Deborah Horton Writing

Ever closer day by day inching forward come what may

unsure of tomorrow yet sure in the knowing something is growing

trusting the process faith is believing without seeing into being

walking the path uncertain of the length relying always on your strength

each day that passes brings closer the dreams not as easily as it seems

all the hard work the endless days now weeks then years wiping away sweat and tears

never knowing when the payoff will come giving more and then some

onward ever onward closer with each passing second the end continues to beckon

reaching out for possibilities unknown as sunrise reaches for the dawn

closer ever closer drawing near letting go of all I fear

We two together walking this path of life

27 years as husband and wife

Three children grown to young men

who could have imagined way back then

so much we have shared through these years

much more laughter than there has been tears

Our hearts together forever in love

praying always for guidance from above

filling my heart and holding my hand

together we two continue to stand

supporting each other in whatever we do

I will always forever love you

For all things there is a season

a time to rest has come

wake and be refreshed

or sleep and be relaxed

take your ease in tranquility and peace

quiet and still

in your thoughts or without them

inactivity of the body and calmness of the mind

nurturing of the spirit

freed of worry

a calm canvas for life to write upon

we can do more by sometimes doing less

rest

You must be careful they said in who you listen to

for they could be leading you astray

You must be careful they said in what you believe

for it could be false

You must be careful they said in who you friend

for they may not be true

You must be careful they said who you talk to

for they may not keep your secrets

You must be careful they said who you love

For they may break your heart

You must be careful they said

But with all this care

you must make sure you life is still

full

For those with just a few close friends the meaning tilts slightly differently

Casual does not apply nor does passing acquaintance

Only in good times and superficially are not used

Proximity and in person are not requirements

There in silence and sadness

In plenty and blessed

In hard work and sacrifice

In knowing without saying

In understanding beyond words

In truth, in loyalty, in love

In seldom seen but always there

In seen every day but in a simple text message to change your day

In telling you that you inspire them

In an email that says thinking of you and nothing else

In laughter, in tears, in success, in failure

they are in just the being of who you are and who you will be

my friend

Winds of change sometimes blow slowly almost imperceptibly

other times they blow as a hurricane laying waste

for those who wait the winds can seem silent

with only the doubts in their head for noise

those who pursue change as if it were prey

change appears before them instantly

those who embrace the wind are able to stand

and those who fight against it become tired

for the few who can wait and not doubt

change finds it’s own way out

Encouragement meaning to give support, confidence or hope to someone

every step was difficult and needed great sacrifice

many never will never know the exact cost

few understood fewer still shared words of encouragement

many were jealous more were oblivious most were too self-absorbed

but the fewer had words of support to hold me up

belief in me to give me confidence when I was lost

and love to replenish my hope when I had none for myself

the very small circle in which my truest friends are held

like a necklace of encouragement it surrounds me daily

sparkling jewels of support – confidence – hope

shining through even my darkest day

and I continue to walk the now lighted path

Like tendrils of wispy smoke creeping in through small cracks in the walls

seeping in spreading out until I am filled like water into a glass

starting small just a single thought that grows bigger as I feed it

ever hungry it keeps asking for more and slowly I am surrounded

curling around my every waking moment I begin to question everything

as it consumes me I become lost and all I have accomplished means nothing

I hear the whispers at first only a word here or there

but then a nonstop sound that drowns out anything positive

faith becomes something lost

belief a word I am unfamiliar with

trust for the process impossible to find

trapped in this box filled with only doubt

continuing to search for the way out

My true first sign of Spring every year delicate and light

reaching out for the sun so bright

marking the start of everything new

at first they are just a few

then slowly more and more of the purple flowers

fill my days with beautiful hours

drinking them in like pressed new wine

delighting the senses both yours and mine

like the lightest grapes they smell

growing where snow just recently fell

the first to appear after winter’s long sleep

an appointment with Spring they must keep

Only a short time the purple to share

every year they greet me just there

Enjoy them while I may

though they be beautiful they cannot stay

Some stay in a place where their comfort is never disturbed

where chances and choices are not something to be taken or made

where the status quo is good enough

where obstacles and disappointments are never overcome

where stepping outside their reality is a foreign thought

where growing beyond what they are never enters their mind

where believing learning is a lifelong adventure is unacceptable

where working for something you have dreamed of sounds just too hard

where nothing surprising or miraculous ever happens

where the only words they ever utter are

I…..could……never…..

There are others who live in a place where their comfort is always disturbed

where chances and choices are taken and made voraciously

where the status quo is considered weak

where obstacles and disappointments are just things to be conquered

where stepping outside their reality is like breathing

where growing beyond what they are is their only thought

where learning is as important to them as food

where working for something they have dreamed of is all they do

where everything is a surprise and miracles are everywhere

where the only words they utter are

Never….say…..never