Category Archives: Poems

The Promise in a Rainbow

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Photo courtesy of National Geographic

 

Today I looked for a rainbow

while the rain fell to the earth,

pelting down upon the hood of my car

as I drove south.

 

I looked for a rainbow -

as the sun peeked through the dark clouds

that summoned those looking for rainbows

to come back to the dark side.

 

I’ ve seen enough of the dark side

to know it’s real

to know it’s here

to know it’s now.

 

But -

I’ve also seen too many rainbows

to know that God keeps His promises

as He did with Noah.

 

I’ve seen too many rainbows

to know that the sun at my back

is covering the entire sky -

though I may not see it

though I many not feel it.

 

I’ve seen too many rainbows

that always take me back to God’s faithfulness

and they bring me a hope

and a calm reassurance

that no matter the circumstances -

God is in control.

 

I’ve seen the dark clouds -

I have felt their cold, heartless storms

I have been captured in their darkness

I have known their power.

 

But I’ve seen the rainbows -

their vibrant, radiant colors that overcome the darkness

and take my eyes off that which seeks to consume me.

 

I’ve seen the rainbows

colors of God’s amazing grace

His merciful love

a promise kept.

 

And,

when I seen the rainbows,

I see the miraculous love of God.

 

 

 

 

Are you searching for rainbows?

Oh Lord, there are days and weeks, moments and even years in our lives that truly do seek to consume us with the darkness that surrounds us.  Let not those situations and circumstances that are so hard to fight through tear us down.  Let them not defeat us or cause us to grow weary.  Instead, may we hold fast to the promises you have given to us cause us to run after the rainbows that you give.  May they cause us to hold onto what we know to be true.  May we hold on tight to You.

 

#13 – …for rainbows.

#14 – …for the laughter of a child

#15 – …for hope.

 


 


Nobody to Somebody

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Disclaimer – This poem was written in jest a few years back, but can reflect how we all feel from time  to time…

I don’t want to call for insurance quotes on someone else’s car,
or ask about fees on phones for calls made near or very far.
I don’t want to vacuum up food that was left after falling to the floor
Because somebody thought someone else was their personal servant or worse…

something more!

And I surely don’t want to clean up the puddle in the middle of the bathroom,
rake the leaves, wash the windows or sweep up dirt with the aging broom.
I don’t want to shovel the sidewalk or beat the rugs out in the yard,
because dear Lord, today it seems extremely hard!

I sweep the floors, vacuum the carpet, and dust the dusty shelves,
all this I do all because others don’t usually do it for themselves.
I scrub the tub, water the lawn, and then I pull the weeds,
Dear Lord, will there ever be a shortage of these repetitive, tedious deeds?

I suppose I could scream, toss a plate, or throw a fit,
but I don’t think anyone would notice,or hear, or care, no – not even a tiny bit.
I could mumble, I could nag, I could stomp my feet in a rage
I could complain and record it all within my dairy, or at least upon one page.

I don’t want to pick up, wash, dry or neatly fold the clothes, iron another shirt -
I just want to sit in a chair, eat a popsicle, and in a quiet fit of rebellion – just revert.
I want to be a kid again, whine for what I want, then stomp my feet and cry when I don’t get it,
listen to mom and dad count to ten and watch them pretend that I’ll submit.

I want to play in the park, run through a sprinkler, take a bath and leave a mess,
try on every shoe, every shirt, every hat and every dress.
I want to leave my dolls and dolly’s dollhouse in the living room and then,
get out every piece of furniture and every doll I find and play with it all again.

I just want to pretend that for just one day I have nothing that I must do -
but lay on the couch and watch TV, or make things with sticky, white school glue.

I want to summon my servants to feed me bon bons, my list could go on and on.
I want to tell others what to do, start silly arguments – win every single one.
Then after watching every movie I owned and my day came near its close,
I’d realize I was selfish and self-centered, one could probably suppose.

Instead I guess I’ll be a somebody and do the things I was created to do -
wear a smile, hum a tune, encourage another, click my attitude to ‘NEW’.
I’ll pick up the socks, wash the towels, get it done someday, somehow -
Today I’ll choose to be the somebody I’m created to be and hopefully be selfless (at least for now).

Remember…
You’re somebody… You’re His!

Loved

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loved

egg shells

scattered across the floor

tread carefully

or you’ll cut your feet

bruise your heart

while your spirit is being broken

tread carefully

or the current of the river

will suck you under

without compassion

cruel and unforgiving

hold on tightly

to the only Hand

that is stretching out

catching your tears with one

pulling you to safety with the other

hide safely

buried in His arms

feel the beat of His heart

knowing if you were the only one

still it would beat for you

rest peacefully

warmed and covered by His grace

healed by His touch

covered in His mercy

held in His love

Simply Incredible

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Father, it is hard for me to understand You.
The way You created the world.
Out of nothing.
It is incredible to me.
Simply…
Incredible.

The way You provided a sacrifice for Isaac.
At just the right moment.
Out of nowhere.
Miraculous.
And Abraham knew that you would!
Simply…
Miraculous!

The way You parted the Red Sea.
The way You allowed the Israelites to cross over the dry sea.
The way You brought the waters back down to the earth.
To protect Your people.
How merciful You are.
How mighty.
How just.

You allowed Joseph to undergo persecution from his own brothers!
You allowed him to be bent low in order to raise him up.
There is always something greater.
Always something better.
Always something someone will not understand.

It is hard for me to understand,
how you became a man.
Why you would choose to dwell down here with us on this earth,
among our dirt and our grime.

