Smile When Your Heart is Broken

In the dance of time, where moments glide, There lies a truth we often hide. A sorrow deep, where shadows creep, Yet from this soil, a joy can leap.


"Don't cry because it is over," the wise ones say, Let not your heart with dusk dismay. The setting sun, though it departs, Leaves its warmth within our hearts.

Smile, for the journey graced your days, Through verdant fields and starlit ways. Each laughter shared, every tear shed, Are jewels upon the path we tread.

Because it happened, our souls grew wide, With every twist and turn of tide. The tapestry of life, in colors bright, Shines not in sorrow, but in light.

So let the memories, like flowers, bloom, In the garden of the heart, dispel the gloom. For every ending marks a new start, Carry the smiles within your heart.

In this dance of time, be not afraid, For in each ending, foundations laid. Smile, because it happened, embrace the dance, With every fleeting chance, take your stance.

March 26, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

The Path Less Traveled

Upon a path less trod by feet, Where earth and heaven softly meet, I wander far, with soul in quest, To find the place where I’ll be blessed.

Through woods deep, under skies so vast, Each step a memory of the past, I tread where few have dared to roam, In search of peace, a heart’s true home.

The journey long, the way obscure, Each bend and turn with promise pure, That at its end, so sweet, so fleet, I’ll meet God’s Son, a feat so sweet.

No crowded roads with noise and strife, But silent trails, where springs of life Burst forth in song, in light, in leaf, And whisper hope, dispel my grief.

In solitude, my spirit hears The call of God, which calms my fears. Each leaf, each stone, a sacred text, On this path less known, my soul reflects.

To meet the Son, the Living Word, In quiet places, seldom heard, Where brooks and birds and wind entwine, There, in the heart, His love divine.

So on I walk, with faith my guide, To where the earthly and divine collide. The path less traveled by human feet, Leads to Jesus, in communion sweet.

A meeting place, no grandeur seeks, But humble hearts, and souls that speak Of journeys long, of seeking rest, In God’s embrace, forever blessed.

March 26, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

The Love of God’s Grace

In the quiet glow of dawn's embrace, Words whisper soft with tender grace, "I love you," said with care, yet true, Yet not in love, a subtle hue.

This love, like stars that grace the night, Shines steadfast, calm, and oh so bright. It's the warmth of sun on winter's day, Not fiery passion's wild array.

In every laugh, in every tear, In closeness held forever dear, This love's a river, deep and wide, But not the stormy, raging tide.

The It's in the comfort of the known, In seeds of fondness gently sown, A garden where respect does bloom, Not lost in love's consuming gloom.

So hear these words, both sweet and solemn, A different kind of love's blossom. I love you in the brightest way, But in love—not in that fray.

A paradox, some might decree, Yet in this truth, there's liberty. For love can wear many a guise, Beyond the heart's romantic ties.

So let us walk this path, us two, With love that's steadfast, kind, and true. Though not in love, let no one rue, For in this love, we'll find our due.

March 26, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Matt

In the shelter’s embrace, under watchful eyes,Matt paced through the days, under silent skies.Day six seventy-six, just another day,Among familiar faces, in his quiet way.

Routine was his comfort, the staff his steady crew,The kennel walls, his boundaries, a world he thought he knew.But Saturday brought changes, in waves both thick and fast,Goodbyes echoed in the corridors, memories of the past.

Volunteers, with teary eyes, bade farewell without a hug,Treats tossed into his space, their departure snug.Staff members too, with somber tones, joined the farewell spree,A puzzle to Matt’s mind, “Who’ll look after me?”

Then, a moment of pure joy, a reunion so sweet,Kenai, his brother, for a playful meet.Romping in the yard, a memory reborn,A fleeting happiness, in the heart of Matt, worn.

Yet, amidst the strangeness, a twist was to unfold,A folder full of “Matt Facts,” stories told.And there, among the pages, a surprise lay in wait,“Adoption Paperwork,” sealed by fate.

The stranger, now a father, to Matt’s heart a key,Together with Kenai, a family they’d be.No more kennel walls, no more waiting in the shade,A journey to forever, together they made.

