Cashing in on Christmas

I decided a while ago that relationships aren't about gifts;
Don't give me little tokens as, out of my life, you drift.
When my grands used to ask, "What did you bring to me?"
"I brought you myself," I'd reply. "Your gift is what you see."

I used to have "special days" that I'd spend with granddaughters;
As these were birthday gifts, for their favorite activities we'd barter.
Some of them have gotten too busy, so I send them a check.
But today I had a holiday so I said, "Oh, what the heck!"

I took my daughter-in-law for a pedi and a manicure;
My granddaughter came along, a welcome surprise, for sure.
Then we went to their house and spent a few lovely hours
Making Easter foods and carving vegetable flowers.

A bit of swimming races in their backyard pool.
In less than an hour, granddaughter was too cool.
Granddaughter wants a day next week all to herself;
I am always honored not to be left on the shelf.

These are payments on Christmas gift certificates;
A special day doing what they want will always fit.
I also got good news about my job as I drove home;
Sometimes things work best when they are left alone.

Some of The Spirit's Help

In the age past of strict patriarchy,
Women were considered responsibility free.
We are now blessed to have the choice of leading,
With the accompanying glory of succeeding.

I haven't before worked for a big company
Where people aren't really ever free
To do just as it pleases them to do.
In big companies, you're a part of a crew.

I am kind of liking divided responsibility,
Even though I suspect the blame will fall on me
If the  fundraiser doesn't raise enough funds
Permanent employees will, from responsibility, run.

I have no real mantel of authority 
So it's foolish to accept responsibility.
 I know this gives me the potential blame;
I'm being well-paid take the reigns.

Middle management can be challenging
With all the frustrations that it brings.
The upside is that I can walk away,
And begin guilt-free another day.

I'm working as hard as I possibly can
Enjoying being surrounded by humans.
I'm doing work that I know is important,
So I believe my time is still well-spent.

I do so hope that my work succeeds;
It will help fill our community's needs.
The only real pressure is within myself
I could use some of The Spirit's help.

Listening With Love

Is it what we say or how we say it?
Is it the music or how we play it?
To question someone is not to condemn;
Desire to understand is not a sin.

It is when we, without understanding, condemn
That we close the doors that let The Spirit in.
By sharing our innermost selves we see
The fruits of true shared intimacy.

I do so admire those who speak their truth
Without letting their prejudices loose.
I like communication in which all learn,
And respect is an important concern.

I've read that listening requires silent space,
Perhaps so that words can be touched with Grace.
To really listen before we speak our minds
Would surely make our own words more kind.

Doubt and Devotion

Friendships, once formed, aren't easily broken,
Unless the word "friendship" is just a token
Of a relationship that stays on the surface,
Rather than life where we put others first.

We find ourselves torn by so many ties,
We can't keep up, no matter how we try.
I try very hard to leave large memories behind,
So that we'll always live in each others minds.

But there seems to always be strong longing
For the physical side to feelings of belonging,
The sight of a face, or the sound of a voice,
Perhaps a warm hug would be first choice.

The weight of emotion can be quite great
When we have so many people to celebrate.
How do others handle all they care about
Without beginning to, their devotion, doubt?

Notes and Negativity

Bubbles of memory drift over and pop;
I have often begged for them to stop.
Even the joyful ones can cause pain
For the things I can't live over again.

My life has been so full of wonder;
But cynics have torn my heart asunder.
I came to hide inside my head;
Others were a cause for dread.

I have no problem with doubt
Of what I like to think about.
But why do others want to destroy
Those who insist on seeing joy?

Are they afraid there's not enough,
And we won't share our "stuff?"
Or are they afraid their hearts will break
If joy, in their hearts, claims a stake?

I am attempting to engage once again,
Hoping the joy will outweigh the pain.
Will I ever learn not to take personally
All the universe's negativity?

It is true that when we block all that's sad,
We also block much that makes us glad.
You can't put your elbow on one piano key
Without hitting more notes than were meant to be.

So I will now seek to actively filter
The negative that throws me off kilter.
I will no longer take it as my mission
To heal all of the earth's divisions.

Cherished Children

Sundays are a day of delight, with my man and I enjoying each other;
It used to also be the day that I could enjoy being a mother.
So now we sit and greet the day having coffee by the water,
Watching together the boats as they leave the harbor.

We have extra snuggle time, because we're in no hurry,
And the children we may see are children who aren't our worry
We use the day for family time and visits to the elderly;
Of course, most the old folks we visit are related to me.

But what really makes my heart race with joyful anticipation
Is seeing young people in whose upbringing we had participation.
Our children, nieces, and nephews are now fully grown,
And many of them now have children of their own.

It is a delight to observe young people who share our values
To know that when narcissism calls, they reject it's pull.
Babies brought up by people of morally committed community
Are the future of what I hope our world comes to be.

Love in This Life

Gayle wrote on her blog today, "Can we imagine God commanding us, as His servants, to cheat others, to abort our children, to tear down and not build up?

What if, in every circumstance, we bowed before the Lord and said, "I belong to You; tell me what You would have me do!"  We would need no other commandments or laws if we loved the Lord with our whole hearts, our whole minds, and our whole strength."http://onebirdwatching.blogspot.com

This was based on a quote from the Old Testament, Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole mind, and with your whole strength (Deut. 6:5). Perhaps the reason for the earthly journey of Jesus was to remind humankind that loving The Divine in the abstract is the basis for all meaning, but is never enough. We must see The Divinity in each other and the rest of creation, and love that, too.

Mt 22:36 “[Jesus], which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, ’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.” This reflects what Jesus, as a devout Jew, had learned, Lv 19:18 “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

I've read that Torah scholars believe that the only part of their sacred scripture that was written directly by the "Finger of God" is the ten commandments, which specifically teach us how to love one another. It seems to me that the test of the sacredness of a scripture is how it places people in the eternal plan. We are all important, and we must seek always to find and nourish The Divinity in each other and in the rest of creation.