So Far To Go 11-27-11

The year, I'm told, is eighteen-ten.

The weather's dry and hot.

I 'reckon dad knows where to go.

The horses do not trot.

We're tired and very thirsty,

with rations, water low.

The wagon trails' a long one and,

we have so far to go.

The wagon cover's full of holes

and leaks each time it rains.

The mud strains both the horses.

Our perseverance wanes.

But persevere, we can and must.

That's what mere patience proves -

while breathing in the trail dust

behind the horses hooves.

Supplies? ...almost depleted.

Before I go to sleep,

I lay awake, my stomach hurts,

I hear my mother weep.

The bread, she trims the mold from -

it helps my hunger pangs.

A line is stretched above my head.

Our dripping laundry hangs.

I'm not the wisest western child

I don't know very much.

I'm not quite sure how 'blessings' work,

and 'thankfulness' and such.

But Jesus, we are so obliged -

for shoes that fit our feet,

safety from the wolves and snakes,

and berries we can eat.

I'm sorry that I think of corn,

potatoes, peas or fish -

but if I lived in different times,

or place - that'd be my wish.

I'd eat just like a gentleman.

I'd eat my last string bean.

I'd eat what others did not want -

then lick their dishes clean.

Sometimes... my mom, I'll see a tear.

She hides it pretty good.

But Jesus, I know mother -

she'd help me if she could.

She stays up nights when I am sick.

I hear her prayers to You.

She shows her love to everyone

and knows just what to do.

So answer, Jesus, my small prayer...

I ask it for our Nation -

that it would always thankful be -

bent not unto temptation.

I wonder if Americans

will ever truly know -

this wagon trails' a long one and,

we have so far to go.

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

The Shiny Penny 7-9-11

Reflection caught my lazy eye,

there on the narrow street.

I spied the shiny penny's glint -

right underneath my feet.

Many will not pick one up,

as value is so small -

and they believe it worthless for,

most anything at all.

To pick it up, not worth it -

at least that's what they say.

but oh, my time was not a waste -

was not a waste that day.

Though, there embossed, was Lincoln's face -

the date stamped clearly new -

more engravings marked the back,

proved it a penny too.

But what can a sole penny buy?

Good luck, what can it bring?

What help buys it, the hungry?

What good, the shiny thing?

Its purpose can be measured,

the value, one small cent.

But there had to be more to it.

My patience had been spent.

I found it - just a penny,

so small and very thin.

I thought it, all but worthless,

but then I looked again...

First opening my fingers,

then cleaning off some dust -

I finally found great value with,

the words, "In God We Trust".

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

My Awesome God 6-3-11

Fanny Crosby 1820-1915

I smell the fragrance of the pines

and hear each nature sound.

Something envelopes my thoughts.

Creation's all around.

I sit for several hours but

I can't a sentence write.

Will I be trying hours more,

to write throughout the night?

You'd have to wear some special shoes

to see my unique view -

yet empty are the words I find

explaining God to you.

So try to close your eyes awhile -

in patience.  It's alright.

I'll pray that angels sprinkle words

to help me say this right...

If you could see His miracles

in all I've been forgiven -

if you could also understand the gifts

to me, that He has given -

I wouldn't need to write one word.

His light, you'd finally see -

and understand my awesome God,

though you aren't blind like me.

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Written as I'm reminded of Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), a blind poet who wrote nearly 9,000 poems/hymns such as “Pass me not, O gentle Saviour,” “Sweet hour of prayer,” “Safe in the arms of Jesus,” “All the way my Saviour leads me,” “Jesus is tenderly calling thee home,” “I am thine, O Lord,” “Rescue the perishing,” “Speed away,” “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine,” and “Jesus keep me near the Cross"..

Once a Scotch minister remarked to her, “I think it is a great pity that the Master, when He showered so many gifts upon you, did not give you sight.”
She answered: “Do you know that, if at birth I had been able to make one petition to my Creator, it would have been that I should be made blind?”
“Why?” asked the surprised preacher.
 “Because, when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Saviour.”*

 *Moseley H. Williams, The Sunday School World, (Lesson for Aug. 19, 1900 The man born blind, Applications and Illustrations) pg. 302

The Sand Castle 3-24-10

The boy continued working
as people ran on by -
kicking up the sun-dried sand
which stung his little eye.

