COMMUNICATING
maybe
words are just vehicles
and the tone
is the content.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND
Lord
my daughter is talking in code
she is trying to tell me something
but all I can hear is the words
and they don’t seem to be saying it
her actions indicate that she is troubled
but she can’t find the right words
to convey what is troubling her
help me to hear more than her words
help me to see more than her actions
help me to be a parent who cares.
-Ulrich Schaffer, For the Love of Children, Harper & Row,1942
FACES AND HANDS
I love to remember those precious moments
when I saw people this week
really saw them
the innocent glory of my child’s face
the lined faces of patient parents
the unarmored face of one who knows
he is dying
the hands that heal
the hands that cares
the veined, hairy hands
of work and love
why do I cause pain to those faces
and make those hands go on guard?
why do I turn the knife
belittle
demean
undercut
while I want to
open the door
build up
appreciate
encourage
let me bring light to those faces and gentleness to those hands.
I FAILED LAST NIGHT
I failed last night…
this man was hurting,
aching for someone
to listen
and share his hurt…
but I was tired
and uninterested
and wanting to be left alone…
he didn’t stay long…
that’s not the first time
I’ve turned off,
refused to be reached…
and it’s like
I can see myself doing it,
but I do it anyway…
because
I don’t have the energy to care
or do I often care
for really loving reasons
or is my caring professional
or an investment upon which
I expect return?
Lord, forgive me
When I fail to care for any reason.
-Robert A. Raines, Lord Could You Make It A Little Better, Word Inc,1972
I WILL ALWAYS ENCOURAGE YOU IN YOUR DREAM
“I see so much within you:
so much light in your eyes,
so much laughter in your soul.
I want you to have freedom
to experience all of life,
yet I want to hold you close.
I hear the excitement in your voice
when you reach out for something important to you
and you achieve it.
I never want you
to feel unloved,
because I love you more
than life itself.
I want to wrap my arms around you
so that you’ll always feel
safe, secure and cherished.
I will always stand beside you;
I’ll wipe your tears when you cry.
I’ll comfort you when you feel hurt.
I want to encourage you to be
whatever you want.
Whatever you pursue in life,
I’ll be there as your friend,
as well as your parent.
If you ever fail at something,
I’ll encourage you
to get up and try again,
because it doesn’t mean
you’ll fail at everything;
everyone learns by their mistakes.
I want you to know
I’ll always be here for you.”
-
Sherrie L Householder
“…Believe in your ability to succeed,
and you will.
Believe in your ability to meet
every difficult challenge,
and you will.
Believe in your ability to give
and receive love,
and you will.
Believe in yourself…”
- Donna Levine
“We live by encouragement and we die without it, slowly, sadly and angrily.”
