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Of Dogs and Humans

Recently watching Cesar Millan, infamous “dog whisperer,” brought to mind the simplicity of resolving those fearful, gnarled things within ourselves. Receiving chaotic emotional cues from their owners, fearful, anxious canines remain confused, even aggressive, and uncontrolled until their pack leaders, their masters, overcome their own fears and anxieties in order to lead their dogs intoContinue reading “Of Dogs and Humans”

Two Sides of One Coin

It hit me like a head-sized bubble one morning. That thing about opposites attracting, people somehow magnetically binding together so strongly one can hardly pull them apart…unless they get backwards. Then their magnetic forces push them apart, not unlike those magnets we played with as kids. A friend recently posted a Facebook comment about positiveContinue reading “Two Sides of One Coin”

Visits at the Wood Shop

The old man showed up faithfully. Not a set schedule, unless a project was in the works. Woodworking allowed his strong hands to feel the timbre of the wood, to grow in his mastery of creating, honing and shaping, fitting and joining, sanding and smoothing, then finishing all with protective oil or sheen. All thisContinue reading “Visits at the Wood Shop”

Enraptured to Destruction

She tittered. He smiled. It was painful, and humorous in a sad sort of way. An older woman tittering over the obviously contrived attention she was receiving from a rich, worldly man who had long ago been her young charge. He had waltzed back into his small community, with an agenda. As I watched thisContinue reading “Enraptured to Destruction”

Stair Cabin Memories

Quiet stillness, an empty space… she could sense only her own breathing, and subtle waves of air being pushed about by the circulating fan. Then she heard it. The sound of rain gently dropping, crescendoing into pounding torrents. It brought back memories of the stair cabin, a rustic place her parents once owned at theContinue reading “Stair Cabin Memories”

Water Flow

The bubbling stream babbled on Relishing the glorious day Delighted to be waters that Nourished life along its way Slow down awhile the eddy calledCome relax a time with me My waters are serene and calm Currents that flow pleasantly I’ll try, the bubbles sparkled back I’ll flow awhile into your pool Rest a littleContinue reading “Water Flow”

What’s the Verdict?

“Boy, my dad is going to lay down the law when I get home. I’m not looking forward to that!” Thirteen year old Jeremy collapsed into the chair, mortified. Not his first time stealing from the Five and Dime, today he was caught red-handed by the store owner. Sitting with the old gentleman in hisContinue reading “What’s the Verdict?”

The Stubborn Stain

The recliner had been ours for twenty-five or thirty years. Like us, it was now showing its wear: drooping stuffing, a spot rubbed through the leather, joints working loose, the back support giving out. Every time my husband plunked down in it, his special chair, I was thankful its frame held firm. Somehow in itsContinue reading “The Stubborn Stain”

Looking Into Eyes

Eyes, the window of the soul. I wonder what one sees when enamored with evil things. Is it the mystery, the adrenaline spikes, the merry chase through a glittery labyrinth into deeper and darker things? A sense of power and conquest, of control? The temptation that bids, “come into my parlor” only to find oneselfContinue reading “Looking Into Eyes”

Walking With Hope

We two walked there arm in arm Speaking in low voiceShe allowed me to hold on Surprised me with that choice I saw her there in my dreams Our daughter now estrangedMy firstborn a treasured giftWhom I long to see again Long suffering my heart does yearnFor closeness we once shared Before events of lifeContinue reading “Walking With Hope”

Celebrating Freedom

What joy to live in such a placeThat holds freedom high With gratitude for such a gift Think long what brought it by It is a gift, hard fought and wonA gift through sacrifice A gift to treasure and protectBought with excessive priceFree to live and to thriveTo seek the truth to know Realities ofContinue reading “Celebrating Freedom”

The Lost Cat

Dreaming vividly I awakened, my mind still engaged in technicolor drama, scenes playing on throughout the day. Was the dream somewhat prophetic… a harbinger of events of tomorrow’s meeting? Or just my mind’s imaginings? Nearly fifty years ago I unexpectedly plucked a tiny kitten from an icy November night. She ultimately warmed the cold andContinue reading “The Lost Cat”

