Today, I was hungry
While through errands I flew
I did not have much time
So a soup had to do.
I went to a diner
A hole in the ground
I found a small table
And sat myself down.
I ordered my soup
And impatiently waited
Then, when my bowl arrived
I was really frustrated
I asked the young waiter,
"Hey man, what’s the scoop?
There is no ‘I’
In my alphabet soup."
The waiter sat down
He looked right at my face
And said things to me
The put me in my place
He said ‘A’s for that addict
That walked through the door
She’s spent many years
Eating food from the floor
'B’s for that baby
Defenseless and weak
Being abused by his parents
And no words can he speak
'C’s for the cuts
On the arms of that girl
She just lost her boyfriend
He was her world
'D’s for that dog
The one covered in fleas
He cries the day long
But no one hears his pleas
'E’s for everybody
Outside of yourself
Who’s desperately needing
But won’t ask for help.
F’s for the father
Working hard every day
And comes home too tired
To find time to play
'G’s for a gutterbug
A sweet, homeless man
Who keeps himself sheltered
As well as he can.
'H’ is that husband
Who just lost his wife
She just passed away
She had just begun life.
'J’ is that jacket
All wrinkled and torn
It’s all that my friend has
To keep himself warm.
'K’ is those kittens
That cry for their mom
She was hit by a car
She won’t be back home
'L’s for the love
That’s so hard to find
With all of life’s stressors
That weigh on our mind.
'M’ is for money
We all strive to make
Just to make ends meet
Our livelihood at stake.
'N’ is for nobody
That’s who deserves
To wait for their next meal
While I share these words.
'O’ is oppression
That’s thick in the air
It weighs people down
But, does anyone care?
'P’s for the people
You see every day
The ones you bump in to
Because they’re in your way.
'Q’ is the questions
On everyone’s mind
Does compassion exist here
Is anyone kind?
'R’s for respect
Something everyone needs
That’s now so dependent
On the other’s deeds.
'S’, that’s the siblings
Separated at birth
They spent their whole life
Feeling devoid of worth.
'T’ is for troubles
We all have them, you see.
They happen to you
And they happen to me.
'U’s unconditional
Does that even exist?
Is it even a word
I can find on your list?
'V’ is for victory
The sweet, ending prize
The end, that’s so near
It puts light in your eyes.
'W’ is the witness
The one that you are
To all of the heartache
Of those near and far.
'X’ is a symbol
We’ve all come to know
It covers the places
Where no one should go.
'Y’ is the youth
That slips, swiftly away
What we all wouldn’t do
For just one more day.
'Z’ is the letter
That soon ends my speech
I want you to see
Just how far you can reach.
'I’ is for ‘self’
It signifies ‘me’
You need to look outwards,
To set yourself free
You need to see life
As an infinite loop
That is why, my dear friend,
There’s no ‘I’ in your soup.
When he finished his speech
My head, I hung low
My pride shattered beneath
His truth's mighty blow.
His words, in my ears,
They rang so very true.
Now I search, in my soup,
Not for 'I', but for 'U'.
’
© Kelly Irwin
July 28, 2014
Monday, July 28, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
Shipwrecked with Jesus © March 24, 2014
My boat overturned in the ocean
I was stranded between sea and sky
Clinging to my shattered vessel
It was only my Savior and I.
Adrift on the stern of my broken boat
It was hard not to worry or fear
I tried to stay calm in spite of it all
For I knew that Jehovah was near
The sharks started circling around me
The sharp smell of salt filled the air
I wanted to scream out in terror
But I knew that my Jesus was there.
Though my skin burned in the sunlight
The water was tepid and still
I knew I’d survive this adventure
My safety was my Father’s will.
I spotted a pod of small dolphins
They frolicked beneath waves and wind
A feeling of hope overcame me
I knew, soon, I’d be safe, once again
Then, after what seemed like forever
My eyes focused on precious land
In moments, I had left the water
And was walking, barefoot, in the sand.
If ever you’re shipwrecked with Jesus
There’s no need to fear anymore
For He is your all knowing Father
He will lead you safely to shore.
I was stranded between sea and sky
Clinging to my shattered vessel
It was only my Savior and I.
Adrift on the stern of my broken boat
It was hard not to worry or fear
I tried to stay calm in spite of it all
For I knew that Jehovah was near
The sharks started circling around me
The sharp smell of salt filled the air
I wanted to scream out in terror
But I knew that my Jesus was there.
Though my skin burned in the sunlight
The water was tepid and still
I knew I’d survive this adventure
My safety was my Father’s will.
