Author Archives: sherryvycitalyork

Fear tries its best to spin about Wind me up, throw me out Of balance or off kilter To keep me running lest I find Not in control I unwind Into a restless fodder Fodder to be spun again Anxiety reeking stress within To look wherever I can sense Relief in desperation Peace quietly andContinue reading “Of Fear and Peace”

Recently I opened a long held treasure, a companion devotional to that excellent one “God Calling,” messages to Two Listeners that were edited for publication in 1935 by A.J. Russell. This companion devotional, “God At Eventide” was written fifteen years later, messages again received by the Two Listeners. I was overcome with the relevance andContinue reading “My Mandate”

Myles Munroe, in his excellent book Understanding Your Place in God’s Kingdom: Your Original Purpose for Existence, states, “God’s number-one priority for mankind is that we discover, understand, and enter the Kingdom of God”(e-page 3272 of 4563 – Day 2 of Devotion section). This would sound like a simplistic statement at first glance, and yetContinue reading “Becoming Real”

When contemplating grace that’s given To those who’ve many decades lived Who growing older taste infirm Whose hair turns gray, whose vision blurs How interesting I am one of them Not captured up when youngerRemember when in days of youth We yearned to be but older still Dreaming of the days to come Pushing timeContinue reading “Children After All”

Stashed under the bed for several years, the large octagon board with seven curved sectional pieces, and a bundle of eight straight short boards, was pulled into the light of day for repair. Inherited from my dear husband’s grandfather, the board holds stories of being carried from family to family through his grandfather’s beloved uncle’sContinue reading “The Crokinole Board”

Where was it coming from? Lovely instrumental music playing on the wind at 1:30 in the morning as I sat quietly in my office recliner, pausing at the end of day. It was pleasant and winsome, soothing and melodious, and altogether unusual to hear this time of night. Peeking out the window revealed mist andContinue reading “Music In The Night”

Listening to Robert Childs’ story of his love for violin making, his “listening to the wood” as he crafts instruments that sing, reminded me how quickly toe-tapping fiddle playing can lift one’s spirit. Hours of tireless workmanship go into the honing of each specific violin crafted especially for its designated player. Resulting harmony created throughContinue reading “Just Fiddling Around”

It cut. Deep. The hurt more than she had met before. Slicing, ragged, the dissection impersonal and careless. Inflicted without remorse. Not even a shred. It was as though she did not exist, was of no value, just a useless toy to be played with, abused, and tossed away. The wounds would not be forgotten.Continue reading “Beneath The Plow”

Yes, I confess. The call of the night owl frequently captures me. The quiet when much of the world supposedly sleeps is a calm and restful time. There is something soothing about the silence, when busyness slows, the day rests. Occasionally surprises occur. For years parental high alert kept dear hubby and me anticipating theContinue reading “The Midnight Text”

Recently a loved one received results of a neuropsychological report that revealed three separate mental health diagnoses. Not surprising, for her dad sports one, her mother the other two. Endeavoring to encourage her I mused, “the stained glass of your life has just become more colorful.” For, after all, we all have a diagnosis, atContinue reading “Stained Glass Lives”

In my growing up days our mother collected Blue Bubble dish-ware, depression glass made by Anchor Hocking, between the 1940’s into the 1960’s. They were our every day dishes, bowls, and glasses, and when newer dishes crowded the cupboard, Mother donated the beloved bubble set, keeping a few special pieces. One piece lasted all theseContinue reading “The Broken Bowl”

Slowly she opened her eyes. The dark, dank space was familiar, a place of isolation, a place she had sunk into before, a place to flee from those who tortured her. A hiding place all her own. She ran to this place in desperation. She had nowhere else to go. She needed this place toContinue reading “Walls”

Is there a thing about objectivity that ends up being a way to disengage one’s true self from the depths of things? That keeps one’s surface content firm, or hardened like burnt sugar atop creme brûlée, when the authentic good stuff lies beneath? Or solid like the ground we trod upon through the glorious YellowstoneContinue reading “Mountain Contemplation”

