Harmonious partnerships are the result of hard work; they never “just happen.” The “hard work” also includes giving just as much as taking. In one word it means being “unselfish.”
From 1 Corinthians 13:4-6: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.”
This re-edited poem, written in July, 2019, features an effortless style. The verses are structured with simplicity because this should be how love exists . . . simple and pure!
Love Conquers
Finding its way
With words to say
Boundless and rich
Love conquers
Despite distances great
Unlocking its fate
With faithful hope
Love conquers
Awakens each morn
Feels like being reborn
Lasts and lasts
Love conquers
Between two hearts
Eager for new start
Together at last
Love conquers
Each special day
Adventure comes our way
Exciting and endless
Love conquers
Thoughts to savor
Bringing each a favor
As sunrise arrives
Love conquers
Arriving without sound
Loving actions abound
Every special moment
Love conquers
Forgetting life’s past
Bringing smiles to last
Faithful and forgiving
Love conquers
God’s at hand
Footprints in the sand
Reigns into Eternity
From Psalm 90:1-2: “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Life’s amazing blessings
God’s Book of Life unfolds
Single timeless moment
Richer than any gold
Man and woman find love
Fragile lives share restart
Single timeless moment
Merging into one heart
Forsaken child needs home
Foster parents reach out
Single timeless moment
Love sows, ready to sprout
Student facing failure
Here comes love’s helping hand
Single timeless moment
Teacher pulls from quicksand
Family in crisis
Unemployed, dreams stand cold
Single timeless moment
Job opens, God beholds
Disaster strikes city
Many answer God’s call
Single timeless moment
Kindness stands ever tall
Sin’s temptation knocking
Christian brother steps up
Single timeless moment
Christ refills empty cup
Darkening, hopeless world
Father’s infinite grace
Single timeless moment
Love reaches out, embrace
From Genesis 9:11-13: “‘I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.'”
From the words of author and poet, Ana Claudia Antunes: “True love is like little roses; sweet, fragrant in small doses.”
Montana to Ohio
God joins this woman and man
Love bringing His precious gift
As only He really can
Love begins with our Father
Nurturing words speak each day
Hand in hand, with each other
God’s grace and peace lights His way
Love matures, like fall’s harvest
Built upon God’s rock of trust
Daily hope breathes at sunrise
Walk under angel’s stardust
Love meaning more than just words
Through valleys to mountaintops
Joining as one, each ribbon
God’s love never, ever stops
From Song of Solomon 8:6-7: “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If one offered for love all the wealth of one’s house, it would be utterly scorned.”
From Ecclesiastes 3:1: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
Winter’s snow, cannot hide
Cherished love, deep inside
During darkness of night
Her love shines, always bright
Spring’s blossoms, love shares
Life’s newness, always cares
Nature wakens, each land
Her splendor, in God’s hands
Summer’s glowing spirit
Longing to walk near it
Love growing, day by day
Her grandeur comes this way
Autumn’s colored venue
Love fills each day’s menu
Landscape treasures each thrill
Her warmth hides winter’s chill
Seasons, patient with time
Faith grows, ever in rhyme
Righteous gifts, sing as hymns
Father’s love, never dims
From Lamentations 3:22-24: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”
From Luke 1:27-27: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”
When shall we ever meet?
Longing to meet my Lord
His lamp, lighting the way
Filled with love, now on board
Life’s laboring turmoil
Enchained by sin’s shackles
Christ offers lasting Grace
Freed from darkest jackals
Heaven’s gifts come to earth
Filled with unselfish love
Each dawn brings liberty
Embracing newfound love
Rejoice, again rejoice!
No more trembling in fear
Appearing like day’s sun
Safely home, Jesus steers
From Luke 24:50-53: “Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He was blessing them, He withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.”
Child
Of God
Respect your Father
With love and obedient
Heart
Weariness
Day’s trials
God’s soothing Word
Heals fragile, tender hearts
Peace
Focus
Life’s attention
God’s secure refuge
Stabilized by His love
Jesus
This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.
Brothers and sisters
God calling us to freedom—
Share our love with all
Loving the Father
Born into human likeness—
Christ empties himself
Trusting His guidance
Living in love of Jesus—
Submit to His will
From Song of Solomon 2:8: “The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.”
Sitting here, another morning’s darkness
Thinking of today’s most beautiful view
Your kindness and love arrives with a smile
Transforming this heart to radiant new
Traveling life’s lonely, meaningless road
Dreaming of unlocking a better life
Your cherished spirit bestows precious light
Joining together as husband and wife
Making beloved home for two love birds
Nurturing passion with each priceless day
Your tender, caring thoughts lead us forward
Navigating with God’s love, shows His way
Affirming love through joyful affection
Walking in Jesus’ perfect reflection
From Song of Solomon 4:1: “How beautiful you are, my love, how very beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats, moving down the slopes of Gilead.”
From Galatians 5:22-25: “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.”
Seeing mankind standing along the road
Bearing heavy burdens, life’s overload
Stopping to say, travel the other way
Sharing some kindness, from our Lord today
Shining Jesus’ light, for all to follow
Hearing His Word, rich wisdom to swallow
Overlooking life’s narrow-minded walk
Sharing some kindness, truth becomes our rock
Lending helping hands, sisters and brothers
Showering daily grace, like none other
Forsaking life’s blindness, opening eyes
Sharing some kindness, never in disguise
Helping others who travel beside us
Inviting them, catching rides on God’s bus
Loving with patience, goodwill overflows
Sharing some kindness, warming hearts aglow
Recalling Christ’s call, handing out His love
Sharing His mercy, planted from above
Paying it forward, kindness shared each day
Harvesting endless treasures from God’s way
This poem is inspired by singer Glen Campbell’s classic tune, “Try a Little Kindness.” Here is one of his renditions of this remarkable song. Pay it forward, show the world some kindness.
Big Sky Buckeye 