My Cleaning Lady Quit

I have come to the realization that my life has been one long walk of becoming honest with myself. Waiting for my writing friend to pop in for a visit one morning, I perused my office, the living room, the flower beds. Honestly, I was feeling nervous. We had decided at the last minute toContinue reading “My Cleaning Lady Quit”

To Be Known

Who am I? Does anybody care about me? Am I lovable? What’s my identity? Am I good enough? All through life the need to be loved and known are cries of the human heart. From those first baby wails of “Help me! Feed me! Make me safe!” we need attention, deep down inside. It isContinue reading “To Be Known”

Love’s Refining

Sanded long with upmost care ‘Til satiny and smooth When a finish was applied Wood grains rose up quite rude Then with sanding once againPressure wielded precisely The wood in places yielded fine In other spots not nicelyStill the wood-smith worked his craft Refusing to destroy it More than just to feed his fire HeContinue reading “Love’s Refining”

Illusion’s Error

“Look at that gorgeous yellow bird!” The exclamation flew out of my mouth as I considered how to get a picture without scaring the flighty thing. Camera zooming from the couch did not capture its details, but I could tell the bird was exquisite. Petite, a brilliant yellow, it sat basking in the sun. HurryingContinue reading “Illusion’s Error”

Hearing Well

Forgive the times initially I listened to your spoken wordsThinking that I understood Yet your heart I had not heard Intention was not to dismiss Heavy burdens of your soulThat you could not voice yourself Perhaps you did not fully know Communication’s awful miss Not hearing clearly deepest cries Meaning lost, attention’s guess Loneliness theContinue reading “Hearing Well”

Marching Orders

A whisper brushed across my heartNot loud but mighty just the same March for My glory, said the LORDBeloved, I have called your name Fear not your weakness, nor your strife Turmoils of your mind and heart Give to Me, I will make strongMy presence in your life, your artI love you, child, can youContinue reading “Marching Orders”

When I Don’t Understand

That word “understand” is a curiosity. It just rolls off the tip of my tongue, meaning assumed or taken for granted. Today it caught my attention. What does it really mean when I lament, “I don’t understand”? The visual that pops into mind is to be standing under something… whatever that might be. To WebsterContinue reading “When I Don’t Understand”

Honey for My Heart

Years ago I perused a book, Honey For A Child’s Heart, by Gladys Hunt. Aptly named it was filled with lists of books, categorized by age and grade, to nourish the spirits of children from pre- through upper-school. A resource that, for this inexperienced mom, was a boon, one I could take in hand whileContinue reading “Honey for My Heart”

The Gift of Irritation

Perhaps we are gifted With a thorn of irritation To help us see within ourselves Our own throbbing situation I wonder why a teller’s stance Never seems to change And sigh deep within myself‘Oh, here we go again!’Pricks of aggravation Settle o’re my countenance Listening to the same old tomeHearing heartfelt elegance Then contemplate whyContinue reading “The Gift of Irritation”

Cloaks of Identity

“Belonging comes before identity. Ownership births purpose. Someone speaks whose we are, and out of that we become who we are. It’s just the way the heart works…” —Charles Martin, Keeper of Water. Having recently finished Keeper of Water, the above quote has resonated in my soul. Somewhere deep in one’s being there is thatContinue reading “Cloaks of Identity”

Finding Purpose

A quiet contentment A breath and a pause Resting not rushing All the day long No matter the action One’s called to do With purposed direction Contentment comes too So long I’d been searchingThroughout this vast world Discover my purpose Find that that does fill The longing inside meWould not go awayThrough searching life deeplyI’veContinue reading “Finding Purpose”

The Measuring Cup

Mother’s Day. Hard to believe another year has flown. Since my mother died several years ago, Mother’s Day began changing for me, as did many of the family traditions that orbited around her and Dad. Traditions of gatherings that we never considered breaking… traditions that were born of their large, cohesive families who grew throughContinue reading “The Measuring Cup”