Simple Lessons

by Cheryl Merrick
Some lessons are simple:
"You can't take more
out of a bucket,
than you put into it",
and "You can't reap what 
you have not sown."

Logically I understand,
but when it comes to
patiently and slowly
filling my bucket,
or carefully sowing
and nurturing my field,
my understanding vanishes.

Truly Over

by Cheryl Merrick

I moaned and yearned
for what I didn't have.
Resigning myself to
a lonely existence in my home,
I sorrowed for my lost
health and opportunities.
Oh, how I wanted to hike and dance.
I longed for a newer home
with lovely cabinets.

Being nearly 70,
my life was set.
Or was it?

Patience

by Cheryl Merrick

I prayed to know what I needed to change.
Soon I began to see my weaknesses.
In my anxiousness for perfection
I push myself to make
the creative writing program
the visiting teaching reporting
the LDS.org response team
the newspaper editing
all perfect -- NOW!

Love Is

by Cheryl Merrick

A touch in the dark
A pat in passing
Sharing events of our day
Discussing news and ideas
Expressing concerns
Solving problems
Giving hugs
Taking care of one another
Making plans together
Helping each’s dreams happen
Seeing the other’s potential
Believing in good intentions
Ignoring thoughtless acts
Forgiving and forgetting
Sharing our talents
Patiently teaching each other
Becoming more together than alone
Giving all, Receiving all,
Love Is

Tempered Hearts

by Cheryl Merrick

With hearts softened
through long lonely nights
of caring for sick babies,
of drying toddlers tears,
and of struggling to teach children
to live the Gospel,
then anxiously watching
them as teens 
choose their own paths,
The heart slowly 
becomes tempered,
creating within
a greater capacity
 for love.