After years in the shelter’s hold, Matt found his dream, A home, a family, a place to redeem. In his new dad’s SUV, to the future, they did steer, Matt’s tale of hope, a reminder that love is always near.

Created by
MarkWaldrop

The Blood of the Lamb

In the sun-scorched fields where shadows play,
A drama unfolds in the heat of day.
A rattlesnake, deadly, with venom cold,
Struck a sheep in the face, so bold.

The venom surged, a deadly tide,
The sheep's face swollen, a painful ride.
Yet in this tale, the snake did not see,
The resilience in the blood of the sheep, so free.

For in the lamb's veins, a secret lay,
The antidote, in its blood, at bay.
Two days of swelling, yet stronger than venom's aim,
The lamb's blood fought back, reclaiming its fame.

Unfazed, the sheep continued its day,
Eating, drinking, in its own way.
Walking the fields, under the sun's glare,
Knowing well, its blood was rare.

So heed the tale of the lamb and snake,
The power of resilience, make no mistake.
Do not fear the serpent, nor its venom's bite,
Just ensure the Lamb's Blood is your light.

March 24, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Mere Belief was His Key

In shadows hung 'twixt earth and sky, a thief did meet his end,
Beside the One whose very breath could broken hearts amend.
No rites of passage graced his life, no waters of rebirth,
No feast to share in hallowed halls, no joyous, saintly mirth.

Yet in this final, desperate hour, his faith became his crown,
A simple trust, a whispered plea, in pain, his fortunes drown.
No saintly deeds adorned his past, no pious words were spoken,
Yet grace, like dawn's first light, appears for hearts sincerely broken.

How does he fit, this thief, in grand designs of theology?
No steps of faith, no righteous acts, mere belief was key.
Upon the cross, no knees could bend, no hands in prayer fold,
Yet he was promised paradise, in scriptures, as foretold.

The King beside him, crowned in thorns, in agony did reign,
His kingdom not of earthly sort, where sin and death remain.
"I tell you truly, you will be with me in paradise,"
A statement that cuts through the din of human sacrifice.

For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son,
That whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, undone.
It's not the rituals, not the deeds, that save our soul from night,
But faith in Him, who on the cross, brought hope and grace to light.

No shiny lights, no crafty words, no donuts in the foyer,
Just a naked, dying man who brings the sinner joy.
This thief, he stands for all of us, who nothing have to bring,
But belief in Christ, the risen Lord, our Savior and our King.

March 24, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Trials Into Triumphs

In the realm of endless skies and seas,
Where whispers wind through ancient trees,
God stands ready, a steadfast light,
To guide your heart through darkest night.

With every trial that you face,
In every harsh, forbidding place,
He molds your spirit, firm and bright,
Turning sorrows into might.

For every tear that you have shed,
For every fear, every dread,
He weaves a tapestry so grand,
With threads of gold in His hand.

From trials to triumphs, the journey goes,
Through thorny paths and blooming rose.
In every moment, His grace is found,
In every silence, His love abounds.

So lift your eyes to the stars above,
Embrace the trials with faith and love.
For God stands ready, by your side,
To turn your trials into tides.

A tide that rises, strong and pure,
A heart that’s steadfast, sure and secure.
With every step, His presence near,
Transforming trials into triumphs dear.

March 22, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Better to Have Loved and Lost

In halls where silence paints the air,
Where echoes dance, bereft of care,
A senior dog, with fur turned gray,
In sheltered shadows, finds his way.

No youthful bark, no playful leap,
Just longing sighs, in slumber deep.
Yet in his eyes, a spark remains,
A testament to love's sweet pains.

For those who've loved and seen depart
A loyal friend, a piece of heart,
Know well the pain that parting brings,
Yet cherish still the love it sings.

Better far to have shared the road,
To have eased the weight, to have lightened the load,
Than let one pass, in silent gloom,
Alone, unloved, in a shelter's room.

For every moment spent in grace,
Each gentle touch, each fond embrace,
Illuminates the darkest night,
With memories burning ever bright.

So let us choose, while yet we may,
To love, to cherish, come what may.
For better far to have loved and lost,
Than leave a soul in winter's frost.

To save one life, a noble quest,
To offer love, and give our best,
For in the end, our hearts will show,
The depth of love only they can know.

March 22, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop