Woodsmoke and Cardamom

Because I Listened

by Lucy M. Young

I asked the Lord for help -
He didn't answer
I asked again and yet again
But still no answer
I thought He didn't hear me so I asked again more fervently
With tears and abject pleading -
nothing happened
"Can't you hear me, Lord?" I asked, "Or don't you care?"
Then I stopped my anxious flow of words
I stopped and walked alone into the nearby forest
Away from all the anger and turmoil of my day
It was so quiet there - I listened to the silence
I couldn't hear His voice, no words were spoken
I couldn't feel His touch or see His face
But I know that He was there because I felt such peace within me
His love surrounded me and soothed my troubled spirit
Because I stopped to listen I was refreshed and rested;
Because I listened, I could face whatever came my way
With courage and the strength He'd given me.

The Garden

Lucy M. Young

I went to the garden this morning
when the sky was rosy with dawn
Peace and serenity reigned supreme,
the shadows of night were all gone.

The birds were raising their happy songs
in joyous praise of the day;
A breeze brought the fragrance of flowers to me
from the meadow across the way.

I admired my neat row of vegetables
in their dew-spangled shades of green;
Awed by the fact that a few tiny seeds
could produce this exotic scene.

I agree with the person far wiser than I
Who cast pearls of wisdom abroad -
There is no place on earth like the garden at dawn
to make one feel closer to God.

Only the Good Die Young

Lucy M. Young

I smile at the sky when I wake in the morn
Dark clouds, wind and rain I cheerfully scorn;
By worry and fear I will not be torn -
Only the good die young.

I might be hit by a sudden fierce storm,
Or danger in any shape or form.
Why should I fret? I am safe from all harm -
Only the good die young.

I've nothing to fear as I go through each day
Safe from pitfalls along the way;
Fearless in the spite of not knowing my way -
Only the good die young.

So I'll ramble along on my journey through life,
Safe and secure through the storm and the strife;
Ignoring the perils which threaten my life -
For only the good die young.

Gossip

by Lucy M. Young

God gave us ears that we might hear
The songs of birds, a gentle breeze in the whispering pines
The rush and roar of a waterfall,
A softly babbling brook.

He gave us ears to hear the happy voices
Of children playing in the grass
The pleasant cheerful words of friends
Who seek to comfort and make known to us their love.

He gave us ears to hear the thrilling rhapsody
Of symphonies and choral groups
That fill our souls with joyful harmony
And peace found nowhere else.

He did not give us ears to hear
Malicious gossip about one another
But He did give us minds to disregard
Ignore, destroy, and forget
Whatever evil thoughts were given voice
And passed around.

May God forgive the originators of such thoughts
And close the ears and mouths
Of all who might be tempted
To listen and repeat such worthless prattle.

Like the Pine Tree

by Lucy M. Young

Lord, let me be like the sturdy pine
That stands outside my window
Let me lift my arms in adoration to you
As the pine tree lifts its branches to the sky
Let me stand firm against the trials of life
Help me endure my pain as a passing breeze
Through the pine tree's lovely foliage
Then when the storms of life have passed
Let me be serene and peaceful like the pine tree
As I leave to live forever free of pain
In the shelter of my dear Saviour's love.

The Tree

by Lucy M. Young

From a tiny seed it grew
Day by day, year by year
Until today it is a lovely tree
Overlooking fields and streams
Houses and streets
Magnificent in its size and graceful shape.
Standing strong and brave against stormy weather
Year after year it stands
Impervious to heat and cold
Putting to shame our petty grumblings
It beautifies bare landscape
Lifting leafy arms in adoration
And gratitude to the power and glory of our Heavenly Father

Maker of all things beautiful
We thank you, Lord, for trees
And the joy and pleasure they bring
To a weary world.

The Seasons

by Lucy M. Young

photo by Autumn Mott Rodeheaver on Unsplash

The leaves are falling fast now
The trees will soon be bare
Their naked, shivering branches
Reaching for the black November sky.

The air is growing colder
Winter's moving closer every day
Animals are hibernating
Birds have flown to warmer climes
Before the bitter winter winds arrive.

One tree stands firm against the changing weather
A staunch New England pine, proud and strong
Its lush green foliage gently moves with every passing breeze

Soon snow will gently fall
Silently adorning field and tree and bush
With fluffy soft white plumes
Winter winds will whip them to a frenzy

And the tree will stand uninjured through it all

But Spring will come with tender grass
And soft green leaves and flowers
Peepers in the marshes fill the night with song
Robins and songbirds sing from all the trees.

Thank you, Lord, for all the changing seasons
And the constant beauty of them all.
Help us to appreciate each passing hour
And live each fleeting moment to the fullest.

The Hill

by Lucy M. Young

Up in the Northland far away
There's a long smooth hill at the foot of a mountain
Broad and steep, free of bushes and trees,
A perfect place to ski 

The mountain above it is beautifully clad
In fragrant balsam, fir, and pine,
Rough logging roads winding throughout

I skied for hours along those roads
Then at sunset, like a low-flying bird
I swooped down the hill toward home nestled snugly below
Aglow with lamplight welcoming me
To the love and security waiting therein.

The warmth of that memory stays with me
Brightening many a weary day
I pray that someone is skiing those trails
Feeling the joy and peace that I knew
In those long ago days of my youth.

Hillhaven

by Lucy M. Young

Alone and ignored she sits in her wheelchair
The chaotic life of the nursing home flowing around her
No one to talk to, no one to care
What is she thinking?
Idly her hands pluck at her dress
Her eyes gaze into space
What memories or dreams lie behind that gaze?
Snowy head bent, she dreams the hours away
Are her memories happy?
Does she have a family somewhere?
Or is she really alone?
Bless her, Lord, and let her know
That you are always near for her
And she need never be alone again.

A Guiding Light

by Lucy M. Young

Like a beacon light in the darkest night
The word of God shines through.
It brightens our lives with its holy light,
Bringing peace and confidence, faith and hope 
To a weary struggling world.