by Cheryl Merrick
Giving up something of lesser value
for something of greater value
is an expression of great wisdom
and ofttimes the offering
of a loving heart.
Giving up something of greater value
for something of lesser value
is an exercise in stupidity
which myopically reflects
a self-absorbed life.
Showing posts with label Selfishness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Selfishness. Show all posts
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Is She More Loving?
by Cheryl Merrick
If she puts others' wants,
before her needs?
If she constantly exhausts herself,
because her family needs her?
If she neglects her health,
because "there is simply too much to do"?
If she hovers over her children
doing every little thing for them?
If she puts others' wants,
before her needs?
If she constantly exhausts herself,
because her family needs her?
If she neglects her health,
because "there is simply too much to do"?
If she hovers over her children
doing every little thing for them?
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
The Island
by Cheryl Merrick
The couple stands on an ever dwindling island,
having removed their protecting wall of love and service,
they allow the constant waves of
selfishness, greed, and superficiality
to slowly erode their marriage.
The couple stands on an ever dwindling island,
having removed their protecting wall of love and service,
they allow the constant waves of
selfishness, greed, and superficiality
to slowly erode their marriage.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Fable of the Chickens
a fable by Cheryl Anne Merrick written about 1978
Once there was a small chicken. This chicken had lived alone in the field all her life. One day she saw a whole flock of chickens near a building. Though she was scared, she flew over near them. She was so happy! Now she wouldn’t be lonely ever again! All the other chickens would be her friends, and they would have so much fun together, or so she thought.
But by evening the small hen was not a joyful bird. In a lone corner of the barnyard she sat, a small huddle of dejected feathers. “What went wrong?” she asked herself over and over again. She remembered how she had raced down among the other chickens. How excited she had been about all the seeds to eat. Oh! how she had raced around dashing and grabbing seeds. What fun it had been to beat the big older chickens, and baby chicks to each grain of wheat! When the pan was filled with water, she pushed and shoved and was the first to drink. How proud she was of herself! All the chickens must be impressed with her. She was so strong and fast! Much, much faster than all those older hens and little chicks.
Once there was a small chicken. This chicken had lived alone in the field all her life. One day she saw a whole flock of chickens near a building. Though she was scared, she flew over near them. She was so happy! Now she wouldn’t be lonely ever again! All the other chickens would be her friends, and they would have so much fun together, or so she thought.
But by evening the small hen was not a joyful bird. In a lone corner of the barnyard she sat, a small huddle of dejected feathers. “What went wrong?” she asked herself over and over again. She remembered how she had raced down among the other chickens. How excited she had been about all the seeds to eat. Oh! how she had raced around dashing and grabbing seeds. What fun it had been to beat the big older chickens, and baby chicks to each grain of wheat! When the pan was filled with water, she pushed and shoved and was the first to drink. How proud she was of herself! All the chickens must be impressed with her. She was so strong and fast! Much, much faster than all those older hens and little chicks.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Reflections On
by Cheryl Merrick
Three Months of being a Church Service Missionary*
Day after day they send me their requests.
Half are polite, reasonable questions on how to use the LDS.org web site.
The rest are prideful criticisms and demands, and a few are pleas for help.
Preferring hearsay to the Lords’s invitation to study, ponder and pray,
Many drift aimlessly; confused and unsure.
While others want only to return to the comfort of the familiar,
refusing to learn anything new.
Three Months of being a Church Service Missionary*
Day after day they send me their requests.
Half are polite, reasonable questions on how to use the LDS.org web site.
The rest are prideful criticisms and demands, and a few are pleas for help.
Preferring hearsay to the Lords’s invitation to study, ponder and pray,
Many drift aimlessly; confused and unsure.
While others want only to return to the comfort of the familiar,
refusing to learn anything new.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Window
by Cheryl Merrick
Looking in a full length mirror,
the young woman wonders,
“Will he like me?”
As a worried young mother,
she gazes into the now
somewhat battered mirror,
and asks,
“Am I a good mother?”
The children come
and her mirror becomes more
and more scratched,
Til, older, and gray,
she approaches her mirror
and can no longer see herself.
The shiny coating
has been worn away
leaving only the glass,
a window of light,
through which she can see
the needs of others.