The beach was full of castles,
sand castles great and tall.
The artists had great patience as
the crowd was held in awe.

Some were very stately
and some were built quite lean -
but artists built their castles
where they could be well seen.

Castles grand and beautiful –
some poised to win a place –
detailed touches serious
from top down to the base.

While all the crowd was standing 'round
still watching and amazed -
the judge looked ever critical
with eyebrow sometimes raised.

But then a storm came blowing by
collapsing every wall.
The crowd was stunned – wave after wave
had toppled one and all.

Yet, spared there – one sand castle
which stood above the rest.
It was not much to look at but –
withstood the final test.

Away from wicked, stormy seas
it stood back from the shore.
Though storm had sent its wicked waves
it could have handled more.

Every great sand castle
was crushed and so outdone -
all tested hard with crashing waves
that could not reach this one.

Its walls were not the straightest -
but safely from the sea -
was built alone so humbly
and stood there faithfully.

That young boy sat beside it
not really that obsessed –
when someone started yelling, "Hey!
This one beats the rest!”

The crowd all pushed and gathered ‘round -
then saw that castle standing.
They stood there so astonished but
said not anything.

The judge pushed a bit closer -
then saw that little boy -
who humbly built his castle
where waves could not destroy.

He roared loud his announcement,
“This is the perfect size!”
and then he leaned right over and
awarded him First Prize.

Still, the boy kept working
as people ran on by -
kicking up the sun-dried sand
which stung his little eye.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

James 1:12 (NASB)

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;

for once he has been approved,

he will receive the crown of life

which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Z 2-22-08

‘Z’ is last - but not in this poem!
Letters take thought and patience to grow 'em.

‘A’ seems reserved for its special space,
and may have tantrums if not in first place.

Twenty-five letters still have to be passed,
to find that lone ‘Z’ which was meant to be last.

I ponder the meaning of last and not first,
and wonder at one point if ‘Z’ had been cursed.

But ‘Z’, in this poem has gotten first place.
Hopefully that puts a smile on its face!

The day will soon come where first will be last,
the last will be first and won’t be surpassed.

Now here is a secret so keep your eyes peeled,
and maybe you’ll find every letter revealed.

It was quite a chore to mix letters this way,
but this time - in last place - you'll find letter ‘A’.

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

Mark 9:(NASB)
34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."
36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,
37 "Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me."

--------

Follow Me 1-29-07

I stood out on a sandy beach - waves crashing on the shore,
I wondered why I was alone. The waves hit with a roar,
I knew the fish kept close in schools, way out there in the sea -
and then I heard a still small voice, "Have faith, and you will see..."

I wandered by our big, old oak. Its branches, breezes sway.
I wondered why I was alone. I heard birds chirp away.
I knew that birds stayed closely by, protected in that tree -
and then I heard a still small voice, "Have faith, and you will see..."

I sat there by my window – heard noises that were made..
I wondered why I was alone as all the children played.
I knew that children in their way, stayed close and played so free -
and then I heard a still small voice, "Have faith, and you will see..."

My teary eyes were buried in my favorite chair, so soft.
I wondered why I was alone as prayers floated aloft.
I prayed. My trembling hands clasp tight - was blind, it couldn't be -
and then I heard a still small voice, "Have faith, and you will see..."

I waited for an answer but my patience had run out.
I wondered why I was alone. Proof verified all doubt.
Jesus, just before the cross, was denied His final plea -
again, I heard that still small voice, "Have faith, and you will see..."

I'm gone, but not so much alone. I'm here with Heaven's King.
Our Savior sits beside Him! Can you hear the angels sing?
My hands I hold up, way up high! Heaven's riches I now see!
So listen to His still small voice, "Have faith, come follow me."

©2007 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

------- 

Psalm 23:4 (KJ) “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Rev. 2:10 (KJ) “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."