A friend named Grief

Grief is different for everyone
Grief is shaped by why it has come
Grief is nesscessary to allow for healing.
Grief can hurt without limit.
Grief takes awhile to get used to.
Grief can be there as long as is needed.
Grief takes sometime to befriend.

Grief, I was avoiding, dreading your arrival.
But now I see you, standing before me.
You hurt me to repair me.
Like a dislocated limb being put back in place.
There is a sudden jolt of the bone, as it is put back in.
The people around me help me to go through the motions.

The dislocation will have always happened.
Yet with it, my strength has grown as love is shown.
At one time or another, we have all known you Grief.
So we are there for oneanother, through your visits.
If we did not experiance and learn to accept your presence...
We would not be full human beings.
Even Jesus wept. Fully God and fully man, he wept.

Together we can learn to say the words:
'Thanks for coming Grief. I know you better now.
Untill we meet again...'

Where is strength?

A single parent working and raising a child.

A nurse saying ‘yes’ to a night shift, heart in.

A person working a job they hate, to support others.

A client being honest, asking for more support.

A partnership working through challenges together.

A person experiencing mental or physical illness, working through the day.

In all these things, there is strength within.

But… sometimes we need the strength of others.

It takes all the strength we have left to ask.

To admit that you need support from others.

Accepting that hand, that arm, that great big hug.

But do not hesitate … and ask without shame.

For me it means asking for time off.

To admit that I need others, like we all do.

Talking honestly, listening openly, knowing that I am okay.

Recognising when, it is time, to book that professional.

Of course, God turns my weakness into strength.

He does not need me to be everything, do everything.

In this there is reassurance… here… in his strength I can rest.

Nanna Jo

Dedication: Nanna Jo we will miss you untill we meet again.

I don't want to through greif again.
Yet here I am in the mist of it.
It's past 1am and my head is too full to sleep.

But every now and then...
I do something good.
I read my bible like you would.

No matter your faults.
You would turn to God your Father.
To ask for his guidence and forgiveness.

Nanna Jo, you had a great big heart.
Not always right, not always wroung.
You were all in... see you again in heaven.

Love you always,
Meg.

1 Thessalonians 4:13- 14 (NLV) 
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the belivers who have died so that you will not grieve like those who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring with him the beleivers who have died."

The Disciples

The Disciples

Here they wait on Easter Saturday.

They are huddled together in silence.

What will happen next?

They question in the darkness.

Will he rise? Really?

Did he really say, 'I will rise in three days'?

But that was the devil whispering.

Like he did many a time before.

Yet this time he is whimpering.

If you listen, you hear him.

As he is slowly crushed by the foot of the one above him.

We stand and sit in awe of Jesus, the one who will crush the devil.

Jesus... the one who rose again.

The one who keeps his promises.

So, it will be as God promised in the beginning.

As it says in Genesis 3:15

'he will crush your head and

you will strike his heal.'

'Really?' is not going to convince God's people.

We stand or sit together, virtually, or otherwise.

Believing that our Lord Jesus will return.

We fight together, in his name.

Each time we love and trust God, we see you.

As the powerless worm you are.

We all know that God has a plan.

One day he will return and make all anew.

He will BOOM! You can only whisper.

God Speaks

Where are you my child?
I know you are sad, angry and in pain.
But I have been all these things and more.

Please just talk to me.
I am waiting at the door.
When you are ready, let me in.

To you I sent my son.
So that we could talk again.
Because I love you... whatever.

Endometriosis

This poem is written for endometriosis awareness month. As I know people dear to me and may have it myself, I thought I would help spread awareness.  I’d hate to think of more young women thinking “painful periods are normal; I can’t really complain”. If the pain stops you from going about your day, see a doctor, I hope you find a good and compassionate one. Have a read, this is for you.

Dear Endo,

You are a ?

You are a shadow.

You are a pain.

How do I figure you out?

How when no blood test exists...

How when there is family history, symptoms, but you don't show?

No show in ultrasounds.

No show for the debilitating pain and symptoms.

No show unless you have a laparoscopy.

What now? I record and store data

What now? I avoid feeding you blood (by not having periods).

What now? I take a plethora of medications to avoid you.

For there you might be.

For there you hurt and tease.

For there you are please stop.

Doctors please stop and listen.

Doctors from what you hear, please act.

Doctors pick up your skills and knowledge.

Get the word out, help us to fight Endometriosis.

Favourite Dress

I met someone recently who had a favourite dress.
Pink. Bow on the front, not tired up.
Free, relaxed, worn in the comfort of home.
This was her favourite dress.

Seeing her put it on, still wet from the washing machine...
Well it made me think of my favourite dress.
Of how certain items of clothing make us feel.
How they can tell us something about the person wearing them.

In that light, let me tell you about my favourite dress.
It is moss green, old, lose fitting, and is made of rayon.
It has black buttons down half of the back and
is covered with black birds. I throw it on so easily, so naturally.

I wear it on my days off, it helps me relax.
Huddled up, laying down, stretching out,  no one else around.
Or there may as well be. Because this dress is one I wear when comfortable.
So good news, if I wear it around you, I'm truly relaxed with you.

You know who you are. Family, close friends and dogs.
I love you and can recharge. I don't feel observed and judged.
Because you are people and animals that stick around.
When I've had a hard day and get emotional, you help me get through.

This isn't just about a dress, it's about what it means.
It means that I am giving myself time to reflect, no expectations, no pressure.
So, reader, how about you.  I'm wearing mine as I write this poem.
I want to hear about your favourite item... what do you come back to and repair?

What is your favourite dress?