Looking in a full length mirror,
the young woman wonders,
“Will he like me?”
As a worried young mother,
she gazes into the now
somewhat battered mirror,
and asks,
“Am I a good mother?”
The children come
and her mirror becomes more
and more scratched,
Til, older, and gray,
she approaches her mirror
and can no longer see herself.
The shiny coating
has been worn away
leaving only the glass,
a window of light,
through which she can see
the needs of others.
Matriarchs
by Cheryl Merrick
In a quiet moment,
between barked orders,
a woman tearfully admits
her children say
she is too bossy,
and no longer
want to see her.
Sobbing in depression,
another woman tells
of her children’s
“Lack of Respect”.
She is older and
knows more than they do.
They SHOULD listen
and do what she says.
Instead, they push her away.
In a quiet moment,
between barked orders,
a woman tearfully admits
her children say
she is too bossy,
and no longer
want to see her.
Sobbing in depression,
another woman tells
of her children’s
“Lack of Respect”.
She is older and
knows more than they do.
They SHOULD listen
and do what she says.
Instead, they push her away.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Worldly Power
by Cheryl Merrick
Blinded by self,
they can only see others
as mere things
to be used
in their vain attempts to
satisfy their desires.
Unable to create,
they can only take
what others
have produced.
Blinded by self,
they can only see others
as mere things
to be used
in their vain attempts to
satisfy their desires.
Unable to create,
they can only take
what others
have produced.
Wasted Days
by Cheryl Merrick
Desperate to find meaning in a meaningless life,
their eyes rove as they search
for that new procession
that will bring them happiness
Looking at it in the light of their own home,
away from the magical mall music and glitz,
the object seems pathetically inadequate.
Desperate to find meaning in a meaningless life,
their eyes rove as they search
for that new procession
that will bring them happiness
Looking at it in the light of their own home,
away from the magical mall music and glitz,
the object seems pathetically inadequate.
Value of a Woman
by Cheryl Merrick
Blinded by selfishness,
the world does not see
a noble daughter of God before them.
As they myopically focus on
“What use is this person to me,”
they reduce people to mere objects.
Though they attempt to cram their life full of possessions,
they have unknowingly doomed themselves
to a lonely, soulless existence,
devoid of closeness or love.
Blinded by selfishness,
the world does not see
a noble daughter of God before them.
As they myopically focus on
“What use is this person to me,”
they reduce people to mere objects.
Though they attempt to cram their life full of possessions,
they have unknowingly doomed themselves
to a lonely, soulless existence,
devoid of closeness or love.
Self Centered Life
by Cheryl Merrick
Ever concerned that they are noticed
and given the respect
their wealth and position deserve,
they carefully adorn themselves
with sparkling jewels, metals,
and all the latest designer clothes.
So with their professional hair cut,
manicured nails, and uncomfortable heals,
they mince their way up the hill
looking in booths for more objects to buy
as they attempt to fill the emptiness
of their self centered life.
8/6/2013
Ever concerned that they are noticed
and given the respect
their wealth and position deserve,
they carefully adorn themselves
with sparkling jewels, metals,
and all the latest designer clothes.
So with their professional hair cut,
manicured nails, and uncomfortable heals,
they mince their way up the hill
looking in booths for more objects to buy
as they attempt to fill the emptiness
of their self centered life.
8/6/2013
Persuit
by Cheryl Merrick
In an ever constricting world,
driven by obsessive selfishness,
some work long hours for riches,
while others desperately pursue prestige.
Ever hungering for happiness,
they acquire more and more,
but numb by their excessiveness,
they feel less and less.
In an ever constricting world,
driven by obsessive selfishness,
some work long hours for riches,
while others desperately pursue prestige.
Ever hungering for happiness,
they acquire more and more,
but numb by their excessiveness,
they feel less and less.
Possessions
by Cheryl Merrick
Hugging the object
tightly in her arms,
the girl gleefully declares,
“It’s mine!”
With the passage of time
novelty wanes
leaving past treasures
to amass in dusty corners,
unused and forgotten,
but jealously hoarded.
Hugging the object
tightly in her arms,
the girl gleefully declares,
“It’s mine!”
