Each new day that I gently awake,

I have a choice to make.

I may wake up disgruntled,

In a foul mood and certainly not humble.

Or I might arouse feeling overwhelmed

By the list of endless tasks that must be done.

I may roll out of bed feeling a bit upset with a neighbor or friend

And allow that anger to occupy and reside

in my  vengeful heart and  restless mind.

Then I might journey through the day

Never ridding of the bitterness along the way.

I could open my eyes in deep sadness

When realizing another dream, my latest

Hope has been utterly and completely dashed.

And in doing so I neglect to gaze out the window

To see the shining sun or perhaps a rainbow

Arching in the sky after a night of storms;

And I don’t notice the wind gently cooling the earth.

I forget to call and say hi to a friend

Or to help and encourage someone

Who deeply needed to hear

Words of kindness to alleviate their hurt and fear.

I forget how God has created me

To reach out to others in tenderness, love, and peace.

It is by my own flawed human nature that

I focus on myself ever so selfishly

Seeing only how the day evolves around me.

But the Lord I know has a different plan

For me and for each of us living

 Beneath the forever vast and lofty heavens.

And that is to choose by faith

To wake each morning and live in his grace

Not doubting but in firm and steadfast belief

That we each have the ability to choose; to seek

 To live with each other in heartfelt friendship,

Love and everlasting peace.

I just participated in a new collaboration calling all poets to write about peace. This writing event takes place through August 31st and you can read more about it here: https://forgottenmeadows.wordpress.com/2016/07/16/calling-all-poetscreative-minds-to-a-grand-collaboration-poets-for-peace/comment-page-6/#comment-19687