Masquerade

MASQUERADE
Behind each mask,
There lies a person.
Behind each mask,
There exists a heart.
In this masquerade,
Many people move as one.
In this masquerade,
Many hearts dance together.
Behind many masks,
Many smile easily.
Behind many masks,
Many hearts glow.
In this masquerade,
Many laugh away.
In this masquerade,
Many hearts leap.
Behind some masks,
Some quiver in fear.
Behind some masks,
Some hearts are in pieces.
In this masquerade,
Some try to be happy.
In this masquerade,
Some hearts turn to stone.
There are many masks here,
Some smiling,
Some laughing,
Some happy,
Some peaceful.
Beneath the masks there lies
Emotions high and low.
Beneath these many masks,
Some smile and dance,
Some laugh and hope,
Some fear and scream,
Some cry and hide.
This dear masquerade protects,
And also harms.
This never ending masquerade
Remains a terse game.

SURVIVOR
The winds of change are blowing,
Blowing harder each day.
The mountain of dismay is growing,
Growing till it can't be mounted.
The valleys of despair are deeper,
Deeper than any can imagine.
The oceans of sorrow are wider,
Wider with each disappointment.
The river of tears flow faster,
Faster than ever before.
Though the change comes,
I will be strong.
Though the dismay grows,
I will hold on.
Though the despair deepens,
I will find hope.
Though the sorrow overwhelms,
I will seek joy.
Though the tears flow,
I will continue.
In this life,
I will be a survivor.
I will survive the pain.
I will survive the hurt.
I will survive the troubles.
I will survive the challenges.
But it is only through God
That I will survive,
And I know that God will be glorified.

FROM GOD TO THE WOUNDED CHILD
I know your pain.
I did not stop it,
But I was there.
I am here now.
I held you when you cried.
I cried with you.
I hurt with you.
I felt your pain.
I shared your anger.
As you go,
I walk with you.
I will carry you
Through this night.
Lean on me.
Let me carry your burden.
It will be okay.
I will heal your hurt.

GOOD
Good is sitting on a field
Looking at the stars.
Good is spending time
With dear friends.
Good is enjoying a moment
Without thinking.
Good is feeling the cool breeze
And knowing the world is right.
Good is being loved
and loving friends.
Good is being content
and feeling peace.

LONE SUNFLOWER
By the road, one sunflower grows.
Each day, it grows in height and beauty.
In the midst of grass, she grows.
In the midst of unity, she is unique.
Every day, she hears the laughter.
Every morning, she hears the taunts.
She wants to be like the grass.
She does not want to be different.
The lone sunflower cannot see her beauty.
The sunflower only sees that she is different.
One day, a person stops to smell the flower.
He exclaims over her beauty.
She revels in the exclamation for days.
After a while, the taunts grow louder again.
She once again wonders at her difference.
She cannot see how she is good as she is.
Days later, another person stops to admire her.
She exclaims of her radiance.
The sunflower once again revels in this.
She sees for a time what her purpose is.
But once again, she hears the taunts.
Once again, she wishes to conform.
Then comes the day when it changes,
The day that her maker strolls by.
At first, she does not recognize him.
At first, she turns her head away.
Then He speaks to her.
He asks, “What plagues you, my dear?”
“It’s nothing,” she replies.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Oh, my dear. It does matter to me.”
Her maker leans over and cradles her face.
He looks full into the beauty he created.
Then He says, “I know your discontent.
I see your frustration each day.
But what you fail to realize is your beauty.
I made you my most beautiful creation,
So that you can brighten the day of all who pass by.
You see, each day someone passes by you,
And each day, that person smiles because of you.
Never desire to be like others,
For being like others is rather dull.
Instead, be the beautiful creation I made you.
Be who you are and brighten their day.”