With the passage of time
novelty wanes
leaving past treasures
to amass in dusty corners,
unused and forgotten,
but jealously hoarded.
Modern Life
by Cheryl Merrick
Trial marriages
Token children
Abandoned families
Eating food that bugs refuse,
they are both overweight
and malnourished.
Flaunting clothes that provide
little protection or comfort,
they give up self respect.
Trial marriages
Token children
Abandoned families
Eating food that bugs refuse,
they are both overweight
and malnourished.
Flaunting clothes that provide
little protection or comfort,
they give up self respect.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Making Time
by Cheryl Merrick
Acquiring unnecessary possessions,
Maintaining high upkeep homes and yards,
Inefficiently running errands,
They fill their day as if activity alone
could give meaning to their lives.
And even though they have wandered
off the path to their avowed goals,
they feel a smug satisfaction
in the tremendous time they are making.
Acquiring unnecessary possessions,
Maintaining high upkeep homes and yards,
Inefficiently running errands,
They fill their day as if activity alone
could give meaning to their lives.
And even though they have wandered
off the path to their avowed goals,
they feel a smug satisfaction
in the tremendous time they are making.
Hearts Grown Cold
by Cheryl Merrick
In a world becoming dark,
The love of many has grown cold.
No longer do they promise even
to love until “death do us part”,
but instead only until that person
ceases to amuse them or make them happy.
In a world of where selfishness is ennobled
as “self fulfillment”,
Where “your needs” and “your career”
come before all else,
It is not surprising that marriage
is seen as temporary.
In a world becoming dark,
The love of many has grown cold.
No longer do they promise even
to love until “death do us part”,
but instead only until that person
ceases to amuse them or make them happy.
In a world of where selfishness is ennobled
as “self fulfillment”,
Where “your needs” and “your career”
come before all else,
It is not surprising that marriage
is seen as temporary.
Good and Bad
by Cheryl Merrick
In our world where “good”
is a life of ease,
and “bad” is anything
you don’t want to happen,
God’s wisdom is renounced.
Arrogantly proclaiming
they know what is best,
they would deprive us
of all the strength and growth
struggling brings.
In our world where “good”
is a life of ease,
and “bad” is anything
you don’t want to happen,
God’s wisdom is renounced.
Arrogantly proclaiming
they know what is best,
they would deprive us
of all the strength and growth
struggling brings.
Feeding Frenzy
by Cheryl Merrick
Like uncontrolled animals,
they jostle and crowd,
eyes alight with greed,
grabbing things they don’t need.
Constantly on the move,
they stuff empty calories
and drugged “energy” drinks
into their gaping mouths.
Convinced that their value
is based on arousing others,
they, in constant self-adsorption,
flaunt, paint, dye,
and pierce their bodies,
until only a hard ugliness remains.
Like uncontrolled animals,
they jostle and crowd,
eyes alight with greed,
grabbing things they don’t need.
Constantly on the move,
they stuff empty calories
and drugged “energy” drinks
into their gaping mouths.
Convinced that their value
is based on arousing others,
they, in constant self-adsorption,
flaunt, paint, dye,
and pierce their bodies,
until only a hard ugliness remains.
Self Centered Man
by Cheryl Merrick
Heaving a sigh, the man resigns himself
to another day as husband and provider.
“They just don’t appreciate me.
I give them everything,
and ask so little in return.”
All I need is a glass of lemonade,
my slippers and
some quiet time to relax
when I come home.”
“Is that so much to ask
after working all day for them?
But, no, they never think of me.
Heaving a sigh, the man resigns himself
to another day as husband and provider.
“They just don’t appreciate me.
I give them everything,
and ask so little in return.”
All I need is a glass of lemonade,
my slippers and
some quiet time to relax
when I come home.”
“Is that so much to ask
after working all day for them?
But, no, they never think of me.
Finding Love
by Cheryl Merrick
The young couple
continued their bickering.
Doubting, they demanded
that the other
prove their love:
“IF you really loved ME,
You would be more understanding.”
“IF you really moved ME,
You would be more passionate.”
The young couple
continued their bickering.
Doubting, they demanded
that the other
prove their love:
“IF you really loved ME,
You would be more understanding.”
“IF you really moved ME,
You would be more passionate.”
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