Fuzzy hotdogs set to roast Grow alongside mountain’s ditchCattail flowers skewered onSturdy tall straight narrow sticks They sway in wind and pouring rainTurn fluffy when the summer’s doneRipened seed heads set to fly Autumn currents bidding come Spiky leaves persist their spread Ever homey in their graceMarking marshy wetted lands As cattails beckon stay andContinue reading “Hotdog Surprise”

God, where are You now? I’m sitting here straining to hear Your voice, a word, a whisper in my ear, an answer to my prayer. I know You, LORD, and yet at times I think I must be deaf inside; or expecting You to answer cries or questions perhaps I should already know the answersContinue reading “When God Seems Silent”

“Whirr” go our electric toothbrushes as we start our day, or ready ourselves to retire. A normal part of the daily flow, for some reason the differences in our toothbrushing experiences caught my attention, ushering in the whim of toothbrushes reflecting one’s personality. It’s really not that big of a stretch. After all, children’s brushesContinue reading “The Toothbrush Personality Test”

Closed to keep our privacy in Louvered blinds try they mightCannot hold back morning’s hailSunlight shimmering through Shimmering not just southern light Reflection too from gleaming lakeLying eastward down the hillGlistens on the wind How else could it float insideTo greet me through shuttered blinds I watch it dance in front of me Waving andContinue reading “Bright Silence”

Golden rays fill the weary skyThe glow pouring over all like paint poured out in an unmeasured “whoosh!” Cerulean blue the backdrop for colors burning upTheir intensity throughout the day increasing slowly From the cool of the morning dawnCrescendoing into evening heat Slowly the cerulean darkens by shadesThe brilliant orb of light taking leaveBowing outContinue reading “Dawn’s Bedtime”

I’m not sure where to start today . . . there’s an emptiness that’s moved inside, a heaviness of despair it seems, that’s taken residence in me. Have I invited it to stay? Despair a kind of cloaking thread that keeps the busy world away as I traipse slowly on instead? I doubt this isContinue reading “Overcoming Despair”

The ebb and flow of endless waves Salted droplets in my hair God walks beside me by the sea His breath I breathe eternallyHe cradles me in sheltered care Storms raging round my fragile form While infant, growing, fully grown When aging as my life here’s done Through sunset’s painted colors brightAssurance that He’ll alwaysContinue reading “Waves of Promise”

“Help me” was the texted phrase Sent to me late one night Children winging silly wordsBut did I know? Were they alright? Their good mom in another room The children bored, so they said Random pictures, confusing wordsReaching out just to be heard “Do I need to come to you?”“No, we’re fine,” was their replyContinue reading “Help Me, Please!”

A friend requested prayer recently for a loved one rushed to ICU, his body seizing, breathing support needed. I could not help but feel the pain of their suffering, the patient and his family, the hurt that seems not to end. Tribulation of this world poured out again, again. “LORD, help me see the hopeContinue reading “While Suffering”

I just about choked laughing out loud when our eight year old grandson sweetly asked, “How long have we been stuck with you today, Nana?” It had been one of those long days. Our daughter had taken one of their dogs, a ninety-five pound Rottweiler mix, to a trainer who lives sixty minutes or moreContinue reading “Stuck With You”

Have I finally let go, Lord? Of those burdens that have weighed me down . . . those worries for loved ones? Things I cannot control, or really have much influence on, other than to love and pray. Have I finally let go, that thing in me clutching to my breast those precious ones growingContinue reading “Letting Go”

“Nana, should we pray?” asked the eight year old grandson. The three P’s were sitting at our counter, come to make reindeer cookies. A snack of apples and peanut butter sat before each of them, taming tummies a must before creative work. “Well, yes, if you would like. Would like to offer the prayer?” “No,Continue reading “Keeping Cats Off The Table”