#021

GOD  BLESS HIS
POETS
(The Heart of the Poet)
תהילים

POETRY AND PROSE

          Poetry and Prose have been coming to me lately and blessing me so richly.  This kind of poetry comes straight from the heart and is evidence that someone has been meditating and experiencing time with our Lord.
While sitting in His presence words come to them that they must do something with…thus, often a poem to capture the moment or the message.
          The two poets who share Xala Bread today, may not be an Emily Dickinson or a William Shakespeare, but to me they mean much more, because like David, I know these poems come from their heart; each desiring to tell others in their own way, about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My Patty
(I call her “my” Patty because our Lord has loaned her to me for a season and I love her like a daughter.  Once a student of mine, now more than that.  In the picture on the right, she brought people to the river where I live to see them baptized.  Always a witness, nothing keeps her from time with her Lord.) 
  

A couple of days ago, Patty called to share this witness poem with me and I’m now sharing it with you.  I call it:

THE  WAL-MART  PRAYER

When you feel
You are falling apart,
From your problems – don’t run away.

Don’t lose heart
And head to Wal-mart.
You can’t go shopping….every day.

You won’t find Peace or Answers there,
Or anywhere
Until you bow your knee to God
In
Prayer.

For you…He’s always there.

If only in the morning
A few moments you will spare,
To bow your knee to God in Prayer,

You never have to go to
Wal-Mart
To keep from falling apart.

When you put God First
From the Start.

TWO POEMS BY RON

(Sorry Ron, I love all of your poems and couldn’t choose between these two.  Ron laughs when I call him one of my little Green Men.  Those who went to South Park High School with us, know we are called the Greenies.)

RON’S COMMENT AND MINE

The poem that I wrote, "Rob's Precious Memories", was about my second wife's son. He was 3 year's old when he came into my life. I raised him and loved him as my son until he was eight. He was hit by a car while crossing the street. The poem included Gary (my son by my first wife and Rob the son of my second wife) 

Ron Lewelling Today

Gwen’s comment:  TOTALLY AWESOME RON.  So transparent and free. Could be any man’s story.  You write adventure into each poem, humanness, love, and forgiveness…always ending up with your Lord.  I love the pictures, too.  (Ron also draws pictures of his family and this picture of precious Rob.)

Rob’s Precious Memories
By Ron Lewelling

Dave and I were having lunch with the girls next door
Rob won my heart  that first time on the floor
We had planned on romancing. That was our game
Armentha, Herma, and what ever her name.

Dave was a ladies man busy spinning his line
His goal was to impress Armentha at the time

I was missing Gary (my first son) but there was this little guy
So sweet and innocent he at once caught my eye
I played with him, while Dave played his part
From that time on he commanded my heart

He was still learning to talk and not too good
And a lot of what he said was not understood
With his mother interpreting we conversed quite well
Wrestling on the floor, I fell under his spell

On occasions when gifts were desired
Armentha and I seemed similarly inspired
Gary and Rob had all the same toys
We overcompensated for time lost with our boys

We took them to a school yard one day
They raced their cars as they peddled away.
They were racers, having the time of their life
Stopping by my knee for a fill up and nose wipe
I would ask them how much, with a wink and a grin.
They would say, fill it up, and take another spin.

Thanksgiving with my mom and dad was a treat
Went to the Ridgewood for something to eat
As we were standing in line I set Rob down.
He took off like a race horse in the Tripple Crown.
I chased him immediately and he would evade
He thought it was fun; a game we had played.
People laughed as we chased across the floor
He ran through the lobby and out the door
I chased him out the door with much alarm
He out ran me back to his Mother’s arms.

Newly wed and still in the honeymoon mood
With Rob alone in the dark, I failed to conclude
He was too young to know about man and wife
He and his mother together in bed all of his life.

I put him in his bed and he started to cry.
Next to our bed appeared the little guy.
I tried it twice more with tears in my eyes.
I felt Rob standing in the dark and heard no cries.

As I reached down and scooped him into our bed.
With a heart full of love, I knew it was both I had wed.

RON’S  SECOND POEM

Until I go home on judgment day
By Ronlewelling

Born in the lean years when money was tight
Mother raised four kids by kerosene light
Daddy drove the log trucks both night and day
Both in love and finding their way

I was born too soon and born too small
The only one in school wearing overalls
I had my friends but the girls past me by
I never had a date because I was too shy
Went out on my own thinking I was grown
With no restraint to guide me, wild oats were sown

I became a fan of the country song
That may be where I went wrong
I learned to dance and romance the girls
And took no mind as I gave them a whirl
I spent my youth where romance was plenty
Chasing girls till I was seven plus twenty
All the girls started to look the same
Alone in a crowd I grew tired of the game
So I chose the girl next door for my wife
I dreamed that we had a chance for a life

We had four years of living the dream
We had a boy and a girl and success it seemed
Our world was shattered and life came undone
After the heartache from the loss of our son
Weary of the hurt and tired of the grief
Lost in her pain she searched for relief
She lost her will for being my wife
We drifted apart and drifted in life
Our children suffered as we tore apart
Our dreams were broken along with my heart
Our love didn’t survive with me hanging on
On the backside of life, I was back on my own

When my world fell apart, it was the Lord that I found
From the rubble I was raised to higher ground
I was blessed with children who are lights from above
They grew into families that fill me with love
With God’s blessings to forfeit,
I wouldn’t change a thing if I could
The mistakes I made, God turned into good

When I was deep in sin, His Son died for me
When I humbly repented, His grace saved me
When I was wounded, His Spirit carried me
When I forgave, In His mercy He forgave me
When in Him only I trusted, His love lifted me
Here I stand to point His way
Until I go home on judgment day

PSALMS
“tehilim” means “praises”
תהילים

DAVID

          Oh, how I love the psalms of David, little shepherd boy, sitting out among the stars, fellowshipping with and worshiping his Heavenly Father.  Pouring out his heart before God and always ending with a song of praise.
          Surely David could relate to our two poets today and they to him.
Thanks Patty and Ron.

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