I spotted a pod of small dolphins
They frolicked beneath waves and wind
A feeling of hope overcame me
I knew, soon, I’d be safe, once again
Then, after what seemed like forever
My eyes focused on precious land
In moments, I had left the water
And was walking, barefoot, in the sand.
If ever you’re shipwrecked with Jesus
There’s no need to fear anymore
For He is your all knowing Father
He will lead you safely to shore.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
What Do You Expect?
I have a very bad habit. I've had it for many years, and, sometimes, I do it without even thinking about it.
When something bad happens to me, or someone I love or am close to; when everyone else around me seems to be getting blessed beyond measure, and I seem to be experiencing Murphy's Law; when others are being promoted, and I'm being kept in the same place, I say "Well.. what do you expect? This is the way it is in my life." or... "Just as I expected.".. or even... "I expected nothing less."
Does anyone else do this or am I the only one? I'd like to think, in a selfish way, that I'm not alone. However, on the flip side, I hope there aren't too many of us out there.
I'm sure you've heard it said, as I have, that words have incredible power. That you can bring life or death to someone with your words. You can tear someone down with thoughtless words, or you can raise them up, and even change their whole life, with kind, encouraging words or praise.
I've also heard, though I'm not entirely sure I believe it, that we can actually 'speak' things in to existence. I'm not talking about physical objects, necessarily, because, believe me, if this were so, I would have a much nicer house, a solid, reliable career, and a husband; but more 'experiences'. For example... 'I'd love to get married in the summer, but, with my luck, there will be a thunderstorm on my wedding day.'
Yes.. I believe that words are very powerful. I remember things that were said to me when I was a young girl. Let's just say, I'm no longer a spring chicken.. so, obviously, the words had a powerful effect on me and, possibly, the outcome of my life thusfar.
I'm also beginning to believe, though, that our thoughts are equally as powerful as our words.
I've had kind of an unlucky series of events happen over the span of my lifetime. No more or no less than anyone else, I would imagine. Just 'life events'. Though I know I'm not alone in my experiences, I often feel incredibly isolated in my experience, and, I believe that I react a lot differently than, maybe, others may react.
I can sometimes be a drama queen and blow things entirely out of proportion. On the other hand, I can be indifferent, mainly from being worn down, when I should be more alert, concerned, and on the ball. Most often, when I'm in 'indifferent' mode, solutions to my dilemmas don't come easily.
I'm in kind of a whirlwind of 'situations' at this point in my life. Other than occasionally asking God why there's a target on my back or a dark cloud over my son and I, I've been noticing that, once again, the age old questions have been arising every time something bad happens... 'what do you expect? This is the way it is in my life.'
I have to sit back and consider that, quite possibly, a lot of the things that are happening to me right now may very well be happening for that exact reason. That I 'expect' them to. Because I've known pretty much nothing other than negative, pain, hurt, and turmoil, it's come to be 'part of my life'... even though it's something I truly don't want.
How about you? What have you expected in the past? Have you expected good things? If so, have they come to pass? Have you expected bad things? Have THEY come to pass? Is it time for you to change your expectations?
Today, I'm going to challenge myself. Please feel free to join me.
It is now 9:40 am, Thursday morning, July 10, 2014. Today, I expect to have a great and blessed day. Today I expect to meet all of the people that I need to meet in order for my life to start heading in the right direction. Today I expect nothing but sunshine in a cloudless sky to follow my son and I wherever we go.
I won't have blessings if I expect curses. So, today, I expect to change my expectations!!!!
When something bad happens to me, or someone I love or am close to; when everyone else around me seems to be getting blessed beyond measure, and I seem to be experiencing Murphy's Law; when others are being promoted, and I'm being kept in the same place, I say "Well.. what do you expect? This is the way it is in my life." or... "Just as I expected.".. or even... "I expected nothing less."
Does anyone else do this or am I the only one? I'd like to think, in a selfish way, that I'm not alone. However, on the flip side, I hope there aren't too many of us out there.
I'm sure you've heard it said, as I have, that words have incredible power. That you can bring life or death to someone with your words. You can tear someone down with thoughtless words, or you can raise them up, and even change their whole life, with kind, encouraging words or praise.
I've also heard, though I'm not entirely sure I believe it, that we can actually 'speak' things in to existence. I'm not talking about physical objects, necessarily, because, believe me, if this were so, I would have a much nicer house, a solid, reliable career, and a husband; but more 'experiences'. For example... 'I'd love to get married in the summer, but, with my luck, there will be a thunderstorm on my wedding day.'
