Seeing What I Have

by Cheryl Merrick
Seeing tender love in my husband's eyes,
Feeling the warmth in friends and family's hearts,
Experiencing opportunities to love in return,
to teach, counsel, and inspire,
I feel loved.

My words of gratitude
reach upward as
His love fills
my soul.

Upside Down

by Cheryl Merrick
Doing what I felt
    I should;
Doing all the 
    "essential" nurturing things
I thought they needed, 
I lived my life --
    upside down

Only realizing later,
that what they remembered most 
was the time I spent with them,
listening and teaching--
right side up.

Warden

by Cheryl Merrick

Appearing a sanctioned warden,
      holding his legitimate credential,
he enters the aviary
not to tame, as expected,
but to allow a few moments of freedom-
the freedom to strengthen
     unused wings
     and build their confidence
     that they are truly beings
of the sky.

Waiting

by Cheryl Merrick

Waiting in faith,
at last I see my dreams
becoming possible.

Will they be?
Am I to be accepted?
Are my talents to be shared?

Confronting fears,
I try my best and wait.

Sun and Candles

by Cheryl Merrick

I tried to fit
into the system,
or maybe I just
tried to fit it to me.

I wanted to help
children grow–
and I did.

I want to continue
helping children–
and I will.

So Small

by Cheryl Merrick

Concerned over a late
     spelling test,
She asks how I can
     remain so calm.

How can I explain
     how small it seems
when I am only a pill
     away from stepping
     through the veil.

Sharing

by Cheryl Merrick

Mine to share are gifts
that cannot be touched or held,
the glimmering, ethereal gifts
of the mind and heart.

Through intense empathy,
I’m able to sense potential
mentoring it into fruit.

From hours spent
in study and thought,
I draw out solutions to problems

From prayer and meditation
I discover principles
to light our way.

And so, in loving concern,
I share my faith
and hope for the future.

Only a Volunteer

by Cheryl Merrick

I know myself to be a:
Certified Teacher
     with a current credential and
     who is School District Trained
Experienced Tutor
     who has helped children
     no other teacher could
Capable Educator
     who has managed large classes
     and ably planned lessons
Published Author & Editor
     with articles printed
     in the Ensign magazine and newspapers

Nurturer of Spirits

by Cheryl Merrick

With inspiring thoughts
and encouraging words
I nourish spirits.

New Image

by Cheryl Merrick

Given approval for being
     “sweet and caring”
I filled my life with affectionate expressions,
     while closely hiding my
     “undesirable” traits.

As the years pass,
      I come to see myself as
     weak and incompetent,
til, finally,
     worn from repeated failures
     of trying to be this “loving person”,
I relinquish this dream.

Careers

by Cheryl Merrick

A  little unconventional
but tailored to my talents and needs
I’ve had my careers

My life has been filled
with teaching experiences,
I began teaching as a child
when I gathered neighbor children
to “play school”,
At ten I taught five-year-olds
in Sunday School,
In high school I took children with hearing problems on field trips,
In college I student taught in
a 2nd and 4th grade classroom for five months.

End of an Era

by Cheryl Merrick

Soon an era will close.
For ten years the teacher and I
have worked together
loving each of her third grade classes.

We’ve tried having me correct papers, present vocabulary,
help with crafts, give writing lessons,
substitute for her, do poetry units,
and lead writing groups.

Teachers

by Cheryl Merrick

Devoted,
Dedicated and caring,
They dispense their knowledge,
     through drill and discourse,
Determined to make their errant pupils,
into “productive members of society”.

Gardening

by Cheryl Merrick

Some feel a sense of satisfaction
      in conscientiously working to make
      monochromatic flower beds,
while others feel an exhilarating joy
     in patiently encouraging
     each flower’s
     unique bloom.

Canning

by Cheryl Merrick

Like nourishing fruit waiting in jars,
I prepare thoughts and insights
through study and prayer,
ever increasing my understanding
through reflection.

Suddenly, the moment arrives
when the famished appear
needing counsel and teaching.

So with seeming ease,
the fruit is set before them,
the many hours of careful “canning”
never acknowledged.

Walk in Faith

by Cheryl Merrick

Nurturing your children’s children,
you once again enjoy sloppy kisses
and young one’s confidences.

Knowing how precious and fleeting
these childhood moments are,
You slow down to match a toddlers pace,
experiencing again the wonder of
bird songs, dandelions, and ant hills.

Having a more eternal perspective,
you no longer anxiously judge your worth
by the behavior of your children.

You have finally learned to enjoy and rejoice in the process of perfection.
Now content, you take your grandchild’s hand
as, together, you walk home in faith.


9/13/2013

New Teacher

by Cheryl Merrick

Seeking help and advice,
Eagerly accepting materials,
Fearful about being accepted
as a competent teacher,
 but Excited about teaching,
She begins her new career.

Passing the Torch

by Cheryl Merrick

Your dad hired our son,
patiently training
him to survey.

With experience,
his small flame grew strong.

Now to your children
we offer first jobs,
giving them opportunities to grow beyond
their family hearth,
experiencing new responsibilities
 and relationships.

Closing Doors

by Cheryl Merrick

With hope I kept my door open,
trying to comfort, teach, and love
those who were weak and in pain.

With an empathetic heart I listened
and sometimes cried with them.
I longed to help them.

When the years passed
and my health began to fail,
I took a look around my room.

Anticipating The Moment

by Cheryl Merrick

Dutifully following the leadership
of our “elders”,
we begin our career.
Seeking their counsel and advice,
we slowly gain experience.

Finally, they are gone,
leaving us to pass along 
the torch of experience,