Embrace

As a little girl

I would run to You

Arms stretched wide

Smiling even wider.

And You

Did the same for me

Ready to pick me up

And hold me

In a forever embrace.

Now

I am grown

And I have turned

To embrace other things

That don’t hug me back.

Still

There You are

Patient arms stretched wide

Your smile ever wider

Waiting

For me to run to You

For a forever embrace.

Waiting

I’m waiting

For things to slow down

For a chance to catch up

Time to breathe.

I miss You,

And I keep missing You.

I can spend a whole day

In Your presence

Feel Your presence

Feel Your peace wash over me

Your joy pour into me

Your love refresh me . . .

            Then

Back to the daily routine

With all its strain

Pressure

And mind-numbing rush.

Where do I find the time

To lounge with the Lord

Sit at His feet

Or even read one verse?

Mornings slip away.

Lunch is busy, too.

Evenings are family time.

Then sleep takes over.

            In the night

You catch me when I’m still.

You whisper to me

Words of blessing,

Visions of hope.

You invite me

To lounge with You

Sit at your feet

Read some verses whenever I can.

You’re waiting

For me to slow down

So we can catch up

And I can breathe in

The sweet fragrance of You.

Commencement

This is the beginning

Of all the things you dream

The beginning

Of the life you have longed for.

Smiles and tears

And slaps on the back.

A rose for Mother

And a handshake from Dad,

Pomp and pride

Hats in the air

Confetti celebration.

That is today.

Tomorrow is real.

Tomorrow is life.

You wonder what it will be like,

And you bravely begin . . .

Years from now

Flipping through albums

You will stare yourself in the face.

A young man

Clad in a varsity jacket

Smiling back at you.

Confident.  Strong.

As attractive as youth itself.

And you will no longer wonder

But know in your heart

That life is wonderful

As bitter and sweet

As Commencement Day

When all the dreams begin.

Café

Surrounded by a dozen people,

We are all alone

At a table for two.

Simple things –

Sandwiches and juice,

Daisies in soda bottles,

Holding hands

While Mozart and rainbows

Fill the air –

Are romance to me

When I am here with you.

The old house,

Now the newest trend in dining,

Is ours in so many ways,

And it always will be.

Kool-Aid Stand

Hot summer at the curb

The webbing of the mini lawn chair

Making my sweaty legs itch

A big tub of grape Kool-Aid

Ready to sell

Dixie cups

A giant ladle

And a fly swatter

To keep away those pesky, non-paying customers

We wave to a car that barely slows down

To read our sign

Confidently penned and decorated with

Magic marker

From our set of twenty-four vibrant colors

Puffy letters

Each decorated differently

To catch the eye

It really has the opposite effect

Since they are so difficult to read

The sedan drives by

Home

To ice-cold lemonade

And a window air conditioner

We dismiss it

And squint up the street

Waiting hopefully for the next one

Or someone on a bicycle

Or a thirsty jogger

Who may happen to have ten cents handy

But very few

Seem to have time

Or money or desire

For our Kool-Aid

So we drink the warm, sugary solution

And count and recount our coins 

As the afternoon drags on

We talk about our latest crush

Wearing makeup one day

Going swimming

Training bras and Barbie dolls

And all the in-between-age stuff of girls

All the while

Grinning wide

With purple lips