Yes.. I believe that words are very powerful. I remember things that were said to me when I was a young girl. Let's just say, I'm no longer a spring chicken.. so, obviously, the words had a powerful effect on me and, possibly, the outcome of my life thusfar.
I'm also beginning to believe, though, that our thoughts are equally as powerful as our words.
I've had kind of an unlucky series of events happen over the span of my lifetime. No more or no less than anyone else, I would imagine. Just 'life events'. Though I know I'm not alone in my experiences, I often feel incredibly isolated in my experience, and, I believe that I react a lot differently than, maybe, others may react.
I can sometimes be a drama queen and blow things entirely out of proportion. On the other hand, I can be indifferent, mainly from being worn down, when I should be more alert, concerned, and on the ball. Most often, when I'm in 'indifferent' mode, solutions to my dilemmas don't come easily.
I'm in kind of a whirlwind of 'situations' at this point in my life. Other than occasionally asking God why there's a target on my back or a dark cloud over my son and I, I've been noticing that, once again, the age old questions have been arising every time something bad happens... 'what do you expect? This is the way it is in my life.'
I have to sit back and consider that, quite possibly, a lot of the things that are happening to me right now may very well be happening for that exact reason. That I 'expect' them to. Because I've known pretty much nothing other than negative, pain, hurt, and turmoil, it's come to be 'part of my life'... even though it's something I truly don't want.
How about you? What have you expected in the past? Have you expected good things? If so, have they come to pass? Have you expected bad things? Have THEY come to pass? Is it time for you to change your expectations?
Today, I'm going to challenge myself. Please feel free to join me.
It is now 9:40 am, Thursday morning, July 10, 2014. Today, I expect to have a great and blessed day. Today I expect to meet all of the people that I need to meet in order for my life to start heading in the right direction. Today I expect nothing but sunshine in a cloudless sky to follow my son and I wherever we go.
I won't have blessings if I expect curses. So, today, I expect to change my expectations!!!!
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Get out of your RUT
If we want life to change; if we want things to get better for us; if we want to become better people; we need to get out of our RUT.
We need to Rewire our Underlying Thinking.
Christianity isn't a crutch. It's not an excuse. It's a complete (hopefully) life makeover.
The day we give our lives to Christ, our journey isn't over, it's just beginning. We fight a daily battle in the spiritual realm. We fight a daily battle with our flesh. We even fight a daily battle with our own will.
Where we could freely complain about, reject, and hate those who didn't fit our mold of 'acceptable', we are now called to love, accept, and do good for those same people.
Where we used to swear like sailors (I still do), we're expected to hate that type of language. The very things that sadden our Savior are to make our own skin crawl when we see/hear them happening around us, or, worse, when we say/do them ourselves.
Where we had no problems with retaliation, retribution, hoping for karma, and walking away from those who hurt us, angered us, or we just plain didn't like, we're called to turn the other cheek, and to not tire of doing good for these reviled people.
We need to be mindful that whatever we do to someone, we're also doing to the One who laid down His life for us.
Christianity doesn't sound so much like paradise anymore, does it? Not looking very much like 'the easy way out', huh?
I believe, though, that with daily... sometimes minute by minute changes in our lives; changes to our own ways, we can/will re-wire our brains and our hearts in such a way that doing the right thing will become second nature.
We need to Rewire our Underlying Thinking.
Christianity isn't a crutch. It's not an excuse. It's a complete (hopefully) life makeover.
The day we give our lives to Christ, our journey isn't over, it's just beginning. We fight a daily battle in the spiritual realm. We fight a daily battle with our flesh. We even fight a daily battle with our own will.
Where we could freely complain about, reject, and hate those who didn't fit our mold of 'acceptable', we are now called to love, accept, and do good for those same people.
Where we used to swear like sailors (I still do), we're expected to hate that type of language. The very things that sadden our Savior are to make our own skin crawl when we see/hear them happening around us, or, worse, when we say/do them ourselves.
Where we had no problems with retaliation, retribution, hoping for karma, and walking away from those who hurt us, angered us, or we just plain didn't like, we're called to turn the other cheek, and to not tire of doing good for these reviled people.
We need to be mindful that whatever we do to someone, we're also doing to the One who laid down His life for us.
Christianity doesn't sound so much like paradise anymore, does it? Not looking very much like 'the easy way out', huh?
I believe, though, that with daily... sometimes minute by minute changes in our lives; changes to our own ways, we can/will re-wire our brains and our hearts in such a way that doing the right thing will become second nature.
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