with the warmest smile
They teach me about Jesus
Today, I am smiling because today I know I will meet Him

Pay What You Can

Pay what you can
That's what the sign on the door read
He put in $5.00
The only thing he had in his pocket
If his wife were on his arm, she would have counciled against it
$5.00 for a talk by some priest
It wasn't her fault excitedly this lack of respect and trust in Catholic priests
She was raised in a Protestant church
What was done was done
The $5.00 went in the box and he took his seat
Warm faces greeted him
He shook clean hands as well as oil stained hands
The priest talked of love, trust,  forgiveness, and community
Words he needed to hear
He walked home to his wife and kids with the promise of a new job
If he had spent that money on beer, he would have walked home empty handed and drunk

Her Weapon

Street lights illuminated

Cold clings to your bones

The only ones outside those that have nowhere to go

Voices are heard above the wind

People wanting to make a quick buck

Others looking for shelter for the night

Some drunk are just angry at the world and the only way to release that pinned up rage is to fight

Up ahead, past George’s liquor store walks a lady

She’s old, frail

God bless you. God bless you

Her whispers are barely audible

Yet everyone knows what she said

She doesn’t stop to talk

Walking is her only mission

Wrapped around one hand is a rosary

Her weapon

My Christmas Wish

What do you want for Christmas?
A question on everyone's lips for that last minute gift
Like a good girl, my Christmas shopping is done
What was on my list?
A book
A tablet
Nothing expensive
Nothing really special
Five days before Christmas as I'm lying in bed, praying
I realize what I really want
My mama
The way she was
Free of dementia and cancer
So like a child, I go to Jesus and ask for a miracle
Can you heal my mama for me?