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Through His Eyes and other poems
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During many years of hardship
she hardly dared to dream,
for dreams always turned to ashes,
or at least that's what it seemed.
Flowers held no beauty,
the sunshine wasn't bright,
there was no magic in twinkling stars
when looking up at night.
At some point the brook stopped murmuring,
laughter couldn't make her glad,
despair had gripped her very soul
and even music made her sad.
She had stopped believing in friendship and love,
hugs caused her only dismay,
trust and sharing were empty words
and even Jesus she had pushed away.
But He never gives up on anyone
and eventually His message came through,
He broke through her walls, and she heard Him say:
"Dear child, I really love you".
It took a while, but her focus cleared
and through her Lord's eyes she now sees,
there's wonder and beauty all around
in people, flowers and bumblebees.
There's so much love to give and receive,
and now the beautiful music she hears,
life will get better and better still
as long as her Lord she keeps near.
Disappointments won't get her down any more,
through hardships she can smile,
for her sight is focused on the brightness of heaven,
where she'll go in just a while.
Ursula Stouffer, July 9th, 2002
The risk of loving
Are you afraid of loving your neighbour,
because too many times you have been betrayed?
Do you refuse to trust those who love you,
so you ran away when you should have stayed?
Is depression holding you in it's ugly grip,
so all day under your blanket for safety you stay,
and you pretend that your dreamworld is reality,
while you have closed your ears to what God has to say?
Don't you know He loves you and wants to help?
He knows you are hurting and that you're sad,
but He's already chosen someone special to call on,
get up, contact this person, and soon you won't feel so bad!
Go, talk and cry and let out all your hurts,
tell about the betrayals and about your deep pain.
And over time you'll learn to trust Jesus
and you'll start to enjoy life once again.
Pretty soon you'll have the courage to take some risks,
you will reach out to someone and you'll dare to trust,
the walls will slowly come down, and love melts your heart,
so, accept other's love, even if it doesn't seem just.
You might feel you're not worthy of friendship and love,
but if you think that, you're still listening to Satan's voice,
if others love you and want to be your friends,
who are you, trying to take away their free choice?
You need to take the risk of loving with all of your heart,
and you might get hurt, that chance is there,
but it's much more likely you get loved in return
and the thought of missing out on friendship is harder to bear.
Just love people back who will be your friends,
and know that the Lord loves you through them, too;
then next time, when someone gives you a loving hug,
you'll feel that Jesus is smiling down on both of you.
Live your life joyfully, don't just exist,
give Jesus your burdens and all of your pain,
and enjoy flowers, the wind, the pure white snow,
the beautiful sunshine, and even the rain!
Go help somebody, get your mind off yourself,
find out what your gifts are and use them, too,
and marvel in God's wonderful mercy and grace,
and thank Him for using even imperfect "you".
I know you can do it, for I have been there,
I have felt the pain and the terrible fear,
I was rejecting God's love and I was in despair,
and I used to be crying great rivers of tears.
But I've learned to love God, and I've learned to trust men,
and I have found many new friends so dear,
now I am living every day serving God
and I feel His great love, and I know He is near.
Ursula Stouffer, Feb. 22nd, 2002
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