It is hard for me to understand,
why You would choose to sacrifice Your life for me.
I know who I am.
I know what I am.
You know even better.
And yet you love me –
That is hard for me to understand.

And yet, how grateful I am!
How deeply thankful that You don’t ask me to understand!
Just to believe.
Just to trust.
And that is,
simply…
incredible.

June 2005

Sherri Woodbridge

A Christmas Story – A Poem

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a girl

a man

a donkey

a long ride

~

a stable

some straw

what’s going on

inside?

~

a trough

a cow

some sheep

and a baby

~

a woman

a man

getting some sleep

maybe
~

a star

some shepherds

some gifts

and three kings
~

gathered around

a baby born

to save the world

of all things
~
one God

one Son

came from heaven

to earth
~

heaven rejoiced

angels sang

of this precious baby’s

miraculous birth

I Will Fear No Evil

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the dark of the night

in the valley of the shadows

i will fear no evil

though it surrounds me

invisibly

from all around

i will fear no evil

in the dark of the night

though my body trembles

and my heart it shakes

still

i will fear no evil

in the dark of night

when my mind dances

as a winter storm

loosed from its chains

still

i will fear no evil

when the dark of the night

threatens to consume my soul

to lay me outstretched

naked before the world

still

i will fear no evil

for the dark of the night

will turn its ugly face

to the light of the morning

and there

there

i will feel no

i will see no

i will fear no

there will be

no more evil

Loved

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basket-roses-straight-sharp

egg shells

scattered across the floor

tread carefully

or you’ll cut your feet

bruise your heart

and breaking your spirit

tread carefully

or the current of the river

will suck you under

without compassion

cruel and unforgiving

hold on tightly

to the only Hand

that is stretching out

catching your tears with one

pulling you out with the other

hide safely buried in His arms

feel the beat of His heart

knowing if you were the only one

still it would beat for you

rest peacefully

warmed and covered by His grace

healed by His touch

covered in His mercy

held in His love

The Silence of God

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There is an aching in my heart –
a numb feeling resides
as I wonder what is next

I cry out, I plea
only to be met
with the silence of God

Is there anything darker,
anything louder
than this?

On His knees
alone in the garden,
Jesus wept
under this very torment.

Alone and unattended is He
as His father remains voiceless
while He begs for pardon.

Silent and still
is the crisp air that surrounds me.
I ache but am not cold.
His silence warms me.

Noise disintegrates into the background
His still, quiet presence whispers grace,
without words
like a helpless friend who can do nothing
but sit and wait alongside of grief.

The silence permeates the space
and shouts of His presence -
holding me, singing over me, like a mother to her child.

In the darkness,
when I fear the light will never shine
I close my eyes, and am held,
comforted and loved
without words.

The silence of God –
proving understanding and compassion,
bleeding mercy and grace
showing me that I do not ache alone.

The Noises Little Boys Make

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Hgreg-sherri-7ere’s one that’s just for fun, inspired by my granddaughter…

Ah – The Noises Little Boys Make
Copyright September 17, 2009
Please contact the author for reuse permission

Sneezes and hiccups, boogers, and farts
When they’re finished with one the other another one starts.
It’s a natural reaction for silly little boys
To pick a booger then eat it, to fart and make noise.

Little girls? A bit different
And quite modest with such affairs
They’d rather keep noises quiet
Than attract such unpleasant stares.

Daughters are taught to be little ladies,
Be polite, say thank you and please
Daddies think it rather amusing
To let boys burp and ‘cut cheese’.

What would we do without little angels
Who pick their nose, burp here, and fart there -
Just when you think you’ve trained them so well
They belch loud, as if they don’t care.

But little boys must learn early on
That little girls like boys who are tame -
not a young man who makes rude noises
And thinks good manners are stupid and lame.

And little girls must learn a few truths as well
About little boys who grow up to be men
Sometimes they just can’t help it at all,
When they make silly noises, over and over again.

I Wish

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I wish I could form words without someone thinking I was drunk

like saying, “Yes I do think” instead of “Yes I did thunk”.

I wish I could carry a glass with cold ice without shaking

and rattling so loud it sounded like a martini I was making.

I wish I could speak loudly so others didn’t say “Quit muttering”

I wish I could snap back and say, “Well then you quit your stuttering!”

I wish I could walk without dragging my feet

and stay in step with others instead of always feeling beat.

I wish I could not take pills to make me stand straight

oh my gosh – now that would be GREAT!

I wish I could walk without dragging my feet

and almost trip when others I meet

I wish I could hold things without fear of them dropping

but am thankful I still can walk without always stopping

I wish the pain in my neck and back would disappear

But the stiffness just gets worse is what I hear

I wish brain surgery wasn’t in the future for me

but what is – is and what must be will be

I wish things were different for me

I wish the same for others with this thing called PD

but they’re not and that’s okay

for I’ve learned to be content anyway

I’ve got friends who live near and far

friends who know just who they are

some who understand and some that just care

walking with them I have learned to bear

oh how I thank God for all of it, you see

For without PD these things would not be

the friends, their concern, the many lessons learned

even when my heart’s been heavy, my hope has turned

to the One who’s never left me to walk unsteady

the One who stands faithful, true, protective and ready

oh my Jesus, how can I say how great You are

without tears falling from my face, captured in your jar

tears of fear, tears of pain

tears of weakness turning to strength in You I gain

how can I live one moment of my life

whether filled with smiles or filled with strife

I have seen purposes and plans

that could only have come through Your hands.

so I just want to say thank You

honor, praise and glory to You alone are due

I want to shout Great are You Lord Almighty

for loving, protecting, and carrying me.