It’s simple to go with the current
—Let me carry you where you belong—
Is the tune that it sings and it’s easy
Getting caught up in the song.
But the current goes nowhere special
And the effort it takes is minute.
It floats you along without action—
You need to be more resolute.
So much joy in this world come from setting
A goal and a plan, well-conceived.
You get strong fixing course and then training
And finding a way to achieve.
Don’t rush to set foot on the first path
The one that is overly smooth;
The way is well-trodden, that’s certain,
But adventure is really your truth.
What’s the point of a life without challenge?
Why live if there’s nothing to face?
There is joy in the fight, you’ll discover,
When you train hard and finish the race.
When you’re called by a challenge, give listen
To the things that it’s trying to say.
Then you’ll never be one who must mutter
An excuse that their life has been gray.
Tag: growing up
To the One Who Listened to Lies
They’ve been part of your life since you got here;
So, of course you have listened to them.
They may have been with you before you were born;
How could you not hear what they said?
Some of your earliest notions
Were wrapped in deceit and dread
Since you couldn’t distinguish the difference—
What was truth out of all that was said.
If someone had silenced those demons
Your mind might have learned they were false
But the truth and the lies intermingled,
And sang a bewildering song.
But who can silence silence?
They don’t hear what goes on in your mind.
So the lies got free range and they pecked at your brain
Like chickens let loose in the garden.
But the wonderful thing about growing
Is learning and starting to see,
That just because that’s where you started,
An ending place it need not be.
Run hard into battle; don’t fall back.
Stand up when they fire; call them out.
Hold the line. They’re not friends; don’t mistake them.
Lies have only the power you assign.
To the One Who Had to Finish Everything Else First
No one else seems to understand—
They’re going at it the other way
Starting with what they want,
Expecting the other pieces will fall into place.
And often it does—because people like you make it happen.
But in your proud mind it’s set in stone
You can’t follow your dream
Until you’ve earned the right
By setting everything in order first.
And the day doesn’t come—because you’re crippling yourself.
Because there’s always someone else
Who needs your time,
Could use your resources.
And you never have 100% left in your own pocket.
The day will come—because frustrations will build.
And something will click:
You’ll decide to dive in anyway,
Even when the water is rocky and deep.
You’ll learn by leaping.
Finally the day will come—and that will make all the difference.
To the Young Woman Who Feels Like An Alien in Bars
You’re feeling the fool now and wishing
Yourself more—like all of the rest.
You want to fit in and be trendy
But you feel something wrong when you’re pressed.
Your waver’s not weakness; it’s wisdom.
Your eyes see the truth: There is more.
If you don’t step away, you’ll be lost, dear
Pulled into a meaningless whirl.
Don’t waste time with self-criticizing,
Supposing it’s you who can’t stand.
Set standards for him and hold to them
Don’t build a foundation on sand.
Your doubting, this time, is not weakness;
It’s knowing this isn’t your stop.
There’s no shame leaving places behind you;
Ignore foolish pressure and hop.
You must be aware: People chatter.
It’s funny that you haven’t met
Those who speak twenty ways in a minute,
Raise opinions like gamblers grow debts
Will you ruin your life with one comment?
Never read deep in those drunken words.
They’re empty and worthless; don’t let them
Beat you to a pulp; hold that sword.
They can talk, but you don’t have to listen.
And you don’t have to trek where they go.
You knew it; you just wouldn’t say it.
Why not? Trust you might truly know.
That sense wasn’t fear; it was vision.
You knew you were in the wrong place.
Dull, pointless and dumb—artificial—
A futureless swamp to evade.
It doesn’t come round all that often,
But you’ve heard that small voice in the past.
You’ve met it while hiking in forests;
That’s the input you want to hold fast.
I hope you will let her grow stronger.
The voice that thinks deeply and far
And who knows she was made for a reason.
Who walks her own path, not the bar.
To the One Trying to Earn Salvation
I see where you’ve come from
And I see where you’re heading.
You’ll work yourself into a fit.
You’ll try to obey, be good, take care,
Follow the right path, not hurt anyone.
You’ll practice for the first 20 years
As a daughter then stumble
Around for the next 20
Wondering why following
all those rules doesn’t work.
You won’t realize what you’re trying,
Trying to earn your salvation.
You just want to leave things better,
You’ll say, calmer than you found them.
This will genuinely be true.
This is what you want.
But deep down, you also want more.
You hope the One who sees all
Will recognize you and say “well done.”
You’re trying to prove your worth.
It’s admirable, wanting to make the world better,
But you’re doing it from the wrong place—
Out of feelings of worthlessness.
You aren’t worthless. You are loved.
You are loved more deeply
Than you ever can imagine.
Why are you choosing to live in fear,
—cowering, trembling—
When you could be guided by love?
The price was already paid.
Christ didn’t come to condemn the world,
But that the world might be saved,
Through Him.
It might not make sense,
Why He would care about you,
But why do you care
About things you’ve created?
Why do your own family,
Your own experiences,
Your own words,
Mean so much to you?
Because you helped make them.
Why does your kitten make you smile?
Because you love it.
You can’t explain why;
You love what you love.
