Dream A Little Dream....All Your Own

Dream Catchers, Dream Snatchers

Dream Holders, Dream Moulders

Dream Squashers, Dream Wishers

Who are you? Who of these comes 

closest to describing you true?

Who do you hang with, do life with,

go about your business doing your thing with?

When a dream is a seed, it needs nurtured so it can grow.

At the right time when you have grown 

right along with your dream,

it will come together, all together true.

A dream now a reality is still a delicate thing, 

Don't ignore its fragility.

Be bold and protect what belongs to you!

It doesn't transfer or expire.

It isn't something that you can hire.

The stamp on it reads...."Y.O.U."

So what are you going to do?

Pick it up or lay it down?

Be a dream catcher

Develop into a dream holder

Waste not one second more

Face it, we are all getting older

Attach yourself to someone

that fills the description of a dream moulder!

And the dream snatchers and squashers

of this world

Sad pitiful creatures; often appearing 

beautiful, successful and clever.

Look closer....they are heart empty, imagination lacking

tongue wagging bullies

with twisted motives and twisted features.

They are common thieves.

My suggestion is to stay away from people like these!

Dream once, Dream twice.

Dream three times.

Take my advice.

Snatchers are always lurking.

Try confidently looking them

straight in the eye 

and smirking.

Be bold.....grip tightly

to that dream you hold!!

Between a Rock and a Hardened Place

Between a rock and a hardened place.

It can happen, those rough spots and tight jams.

They occur, gnaw at you like a burr.....

Irritate, agitate, aggravate......

Overwhelm you with what looks up at you

from your overflowing plate.

It pays to pause and recognize 

what is the root, what is the cause.

Identify the source.....and with this information

create a plan and plot a course.

A way of escape from what pains your body

And weighs down your soul.

The little unnotable things 

that take an exacting toll.

This isn't a matter of checking it out 

with everyone you know.....

And taking a poll. 

As a matter of fact, how can I say this?

I must use a measure of tact.

It is no one's business; 

no one's authority has any power

here except your own.

Weed out the confusion, lock the door of open opinion

and hang a sign that declares.....NO ENTRY.....

And if need be, POST A SENTRY!

The rough, hard, difficult, challenging, unpleasant,

ongoing, seems like never ending stuff....

can cause us to become gritty, gruff, 

and full of some seriously, poisonous, bitter kind of stuff.

Can.....but doesn't have to.....

Speak to that "stuff", tell it to keep moving all the way through,

Don't rest, put up your feet or make yourself comfortable here.

No room or welcome will be made,

No red carpet will be laid.

Be assured, getting weary or discouraged is no sin,

but don't let those things live in you.....

It makes it impossible to win.

Our hearts are resilient, but they have limits,

they can break.....

We, as humans, have a great deal at stake.

So don't let those rough spots harden your heart

  or turn you into stone. 

Be comforted by the truth that,

 as hard as life deals with us,

we DO NOT walk through it alone!

God is absolutely with us and securely on His throne!

So, between a rock and a hard place? 

Don't let it harden you!

God is the solid rock upon which we stand. 

Lean into the rock and away from the hard place.

You will discover the tenderness and strength you need.

The Love, care and security you require 

in those moments 

when you feel

under duress and under fire. 

When between a rock and a hard place, 

don't allow it to cause the inside of you 

to become a hardened space.

Let God's strength and tenderness seep into your heart.

Open up.....do that much.....do your part.

It's a brand new day.....Make it a brand new start!

Appearances

Appearances can be deceiving.

Appearances can give you pause.

 Appearances can cause you to feel distressed and slightly depressed and like not getting dressed. 

But All is not always as it appears, so look deeper, believe for the best and wait a beat or two to fly into a panic. 

Don't run around acting all manic. 

So you are stressed and tired and feel you have no options or recourse. 

Yes, it is important to keep moving forward in life. 

It is valuable to always reach for the stars. 

But rushing around all the day will cause you 

to pay dearly and nearly take you out. 

Make you cranky and throw you into a pout.

So remember, part of forward is stop. 

Part of success is not constantly reaching for the stars, but sitting quietly and gazing at them. Part of taking care of your family is taking time to be set apart from them, to collect your thoughts and center your heart. 

As you grow weary, nothings feel like giant somethings and somethings appear ten kinds of impossible. 

So sit down gaze at the stars and consider who hung them in place with care.

You can't do it all. I can't do it all. 

It's Christmas, a time to consider that oh so tiny bundle of love that is the focus and heart of the season. 

That bundle who can take the burden that is crushing you and help you stand tall and strong once again.  

By all appearances you might be in a pickle. 

At every angle your life might look like a giant tangle. 

If you realize you need to look from a different view, take a cue from the keeper of the stars and all at once you will express an enormous Whew!!!!

He can see what we cannot. 

And reach farther than you ever possibly thought. 

Do what you will. Believe and expect how you want.

