HOME  The Lord's Poet Lighten a Troubled Heart Page 1
Easter and Spring Edition 2001
POETRY TO LIGHTEN A TROUBLED HEART
Page 2
POEM: Held or Chained?*POEM: Chosen?*POEM: Duty Done*POEM: The Place

HELD OR CHAINED?
Many of us have,
At one time or another,
Been a caregiver
To someone who mattered to us.
We try to do what's best
For the person in our care,
Trying to find the subtle difference
Between holding their hand
And chaining their soul.
It is as we learn
That love isn't leaning,
Company isn't security,
Kisses aren't contracts
Nor presents promises
That we are able
To discern the difference.
Even sunshine can burn
If care is not exercised.

Kathi Phillips

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CHOSEN?
If we listen to what the world says
And how others might see us,
We see only the limitations
Of our humanity.
The world will point out
The many mistakes we've made,
Or the finances we do not have
And define our value
Based on these fleeting things.
But God does not choose
Those who serve him
Based on what the world can see
Or count
Or in any way measure.
God does not choose
Only perfection.
If that were the case
He would not have chosen:
Moses who stuttered,
Or Paul who was a murderer,
Nor Abraham and Sarah
Who were much too old,
Or Jonah who ran the other way
Or Thomas who doubted
Nor many others
In the Bible who were
Merely ordinary people
Just like us.

Kathi Phillips 
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DUTY DONE
If someone has wronged you
And you have forgiven them,
You have done your duty
Whether they accept
Your forgiveness
Or don't.

If you have wronged someone
And apologized,
You have done your duty
Whether they forgive you
Or don't.

What you must learn is that
Some people
Will neither accept
Nor give forgiveness
No matter what you say or do.
If you've made the effort
And you were sincere
Then it becomes their problem,
Not yours
For you have done
All that duty and God
Would require of you.

Kathi Phillips 
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THE PLACE
If your life seems
To be falling apart
And nothing's going right;
If life seems empty
As you look around you;
If you've come to the place
Where God is all you have,
Then He is all you'll need.

Kathi Phillips 
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