I can’t explain why Christ
Loves what he does.
You may feel unworthy, imperfect,
Like you’ll never earn His love,
Never earn His salvation
And that’s all true.
But He chooses to love you.
You’ll eventually realize that
And out of that place of plenty
You’ll want to share His vision
And make this world a better place.
To the One Who Tries and Fails
It is dismal to sit
In the darkness.
In this place
There is nothing but tears.
All you hear is in
Whispers and mumbles
And your brain is
A knotted up sphere.
The words that you speak
Work against you.
The plans that you make
Come to naught.
The hopes that you have
Weigh down others.
And your helping hand
Sinks those you love.
In this place there is
Reason for sorrow,
But nights aren’t
As dark as they seem.
Hold fast to the Light
And a path will appear,
That is beautiful
Steadfast and true.
To the Young One Worried About Appearances
There’s not a particular look
You should chase.
Not one certain body,
Or one certain face.
As you age and you grow
You’ll soon start to see—
Our appeal comes from
Uniqueness, variety.
The thing you should ponder
More deeply, is health.
What you’re pouring inside
Is your long-term wealth.
Feed yourself real food,
Raw milk, butter, and cheese.
Clean, simple ingredients;
That’s what you need.
Raise vegetables, mill flour,
Make sourdough bread,
Eat eggs, and I’m certain
You’ll then get ahead.
Your body will be beautiful
Your mind will grow strong.
As it turns out, it’s health
You craved all along.
To the One Trapped in Jealousy
Jealousy is like a sore
That when you pick
Just festers more.
A simple way to break away
Is still your mind
Then calmly say:
I will not talk about these things
They’ve nothing more
Than hate to bring.
Help never comes through ugly thoughts
Through brokenness,
Polluted taunts.
In bitter views I will not die
Trapped in a maze
With all your lies.
I will not keep your company
I’ve learned, and now
I will break free.
Truth is, the things we like to feed
Are what grow strong
And are what breed.
I choose to be content and live
With thanks and joy
For what life gives.
To the Little Girl Who Watered the Tiny Flowers
You’re such a little thing. Three? Four?
Couldn’t be more. And you notice the flowers.
Itty-bitty, no bigger than a thumbnail,
Growing hidden in the grass.
In a flash, you have a plan.
Mother’s Day is coming,
And Mom loves flowers.
She’d like some for her vase—
She’s always talking about it.
You know something about plants—
You’ve learn so much lately.
Plants grow when they get water,
Of that, you are certain.
So you go to the kitchen sink,
Stand on the step stool,
Fill a glass and carry it outside.
You select a specific patch
And you water it—
Over and over,
Glass after glass.
When Mom asks,
You say it’s a surprise.
You know this is going to work.
When Mother’s Day comes,
Those flowers will be big.
They’ll fill the vase with beautiful blooms.
But the flowers don’t grow.
…
I’m here to tell you
Your plan wasn’t a failure.
You learned something that day:
Just because you want a thing to happen,
Because you think it should happen,
Doesn’t mean it can or will or should.
You may look back over the years
And laugh at that tiny dreamer,
But please don’t stop;
Believe the impossible.
Your hope is beautiful, little girl.
Things won’t always bloom,
You learned that early,
But hope has a way
Of making miracles happen—
Not always,
But sometimes.
And as as you grow, you’ll realize
That now and then
Is plenty often
For a miracle.
Angela M. Adams
To the Young One Afraid to Make Mistakes
We all have weaknesses,
So freely acknowledge your flaws.
And guess what? You’re going to shatter some china.
Over time, lots. And that’s okay.
Be able to admit your mistakes,
But don’t just plop down there,
Wallowing in regret.
Get up. Ask for forgiveness.
Forgive yourself, too.
And forgive others who had a hand in your fall.
It’ll take courage, but I hope you come to learn this:
We cannot survive together while keeping score.
We cannot survive, either, keeping score against ourselves.
Of course, you know this isn’t free rein
To do things you shouldn’t—
Any little thing you want,
To fall into weakness,
Or laziness,
To make every thoughtless mistake,
To hurt other people
And elevate yourself,
To avoid consequences—
Certainly not.
But I know you;
You won’t dwell there;
You heard that part loud and clear.
What you need is Confidence.
Confidence is respecting others and yourself,
Knowing you both have great value (yes, you too).
Confidence is bravely setting your boundaries,
And standing firm when they are challenged by crooks.
Confidence is being thoughtful and wise,
Then making clear choices without dodging shards of guilt.
Confidence is allowing yourself healthy emotions,
Not canning them to meet others’ expectation.
Confidence is being honest and kind:
In how you think; in how you live; in how you treat yourself.
Confidence is embracing you calling,
even when you aren’t good at it…yet.
Don’t skim over this!
Don’t shelve it,
Saying you’ll come back later—
When you’re better prepared,
More mature.
You’ll come back—
When you have time to do it justice.
You won’t.
Dig in now.
Let it really sink in. Digest it.
Practice. Give yourself grace. Practice more.
Believe me, you won’t regret it.
Learn this one, and you’ll really go places.
Angela Writes... 