 For me, I will consider who hung the stars in place with care and choose to believe life is about to get better, 

the burden lighter and the days sweeter. 

Because as I consider the stars, 

I know the dude that did 

this incredible feat

 is worth giving my all 

and worshipping at

 His feet.

Just As I Am

 Knee Jerk

Rug Pulled

Boy, that guy

had me fooled.

Lost my way

Wrong way

What a day

Don't know quite

what to say.

Crowd closing in

 Trouble, Trouble, Trouble

I'm feeling a bit done in

Send help double quick

this forest I'm stuck

in is too thick.

Kneeling down

just as I am

I set aside my anxiety

release it out of my hands.

At first I struggle to loosen

my grip, but then I open my

hands and let it slip.

For my anxiety laid down 

and offered up,

I get in return a great peace

 and sense of well being.

God has my back...

on the good days

in the rough spots

  in the tight jams 

and in the 

sweet moments that

 linger.

Never alone

Never lost

My yes is the only thing it costs!

Odds Are..........

On Christmas morning

many things are discovered

countless surprises uncovered.

Puppies pop up,

New bikes,

Sleds,

Skates,

Basketballs

and building sets.

Video games,

cameras, warm sweaters

and personalized paper

for writing sweet, tender,

handwritten letters.

Wishes are often made

that cannot, will not,

should not fit in a box.

Wishes are made nontheless 

with expectation blooming.

If you are one of those people

believing for something to

come to you that is 

impossible or improbable or

unlikely  from an average 

point of view.

Believing anyhow

is what I encourage

Because to believe is the

most important component

found in these dreamers

who received.

Be a believer

a dreamer

an expecter....

Be Against All Odds...A Receiver!

Then I Remember

Frosty Morning

Dressed in Filthy Rags

Beard grown out

His shoulders sag

Lost in a cycle

of hopelessness

and utter despair.

He isn't alone

in number, others

like him huddle

in corners of buildings

and other out of the way places.

The needs mount

I feel helpless to 

lend a hand....

Offer true solutions

Make a difference.

Then I remember

the one and powerful 

thing at my disposal. 

So I pray 
and

release more resource in

greater force than mere

wishes ever did.

I can't see 

immediate results.

I can't know 

the whole story.

I lift up my prayers

and let them go. 

Remembering every problem

is not mine to solve.

It doubles my resolve

to do my assignment

with extra 

care and attention.

So much to do 
I don't even know it all

If I did, it would entail

far too much to mention.

Take a cue,

Yes, I mean you.

We can't do it all

Or fix it all

Or solve it all.

 The answers are there

and the help is at hand.

But just remember,

you as the one and only

you... have an assignment

designed with your name,

abilities and gifts.

So all the choices, 

distractions and tugs on your 

heart and your time....

Keep in mind,

you have a special occupation.

The perfect one for you!

Do it with your whole heart

 and all the energy you can muster.

Before you know it, 

in your particular

style and way,

what you do will

make a difference

and in a manner

you may not see

what you do will

save the day.

Pause Along The Way

Knock, Knock goes the door

Upon its opening, the invitation

to come in is extended.

Suddenly several snow covered

boots are standing empty in the 

hall with the melting snow 

dripping on the floor.

Clickety Clack goes the train

on the track around the tree.....

circling, whistling, announcing

Christmas is on its way;

 it's quite near!

Popcorn pops as the board games
 are laid out.
The fire in the fireplace crackles
as the music plays.

Togetherness...enjoying the festivities
The night drenched in moonlight and Christmas wishes.
At the evenings' end the boy leans in
to give his girl, under the mistletoe, kisses.

Christmas has its basic elements that we all share, 
but Christmas looks a little different
 to everyone everywhere.

When you ask, "What is your favorite part of Christmas?"
You will get as many different answers 
as people you ask.

The one thing.
The simple thing.
The common item in the basket of 
Christmas choices
You will hear from a million voices,
is that feeling of home, security, cozy continuity.
The warmth that wraps you in familiarity.

The lights, cookies and assorted sweet treats,
 the smell of pine, the laughter 
as games are played and popcorn is eaten.
The cherished thoughtful gifts....
They all sit on the foundation of home.

There are those among us who know none of this.
They travel the world or travel the streets.
All they do and all they know is to roam. 

Christmas has no sparkle or shine, 
no sense of
cozy warmth or familiar embrace.
They are not connected to person or persons
or any one place.

As you hustle through your days
preparing for every little tradition and each
special occasion during this season,
 might I suggest.....

Pause along the way 
to look people in the eye and smile sincerely
as they pass by.
A little gesture maybe, but probably not to them.
Could be the only genuine acknowledgement they receive.

Why not make an
 extra effort to 
pass out those sincere smiles
 from this day until Christmas Eve? 

And then the day after
and the day after that
until you and those passersby
have something to
open their hearts
 to once again
or maybe
for the first time
have something beautiful
in which to believe.