A Single Ray of Sunlight

Walking in darkness,

sometimes we forget

that light exists.


We fixate on what hurts us

deriving identity

from our pain.


We look away

from the hands

that could rescue us.


Aching

Longing

Filled with regret

Alone

Lost


Our vision blurred

our perspective limited

our views tainted


Conflict.

Contention.

Crisis.

Our constant companions.


Forgetting how to feel,

how to love.

Forgetting who we are,

letting shame define us.


Fire

Anger

Hatred

Self-loathing

Threaten to consume us

Unquenchable

Unfixable

Unrelenting


Everything we believe about ourselves

and the world

and the people around us

is a lie,

Warped by our own twisted thoughts


This is OUR world

But it is not THE world


Change is possible.

For you, for me, for all who see

through darkened eyes.


It comes in small moments of clarity,

like a single ray of sunlight

slicing through the clouds


The road to peace

can be a long one,

but the journey begins

with hope.

Spread Your Wings

You.
Shine.
Bright.

You light up
the night.

More loved than you know,
you positively glow.
So alive.

So alive.

This world needs your soul
like a rock needs a roll
You're the stars
in my sky
and my sweet butterfly
You can be

anything.
Now go fly,
spread your wings.

Change the World

I'm small,
but significant.
I'm young,
but I won't stay like this
forever.

I have a lot to offer
and a lot to learn.
I'm getting stronger
every moment.

There may be days
when I'll feel anxious
and depressed.
There may be nights
when I'll feel lonely
and cold.

But there will be good days, too.
Joy to relieve the anguish.

Every new experience
helps me grow.
Every fall makes me
more resilient and aware.

Someday, you'll see,
I'll be the person
I was meant to be.

Someday, you'll see,
I'm gonna change the world.

My First Friend

You raised me,
fed me,
played with me,
and rocked me to sleep at night

You did the dirty work
no one else wanted to do.
You were my first friend,
the first to love me

When I got sick,
you nursed me back to health.
When I pushed you away,
you were there for me anyway

You bathed me,
scolded me,
guided me,
praised me

You saw things in me
no one else could see.
Your faith in me
gave me faith in myself

There is no substitute
for a mother's love.
I am me
because you're you

No Greater Miracle

You are the embodiment
of all that is
beautiful. Your existence, your humanity,
your heartbeat. There can be
no greater miracle.

Where will you go? What will you
be? An endless sea
of opportunity. This
is your
time. Your moment.

Your falls, your scrapes, your
scars. Your
worries, your burdens,
your cares. Don't let them
break
                    you. Let them
makeyou.

Don't be afraid of
joy. Don't waste your
energy trying
to fit in.

Stand                      out.

You have
gifts. Strengths.
                power
Use them. To
reshape your
wOrlD.

Love.
  Live.
 Breathe. Dream
wide awake.
    Surrender
and fight when
the time
is right.

This is your
    life

A Man Like You

I hope you'll remember,

as you're raising me,

how it felt when you were a child,

and how you liked to be treated.

Bursting with energy,

always wanting to play.

Rules like chains,

wanting to be thrown off.

I know I can be loud.

Maybe you once were, too.

But I'm doing the best I can,

making it up as I go.

I suspect you're doing the same.

I'm curious and careless,

still unsure who I am.

I need your example,

your patience and love.

It's so easy to disrespect me.

People do it all the time.

Just remember when you talk to me,

there's a human soul inside.

I'm just a boy,

but someday

I'm going to be

a man like you.

Safe and Warm

I've never had a son before,
so I hope you'll understand
if I make mistakes from time to time
while learning to be your dad.

I promise to do the best I can
to keep you safe and warm,
to protect you always from pain and harm
and shelter you from the storm.

I'll teach you by example
to treat a woman like a queen.
I'll show you what to do
when the other kids are mean.

I'll never leave you behind,
not while this heart beats in my chest.
You can count on me to be here,
and to give you my very best.

We may not always think alike,
but when we disagree,
I'll try to understand your views
and see the way you see.

I'll guide you when you're young,
I'll help you learn and grow.
And when you've become a man,
I'll lovingly let you go.

I'll set you free to live your life,
but this shouldn't make you sad.
You'll always be my little boy,
and I'll be your dear old dad.

Who We Are

Every soul
brought into this world
has a right to be here.

Every life
is precious
beyond comprehension.

Every person
who has ever lived
matters.

Though we make mistakes,
though some decisions cause pain,
the things we do cannot change
who we are, what we're worth.

There is no substitute
for human love,
no greater need
than belonging.

Everyone deserves a chance
to breathe
to smile
to love.

Especially you.

Tiny Seeds

A seed begins life
beneath the soil,
comfortably protected
from the elements.

Then come the challenges
of growth --
wind, hail, feet,
axes and shovels and fire.

There is no progress without risk,
no triumph without travail.
The tallest trees begin as tiny seeds --
unrealized potential.

Within each of us
lie seeds of greatness and,
more importantly,
goodness.

We can choose to remain
cocooned in safe slumber,
never daring to try,
never seeing the sun.

Or we can rise,
risk,
reach,
possess the sky.

It is our commission
to break the surface of the soil
and learn what it means
to live.

The Future Is Bright

We all have days
when the darkness descends,
when it feels like the fog
will never lift.

When the problems of yesterday
feel like shackles
anchoring us to the ground,
when the problems of today
weigh on us so heavily
we can't find the strength to rise,
and when the problems of tomorrow
paralyze us with fear.

To those who bear
the weight of the world
on their tiny shoulders,
take heart.
There are stars in every sky.

The future is bright.
The problems of yesterday are past,
the problems of today can be overcome,
and tomorrow will take care of itself.

Your pain is real,
your struggle intense.
But hope is just as real,
joy just as intense.

Peace awaits you,
if you choose to seek it,
once your season of grief
has ended.

A Gentle Touch

A gentle touch
in the right moment
with the right person
can ease worries,
calm fears,
communicate empathy,
and heal hearts

There is power in human touch,
human connection,
human love

Kiss, snuggle and hug.
These wordless expressions
of commitment and caring
are essential to a joyful life

I'll Take Care of You

I'll take care of you
through the ups and the downs,
the good and the bad.
You can count on me.

I'll take care of you
when you're sick,
when you're well,
when you need a friend.

I'll take care of you
because I care,
because you matter,
because I love you.

I'll take care of you
in winter, summer,
spring and fall,
day after day and year after year.

I'll take care of you
no matter what you go through,
no matter how long,
no matter how hard.

I'll take care of you.

From beginning to end
I'll take care of you.

But who will take care of me?

Calloused Hands

Quiet kindness,
simple strength,
integrity and love:
these are the things that matter.

Give me a pair
of calloused hands
worn out
in service to others.

Give me a pair
of gentle hands
sanctified
by acts of devotion.

The things that I do
with these hands of mine
are the one true mark
of what's inside.