A Prayer Poem by Cheryl Lavender

January 02,2003

Dear Father…
Each day I relive the struggle,
My heart fails at the thought.
I wonder why…how…
How can I do it again?

And yet, I know,
Yes, I know it is for me, this struggle…
It is what I am here to do.
To live each day in the midst of the fire,
to walk through it…
Away from the fields of pillows soft
To be born each day on coals of fire,
To never know sweet peace…here

But…wait…I speak too quickly…no thought…
He is here with me…the Son of my heart.
I feel Him now…He has taken my hand and…
I do not walk alone…
I feel the music swelling inside me…
Do you not hear it?

My Father speaks to me now…
In between every heartbeat.
He gives me strength to move thru the pain…
'My child, do not fear the minutes. the hours.'
'I will carry you…hold you…cry with you…'
and I am comforted…the fear is gone.
The loneliness has faded,
And I am restored…
To live the struggle…yet again…
yet again!

Father…Dear Father…Can you hear me…
It's a new day…
and…I need you...