Click here to claim your blog on Blogged.com

I’m very happy to have successfully acquired the username Ladyblue.
The only difference is the missing “1″ at the end. I’m not sure how it will redirect, so hopefully no one will have any trouble finding me.

How do I mourn you
When I refuse to believe you are dead
How do I stop remembering
The things you said
About me
As a person, a woman, a poet
How do I leave it behind

How do I stop wishing you back
Do I give up
Do I swallow hard and pack it in
Ditch the verse and grab my purse
And go
I wish I could know

Is it better to remember
And try to smile
Realize it was good for a while
Like a lover whose face I can’t forget
Farewell, my dear, I’m glad you let
Me in for a time

Oh, I could probably try
To recreate you, reconstruct you
Some poor replica of your beauty
But how do you replicate perfection
Besides, it wasn’t me who gave you life
I just happened by one day
And was forever changed

I can’t promise to stop longing
Can’t write you out of the song
That haunts me in the night
But will I be all right
When the gears rust shut
And nothing is left but
Quiet

©2008 lle

In response to Kween’s latest challenge…

“What do you do to feed your artistic need?”

It’s amazing what a few little encouraging words can do. I just read the “Dear Heartbeat” reader responses from the latest publication of  Heartbeat the Magazine, the publication for which I write two monthly columns. I actually got goosebumps reading this month’s feedback.

“Yeah, Just Ask Blue has the best answers to those questions! Couldn’t agree more!” Blessings, Allen from Arkansas

“Keeping It Real” is one of my favorite articles and I just want to let Lisa know that!” Bless you, Betty from Oklahoma

“I
am blessed by “Keeping It Real”… please continue to write and publish
anointed pieces of work!” From one writer to another, Jetta from
Indiana

There’s just nothing quite like encouragement, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

I’ve been reciting II Cor. 10:5 to myself a lot over the past few days. It’s been one of my favorite verses (my second favorite, actually, right behind Psalm 139:5) for a long time, but I guess you could say I’m really “feeling it” lately. Or maybe it’s that I’m “needing it” in great measure…either way, I’m hearing it a lot in my head and that’s a good thing.

I had a conversation with a very good friend a couple of days ago that confirmed some things God has been speaking to my heart over the past week. I’ve been working at implementing these things into my heart, attitudes, words, and actions. It’s still a bit of a challenge in moments, but I’m givin’ ‘er all she’s got and will keep on plugging by God’s grace and with His help (at times a lot of it).

Another friend sent me something via email that also confirmed some of the same lessons, and added that mothers set the tone for their families in many ways. I knew that, but I think I needed to hear it again, just as a reminder that my children are watching how I react and respond to things that are happening to us. They are watching me respond to people and to situations, to treatment of our family both good and bad. Their attitudes at times directly reflect mine, so obviously I am being very careful–and very prayerful–about my responses. I am asking God to guide my heart and my words very closely. As a result I’m not talking very much about how I’m feeling, and what I am saying is said with constant purposefulness toward a positive bent.

It isn’t like I don’t still have feelings of pain and injustice deep down, but I’m working hard at giving those over to the Lord without letting them spill over onto others. One of the friends with whom I spoke a couple of days ago said something that I’ve been pondering pretty deeply. He mentioned Philippians 3 where it talks about “knowing” Christ, the Greek word for “knowing” being one implying deep intimacy. It also talks about sharing in the sufferings of Christ. My friend said he had asked himself when, in his lifetime, had he shared in the sufferings of Christ, not having been beaten, or spat on, or scourged, or crucified. Then he had a time in his life when he was brought face to face with some of the sufferings of Christ, and when it happened he felt the force of that Scripture as never before. I think that is what I’m feeling acutely right now. My prayer is that with His help, I will honor Him in my response.

i cried to you, my heart laid bare
and you stepped close and held me
there
for moments there i couldn’t speak
no words would come; my voice was
weak
when finally i could meet your eyes
i searched them but saw no
surprise
just love like none i’d ever felt
so deep i thought my soul would
melt
your soft expression seemed to say
my child, give me your thoughts
today
i smoothed my hair with trembling hand
inept to help you
understand
the ache within, not even i
could word the pain or quell the
why
of being left outside alone
to face the darkness on my own
but as i
pondered all these things
it brushed me like a monarch’s wings
the
kindness in your gentle look
as though you wrote me in your book
and
somehow even scared i knew
it’s safe to give my heart to you

©2008 lle

I heard someone quip once, “Those aren’t my friends, that’s my family!” Everyone guffawed good-naturedly, but I’ve thought about that a few times since then and this morning the thought crystallized that I could say very truthfully, “That’s not just my family, those are my best friends!”

I adore the friendships I have with my husband and each of our children. I am so blessed it’s unbelievable. There isn’t one of them I couldn’t go to with almost any thought or concern and expect a solid, Christlike response. Yesterday I was getting upset about something and it was turning to anger. My 17-year-old son laid his hand on my shoulder and calmly said, “Mom. You’re better than that.” And it isn’t like he himself isn’t as upset as I am about the
situation; it’s more that his perspective is just very clear and his
focus narrow. In an instant God showed me again why he calls us to be like little children. Often they are the ones who really have it right. This isn’t the first time this same kid has shown those around him how to respond to turmoil in a Godly manner. I’ve had similar conversations with our other children, and it never ceases to amaze me how spiritually mature and scripturally solid they are. I’m learning a lot from my best friends.

That’s one of the hardest things about us being separated as a family. My husband’s frequent saying is, “We’re better together.” And he is so right.

rain on the roof
reminds me of when
i wished i could savor
tomorrow
again
but something must always
deliver a blow
and conquer what
whispers
would nourish to grow
today in my knowing
of yesterday’s
pain
i throw my umbrella
against falling rain
somehow i will
carry
my questions aloof
denying the crying
of rain on the roof

©2004 lisa luke easterling