Thoughts

Ideas come like Bubbles floating past which must be gently appreciated before they disappear

Confidence comes from experience

I simply state the obvious but God has given me the gift to state it beautifully

Some People

by Cheryl Merrick
Some people feel that,
"Life is a banquet, and most
poor suckers are starving to death!"
They pack each moment with as much
"livin'" as possible for,
"There's music to play, places to go,
and people to see!"
Their parties are filled with good food,
and the laughter of many people.
These are the enjoyers of life.

Other choose the quiet path
"less traveled by".
Deeply breathing in the scent of fall,
they savor the soft crunch of leaves under foot
 and the distant call of birds,
as they walk along absorbed in contemplation.
These are those who search for the meaning of life.

2018 Thoughts

by Cheryl Merrick
I simply state the obvious, but God has given me the gift to state it well.

Determined

by Cheryl Merrick

I am determined 
to accomplish my mission in life,
to magnify my gifts,
to live each day happy and fulfilled,
to be a righteous example
to influence others for good. 

A Writer's Life

by Cheryl Merrick

I thought I'd write in my spare time,
perhaps late at night
when everyone is in bed
and all my "work" is done.

So dutifully I pushed though the day,
doing all the little things which "must be done",
until I found myself too exhausted to write
when evening finally came.

Serving Differently

by Cheryl Merrick

Church leaders suggested we ask the Lord,

“Who should I help?”

Thoughts filled my mind of writing on my

“Meditations of a Mormon Mom” blog

And of making a new blog to help people

use the LDS.org website.

Then shaking my head sadly, I thought,

“ But that’s not service.”

Suddenly, these new words were

Impressed in my consciousness,

“I have given you different gifts.

 You will serve differently."

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.

Gifts

by Cheryl Merrick

Blessed with the ability
to focus clearly on eternal goals
to feel with others
to blaze new paths
to create solutions to problems
to see and hear beauty
to teach and counsel
     and to perceive,
    through obscuring details,
the true principles,
I rejoice in my gifts,
desiring the wisdom
to use them well.

Being Me

by Cheryl Merrick

I really have no choice.
Who else could I be?
I could try to be different,
but why?

All people suffer stress
when they function
in ways unnatural to them,
and so do I.

Each of us has been given
different gifts to share,
not to hide,
and so have I.

Individuals find fulfillment
as they discern how the Lord
wants them to use their gifts,
and so will I.

Appreciating Gifts

by Cheryl Merrick

To me I seem
to merely state the obvious.

I simply remind people
of the goal or principle,
or I might share some idea
on how to solve a problem.

Surely, these are things everyone
already knows.

At first I am surprised
at their appreciation,
then humbled
as I am reminded that
my clarity of vision
is a gift from God.

Poem Writing

by Cheryl Merrick

Conduit for inspiration
Journal for thoughts
Closure for feelings

Voice of intuition
Expression of creativity
Anvil of ideas

Gift opened and shared

Blogs

by Cheryl Merrick

Following promptings
to share
the gifts I’ve been given,
I leave my comfort zone
and enter the world
of web blogging.

Unsure what I’m doing,
I jump in
Posting compiled research
on Addison’s disease,
helps for struggling students,
and my stories of faith.

As I share my sixty years
of experiences,
I find myself wondering
if these blogs
will help anyone,
or even be seen.

Approval

by Cheryl Merrick

Fearing disapproval,
I bury my talents.

Hoping for acceptance,
I try to be like others.

Endless details
done to please people
fill my day.

Thinking I am doing
what is expected of me,
I neglect my gifts.

Till, at last,
I remember the giver of all gifts,
and seeking only
His Approval,
begin to share my talents.

All Done

by Cheryl Merrick

When my house sparkles
and every dust mote has been whisked away;
When every kind deed
has been preformed;
When my family tree is
complete with shining temple ordinances;
When every detail
I can imagine
is all done,
I will do the things I desire.

But, too late,
I will see that
My talents have been little used;
My spirit undernourished;
And my strength spent.

Yes, I will know then that I am
truly and completely
All Done.

Comparison

by Cheryl Merrick

Sighing, she compares herself
     to the lanky models;
Her legs and arms too heavy,
her waist not small enough,
her hips too large,
her chin too small,
her nose too nubby, and
her hair too disobedient.

In despair she hopes for a
     “Total Makeover”.
Forgetting who she really is,
     obsessed with who she thinks she should be,
     she wraps herself in a cloak of pity,
Withholding the gifts
she has been given to share.