Ru – Page 5 – Woodsmoke and Cardamom

The Night Nurse

by Lucy M. Young

She comes into my room so quietly, I hardly know she's there.
Her cheery smile, her air of confidence allay my fears
And slow my racing pulse.
She comes on silent feet
With soothing words and gentle hands
To ease my pain with medication,
Or maybe help me to relax
With just a little friendly conversation.

All night she's near and I can rest
Knowing a simple touch upon the call bell
Will bring her quickly to my side.
May God be always with her
And bless her richly for her sympathy,
Her quiet strength and patient understanding
Throughout the long dark hours of what could be 
A sleepless pain-filled night without her.

Sometimes I Get Discouraged

by Lucy M. Young

Sometimes I get discouraged
With pain day after day,
With tiredness and weakness
That will not go away.

Forgive me for succumbing
To hopelessness, despair;
And help me do what must be done,
Grant strength my pain to bear.

I pray that it may be Your will
That pain depart from me;
But if this be my lot in life,
Then, Lord, please walk with me.

If I could feel my suffering
Could somehow ease Your pain
Inflicted on the cruel cross,
'Twould not seem so in vain.

So Lord, help me to bear it
Ignore it and go on;
Believing that the day will come
When pain will all be gone.

Just hold my hand when I'm afraid,
Uplift me when I'm low;
Make strong my faith, wipe out despair,
And keep my heart aglow

With love and gratitude for You
And all You've done for me -
For granting me the ability
To feel and hear and see.

Palm Sunday

by Lucy M. Young

When Jesus entered Jerusalem
On that Sunday so long ago
The multitude greeted Him joyously
In His path palm branches did throw.

But His eyes held only sadness,
Compassion filled His heart;
For He knew His time was limited,
From this life He would soon depart.

He blessed the crowd as He slowly rode
Down the narrow dusty street.
His heart was heavy as He looked ahead
To the trouble He must meet.

He was weary and worn, He was troubled
By the sorrow and pain He must bear;
But He breathed a prayer to His Father
Entrusting His life to His care.

When the palms are passed in remembrance
Of the Master's humble ride,
May we dedicate our lives anew
To the purpose for which He died?

Just for You

Just for you, my friend, the sun is shining;
Just for you no clouds are in the sky.
The springtime flowers bloom in all their glory;
Just for you the birds are flying high.

Just for you my prayers rise to the Father
For quick recovery from your long travail;
For peace of mind and happiness and confidence
That pain and sadness cannot long prevail.

Just for you the birds are singing sweetly;
Their happy songs, 'though old seem ever new;
They sing of hope and love, of faith and gladness,
And lift their hearts in glad song just for you.

Communion

by Lucy M. Young

When I entered the sanctuary
I was burdened with sadness and guilt;
I'd been angry, impatient, uncaring,
All day my resentment had built.

It was quiet and peaceful, soft-lighted.
I sat with my head bowed in shame.
I confessed my sins to my Saviour,
Asked forgiveness in His precious Name.

Then I prayed for love and compassion
Toward those who had crossed me that day.
"Forgive and forget," was His message,
"I'll walk with you all the way."

The table was set by the altar;
I approached it with reverence and prayer.
The bread and the cup sanctified me,
I felt safe and secure in His care.

I knew that my sins were forgiven;
Peace descended on me like a dove.
My burden of guilt had been lifted,
He had answered my prayers with His love.

Lord Be in My Eyes

Lord, be in my eyes.
Let me see beauty everywhere -
In earth and sea and sky,
And in the faces of my friends and family.

Lord, be in my ears.
Let me be deaf to harsh and cruel phrases.
Let me hear only pleasant words and lovely music
From the stars, the songs of birds,
And in the words of those around me.

Lord, be in my mouth.
Let me speak gently,thoughtfully,
And let me never speak an unkind word to hurt another.

Dear Lord, be in my hands.
Keep them ever gentle, kind and helpful.
Let them never be in anger raised against another,
But keep them ever ready to be used whenever needed
By stranger, friend or foe -

Then, Lord, be in my mind and heart.
Keep them clean and clear and open to receive Your word,
Ignoring hostility, intolerance and anger,
And helping me to know how best to love and serve You daily.

Remembering My Mother

by Lucy M. Young

Lucy (right) with her mother, Lula G. Edmunds

She loved the Lord and sang His praises daily.
She taught us with her songs to love Him too.
Praying at her knee each night a bedtime,
We knew He'd keep us safe the whole night through.

The hymns she taught us are a precious legacy.
I still can hear her singing "Rock of Ages."
Her tattered Bible is my dearest treasure,
Remembering her I slowly turn the pages

And read marked passages that brought her comfort.
And strength and joy to raise her voice in song,
To lift the spirits of all those around her,
Until her voice was cracked with age and gone.

But now I'm sure she's singing with the angels
All those old and lovely hymns her memory stored;
I know her voice rises clear and joyous
As she once more sings her praises to her Lord.

Grant Me Serenity

by Lucy M. Young

Dear Lord, grant me serenity,
That I may gracefully accept
Whatever comes my way that can't be altered.
If my body must be crippled,
Let not my mind and heart and soul be crippled also.
Grant me the strength
To rise above my physical affliction,
And be content with what I can accomplish
In spite of it.

Lord, grant me courage
To change my way of life to fit the limits
Placed upon me by my handicap;
To smile in spite of pain;
To laugh at difficulties, disappointments,
And find the strength to do my daily tasks.

But if it be Thy will, dear Lord,
I pray that Thou wilt heal my leg;
That pain may disappear,
And I may walk and work and live in comfort;
However, Lord, Thy will not mine be done.
Whatever be the outcome of this day, I will accept it;
And with Thy help,
I'll strive each day to live a useful, joyous life;
And make my home a pleasant, tranquil place,
That all who come may feel refreshed,
And go their way with peaceful, happy hearts.

Dear Little Mother

by Lucy M. Young

Lucy (right) with
her “little Mother”
Lula G. Edmunds

Dear little mother,
I am so glad that you are finally at rest
And happy with your Lord.
I'll miss you, oh so much,
But knowing you are free at last
From all the loneliness you knew on earth
Will help me bear the sorrow of your passing.

You worked so hard and had so little -
No luxuries and just the bare necessities of life;
But you were always grateful
For every little thing that came your way:
A home-made valentine,
A small plant from my garden,
A single rose,
The little tree we planted for you long ago
On Mother's Day.

You loved us,
And you sacrificed so much
That we might have a better life
Than you had ever known.
Selfishly, unthinkingly I took
And gave so little in return;
But Mother dear, I loved you,
And I am so very sorry for my thoughtlessness
And for my unforgivable neglect of you.

I know you're happy now;
No more loneliness or sorrow,
No more heartache, no more pain.
You're with the ones you loved and missed so much -
Your beloved mother and your precious grandson;
Your special daughter and your one true love.
God bless you, Mother dear;
And 'though I miss you more than I can say,
I'm glad you're with the Lord
And may He hold you safely in His arms forever.

Lean on the Lord

by Lucy M. Young

Margarette Burrell
with Wayne and Chance

Dear little girl, "adopted daughter,"
Your grief and anguish break my heart.
Your love has left you for a time,
But it is just a temporary separation.
Believe, my dear, that he is waiting
Just beyond that closing door
For you to go to him.

He loved you dearly,
And that love you shared with him
Will last forever.
It will sustain you through the lonely days and nights ahead.

Lean on the Lord.
His love and strength will hold you up
And gently comfort you.
He'll hold your hand
And help you through the emptiness you feel
Until that glorious day when once again
You will be reunited with your love
Forever.