Jeremy

March 12, 2015

Jeremy

He sat in the chair, a smile on his face,

I still can see it so well.

So many challenges he had to face,

Yet on them he seemed not to dwell.

He could get around as quick as a cat,

Pump the wheels on his chair with his hands.

I bet he was lonely, now thinking back,

But he seemed friends with every man.

He’s gone now, a mem’ry still firmly there;

Somehow I wish my toddler self

Had gotten to know him as best as I could—

What a treasure I “left on the shelf”!

And now a young man with similar name,

And twenty years almost gone by;

Another with challenges so great to face

That has now caught my eye and my mind.

He cannot get around quite as fast as the first,

But he certainly can’t be slowed down!

I guess he is lonely, even in church,

But his work prevents standing around.

He’s here, a fresh mem’ry, now living still,

But I didn’t make my grown-up self

Go over and know him as best as I could:

What a treasure I “left on the shelf!”

I cannot go back and undo my past wrongs

Or right the mistakes that I’ve made,

But LORD, with Thy help, I’d like from here on

To befriend those You put in my way.

Prayer for a Brother

April 21, 2014

Prayer for a Brother

Lord, use me to bless now my brother.

Although he may not think of me,

I think of him oft' at Thy prompting;

I pray as You help and cause me.

He seemed so unstable, so shaky,

He seemed to be easily moved.

I pray that you'll help him, mature him,

Show him Your love which I've proved.

Perhaps his upbringing was lacking,

Perhaps his dad never cared

To teach him what "real men" look like

(And who are sometimes quite scarce).

Perhaps his mother neglected

To teach him the way of the Lord,

To stay home with him in his childhood,

To teach him to honor God's Word.

Perhaps he was rarely in Thy house.

Maybe he never was taught

By teacher or pastor's compassion

Of Christ Who our pardon has bought.

And now, he's a man, Lord, and searching,

And swayed by the things of the world,

He seems unsure of the position

He now wants to fill for the Lord.

Oh Lord! What a shame! But I'm hopeful:

I know You are able to do

Exceeding great and abundant

Beyond what we can construe!

Lord, help him, please help him, please help him!

Yes, I know I pray for him less

Than I know that I really ought to,

Help! I need change, I confess.

Make me a better prayer warrior,

Not just for this brother, but all

The ones whom You put on my heart.

With love for them, to You I call.