Despair

When I look in the mirror, what do I see?
Do I like the face looking back at me?
Do I see the hope, the love, the dreams
Or do I see despair and impossibilities?

When do we realize that our reflection in life
Shows to others as we become husband and wife?
Do others see love, caring, sharing and dreams
Or do they see despair and impossibilities?

When I look at my future, what do I see?
Do I like the story being written for me?
Do I see hopes, laughter and fulfilled dreams
Have I moved beyond despair and impossibilities?

When do we realize that to live life as meant to be
Happy in ourselves and our opportunities
To move out of despair, with new hope and dreams
To live life to accomplish all possibilities...

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
Do you like the face that has come to be?
Do you see hope, love and fulfilled dreams
Or do you see despair and impossibilities?

This poem was triggered by a conversation I had with someone, we all want what is best for those that we love, and I pray every day for those who've not realized it for themselves yet. Life is a journey, and we do have choice on which path we take.

Beaches and parks are quiet
As are most of the freeways
People coming together
Though distant, united they stay
Many fear the unknown
Others what they hear on the news
It is time to pray together
What really do you have to loose?

Schools and churches are quiet
As are most buildings today
People socially distant
But together we all can pray
Many fear for not knowing
When this pandemic will end
It is time to put faith to work
To God all our prayers we send.

We are living in a world with so much change
To see empty schoolyards is so strange
As we look around let's not take for granted
The seeds of life that we once planted

A handshake, so simple, at just a touch
Who'd ever thought could mean so much
The sounds of music coming from the town
Now you go down those streets, not a sound

Ball parks are empty as are playgrounds and schools
It can be depressing to turn on the news
Though there is a kind act from some we still hear
Hold onto those thoughts throughout the year

When we get back to life, look around you and see
All of those things that we once took for granted will be
The sounds we will cherish when we go to the game
Most things in our life will never be the same

We'll try that much harder to show loved ones we care
Looking around us and see things everywhere
That we may never have noticed before this came to be
Those things that surround us and are given for free

So when we move forward life will not be the same
Smile at your neighbors, learn to dance in the rain
Do not take for granted the places you eat
Or that life is always simple and sweet

Thank those around you who gave of themselves
Doctors and nurses and those stocking the shelves
Go to church Sunday morning, sing as loud as you can
Thank God it is over, take nothing for granted again.

To sit and watch a loved one cry
Offer a hug, to heal the pain I try
A pain that was not brought on by me
But of those who claim to be family.

When did love come with ifs and more
To love one unconditionally for sure
Should be that you expect from those you love
Especially those who taught you about God above

God did not say love when easy and pain free
Did not say there wouldn't be times hard to see
He did expect us to move past arrogance though
let the love of your family always be there to show.

Tears of the heart are the hardest kind
I pray for peace one day he will find
Also pray for those who cause such pain
Their hearts tangled up in life once again

Life is not easy, does not come with a book
However, love of a family, love's all it took
To one day realize that the love that we've got
Should come unconditional and never be bought

To sit and watch a loved one cry
Offer a hug, let the pain pass on by
He will be strong, for God will see him through
We cannot control the things that others will do

.

At times the decisions we make to others may seem trite
Even though you know the choices you make are right
The tunnel you find yourself constantly going through
No one else could understand all of this but you
You stand your ground and look around for the light.

We don't always see eye to eye with the ones we love
We ask God to shine down on them from up above
To show them what they need Is not always clear to see
In the end you hope that it will be enough

.

Please dear Lord protect those so dear to me
Let them see the things that they need to see
Show them that choices that we chose to   make
Are out of love for them and no not a mistake
That things will turn out the way they were meant to be. 

With every moment comes a chance to make
A decision to fix or a decision to break
in a blink of an eye you may make the wrong choice
or decide that you'd rather be the positive voice

when you think of the times you wish you could take back
is it because the choices you made, reasoning you lacked
or was it due to thinking that others may think
you were not strong if you did not take that drink

In just a moment you could change someone's life
Someone who may one day be a mom and a wife
or maybe it is someone who's dad they'd become
if the choices you made could just be undone

so when you think that the drink that you had
was just a moment with friends, made you feel "bad"
think for another of the things that may be
if you get into your car and then turn the key

it may not be your life, but that of another
somebody's sister or somebody's brother
the life that you take may not be your own
but may be of someone who's not fully grown

someone who did not make the choice to be there
when you came round that corner without worry or care
so many lives are taken from family and friends
due to a moment of carelessness that in the end

not only destroys the lives that you took
but your life is not the way you thought it would look
instead of being free to go out and drink once again
your freedom was taken and in jail you did end

however, your life will one day be set free
unlike the one that was taken you see
so next time you think that your big and your tough
remember that one drink is more than enough

make up your mind to be that positive voice
let your friends know that there is always a choice
the decision to fix or decision to break
comes with every moment with the choices we make.