Tuesday, March 10, 2009

My story

I am from powdered milk, and food stamps.

I am from the Deep South the sound of frogs and crickets, the smell of rain, lemonade and crawfish, and from the sting of mosquitoes.

From looking out the open window and feeling the ceiling fan gently rustle the sheets.

I am from the warm rain, thunder shaking the windowpanes that gave me comfort of something bigger.
I am from many homes, finally now a part of one and looking forward to my final one.

I am from great-grandma Mae telling me to hold things will get better and the musty smell of her closet. From adoring my grandmother who adored leopard print.

I am from crawling out of windows at night and walking alone in the dark looking for purpose.
From sleeping on the street.

I am from no one and everyone, and looking for Someone. Someone bigger. Knowing Him but not His name.

I am from Negroes, Mexicans, Irish and a prostitute whose name I forget but protected me.
I am from Robert, Sheila, Mario and (Catherine my heart.)

I am from riding behind my grandfather on his motorcycle and the wind stinging my face. From sitting on a bucket next to him silently while we fished.

I am from sadness, a mothers stinging anger and hope for more. From running and searching…

From jump rope, hop scotch, tinikling, spinning with my arms out while looking at the sky, and dancing until my lungs hurt.

I am from music. From books especially Nancy Drew mysteries.

I am from the Navy, from a new school every year. From being amongst throngs of people and being alone.

I am from losing my hearing to being healed and loving every sound.

I'm from "There's a church in the valley by the wildwood,No lovelier spot in the dale; No place is so dear to my childhood,As the little brown church in the vale." From a little Baptist church, a little Pentecostal church, and in a great Nazarene church. I know His name now.

I am someone who learned to never give her heart away, to finding out that is where the best happiness comes from.

I am from looking forward to meeting the children I have not met, in Heaven and learning their names.
I am from walking alone to walking WITH someone who saw my heart and he knew that Someone bigger.

I am from laughter until my face cramps and I tinkle; from a man I trust my heart with, my husband.
I am from a boy and girl that I prayed for as I laid in the warm grass as a child. For them I would gladly give my life.

I am from FAMILY TIME! From a cell phone and a computer.
I am from great friends that talk with me in unison and we still hear what each other are saying. From road trips.

From jumping in puddles and being free because of His sacrifice.

I am from an all-consuming hunger to know Him.

I am from powdered milk and food stamps and from great expectancy of what His arms will feel like and how His face will shine warmth over me.
I will not be alone.

7 comments:

  1. What a WOMAN!!! I too am from an all-consuming hunger to know HIM, we are NOT alone. You have been given an extaordinary gift -- your life. You have an exceptional calling - to be the very best YOU God crated you to be. Your goal is to unwrap this gift and use all that you have been given in the pursuit of what matters most - loving God and loving others.

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  2. I love this post! I love doing "I AM From" poems......I feel like I can re-write mine every few years! What a blessing you are and what a beautiful testimony to HIS SAVING GRACE!! I agree with "anonymous" YOU HAVE A GREAT GIFT!!!

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  3. I love this! Thank you for being so transparent. So many can relate with you.

    God is so good to us!

    Bless you!
    Beth

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  4. Would you mind if I wrote an "I am" post? I love this idea!

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  5. Hi Beth. Not sure my comment here will come to you so I will also contact you at your place =)
    You most certainly can use it. I heard of the idea from a friend who saw a template online. I did it with a women's group and it was very powerful. Here is one link, http://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htm
    Here is another
    http://freeology.com/wp-content/files/iamfrompoem.pdf
    Just google "I am from" poem for more help. Feel free to use mine as a direction.
    ~Blessings

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  6. Tears came to my eyes reading this. I felt like I just wanted to reach through the screen and give you a great big hug :)
    It is so full of warmth and sorrow and truth and life.
    I wrote one of these poems a while back but after reading this I feel like I wrote more about the facts than the heart of "where I'm from."
    I'm going to try and give it another go this week :)
    Thank you so much for commenting over at my place. So glad to have found your lovely blog!

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  7. Aww thank you Suzy. I would say it's time to rewrite your story. If you...and post it let me know so I can pop over and read. K? Thanks for swinging by =)

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