You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March, 2008.
Empathy
What is it that allows a person
To look out from a place within
To notice another’s discomfort
The evidence of feelings chagrin?
For some this doesn’t come natural
They’re often taken quite back
When the plight of one’s less fortune
Just a glimpse their allowed to have
Empathy is the word
That causes my heart this thought
Why does with some this comes naturally
And with other people- not?
Is it from wisdom acquired from life
From circumstances beyond ones control?
Where mucking through the mire and the mud
Has helped one come closer to whole?
Or are some just born with more?
It’s been passed down through their jeans
An ability to give of themselves
To others around them in need
Like the Good Samaritan in the Bible
From not a religious plain
Yet having a heart like Jesus
For one who incurred mortal pain
A gift of the heart with no strings attached
No expectations in return
This concern for others in dire straights
Something of which one can learn?
This is a trait I’ve admired
In special people upon this earth
Who’ve come into my life like a gift sent from God
Of value- like the greatest of mirth
Eloyce M Witzel
3/26/08
God has a plan! He says…
“For I know the plans I have for you”
“plans to prosper you & not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a bright future”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
To Restore
We each act out of our pain
To those around us we love
Triggers of drastic emotion
The damage is seen from above
Our actions only the symptoms
Of the enemy’s brutal attacks
Wielded at us while we were yet young
Like piercing wounds through our backs
Rejection is a wound quite crippling
It’s a challenge to trust anyone
To ultimately trust God our Father
Who gave up His only son
God wants to heal our hurt
To mend the core of our souls
A process He puts into action
That into eternity rolls
God is our best true father
He’ll never leave- for any reason
He’s in this for the long haul
For you- in this time & this season
He holds you in his strong arms
From His heart of love outpouring
Singing a song full of honor and worth
For each of us He is restoring
Eloyce M Witzel
3/19/08
Love & Worth
It never hit home till I was a mom
And I went to a woman’s retreat
There was a speaker who was quite the scholar
A poignant message- she would repeat
She set us in a picture
With our children in the room
And asked “What would be your reaction if you knew
Your sick child would be dying soon?”
Tears welled up in my eyes
No God! Let me die instead!
He’s much too precious to loose his life
I’d rather be the one that’s dead!
God taught me about myself
And what love really is
My worth He knew- ‘cause He was my parent
He gave His life- so I could live!
I knew I loved my child gobs
So much- seemed my heart would just burst
Yet compared to God’s love- just a faction
So what did this tell me of worth?
……..
Wait! Don’t go away! There’s more
A story transcending childbirth
One that Jesus told while He was here
To help us understand our worth
The story is of a merchant
Looking for precious pearls
In his search- found one of great value
Now here’s where the plot unfurls
HE went away and sold all He had
Because He knew the pearls worth
He gave all He had for what He saw
In this treasure once buried in earth
I am the one who’s the treasured pearl
It’s worth that He saw deep in me
For me He gave all that He ever had
His life through eternity!
I’ve always been taught I should give all I have
‘Cause God is the one to be treasured
What good I ask… To give all of naught?
Of emptiness… Nothing to measure?
This whole concept struck a chord in me
And put my heart into action
That weekend the start of something brand new
My feet having now much more traction
This story was my key
For a worthwhile life to live
I’ll give all I have for the rest of my days
‘Cause now I have something to give!
Eloyce M Witzel
3/13/08
Christ’s Object Lessons, Page 118
The parable of the merchantman seeking goodly pearls has a double significance: it applies not only to men as seeking the kingdom of heaven, but to Christ as seeking His lost inheritance. Christ, the heavenly merchantman seeking goodly pearls, saw in lost humanity the pearl of price. In man, defiled and ruined by sin, He saw the possibilities of redemption. Hearts that have been the battleground of the conflict with Satan, and that have been rescued by the power of love, are more precious to the Redeemer than are those who have never fallen. God looked upon humanity, not as vile and worthless; He looked upon it in Christ, saw it as it might become through redeeming love. He collected all the riches of the universe, and laid them down in order to buy the pearl. And Jesus, having found it, resets it in His own diadem. “For they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon His land.” Zech. 9:16. “They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels.” Mal. 3:17.
* The Pearl
The enemy’s ready and waiting
To blow out each flickering light
To snatch each glimmer of hope rendered new
Each ray of light- snuff out of sight
To steal my blessed assurance
To stomp on my God given worth
And make me forget who I really am
A treasure once buried in earth
God gave all he had to reclaim me
I am his pearl of great price
He wants nothing more than to cherish me close
Beloved for the rest my life
In return- All I am I give him
With Him- that measures a lot
For my worth I see deep
In His all-knowing eyes
He’s given me all that I’ve got!
Eloyce M Witzel
3/10/08
The Gift
The depression brought them together
Then death- It tore them apart
Who would of thought- those perilous times
Could have brought such a fresh new start?
Yet here’s what I’ve learned in my life
Hope often comes from despair
And now looking into the future
I am so ever aware
Each life is a precious gift
Sent down from the father’s own hands
Though oft’ ne’r a chance to pass it on
Of ones self such a gift demands
Eloyce M Witzel
Like Family
Our Friendship uncovered the writer in me
I’m working again on my book
And now all this poetry comes flowing out
When into my soul I look
I’ve gone back to school and I’m working
On getting a higher degree
Just now- I see my potential
Something huge freed up inside me
God knows my pain- what messed me all up
The damage incurred from the start
I’ve gotten some help- some wise counsel true
This work is renewing my heart
We both said things that we shouldn’t
And for that I’m very sorry
I so easily get carried away
Few boundaries on how to be friendly
Your friendship I always have treasured
Certain things made us the same
Yet other things make us quite different
Soon… we like family became
It pains me to know your frustration
I’ve been where you are right now
I want you to know that I’m praying
God will work this through some how
Just know that I think of you fondly
You’re a beautiful person inside
A resemblance of your mother and daughters
One of which you can wear with pride!
Eloyce M Witzel
3/9/08
Portrait
There I sat- perched on a stool
Anticipation rising
For what I could learn from an artist’s hand
While my face- she was drawing
At first my eyes had to be set- a far way off
So they accurately she could capture
My head remaining still then finally I could look
But these were the eyes of my father!
How could she draw my daddy’s eyes?
She had never even met the man!
Yet his likeness she saw peering deeply at me
How could this-my heart understand?
Then as she continued her skillful quest
At her easel with pencil arose
Another such image developed In sketch
From my forehead to my nose
This looked only slightly of my likeness I thought
Though I was proud that she paid a visit
This was the face of my sister- surreal
Her features for sure I could see it
Finally this portrait morphed into my face
With validity and rigor
It was uncomfortable for me to look at it straight
My reflection as in a mirror
Were each made up of many slight nuances
Sketched in our lives to discern
Perhaps the difference that sets us apart
Is what in life we can learn
Eloyce M Witzel
3/1/08
