A Friend’s Influence

I wrote this poem in honor of a dear friend whose quiet strength and steady example taught me more than she ever realized. Through the way she lived with patience, kindness, humility, and a heart turned toward the Savior she showed me what true Christlike attributes look like in everyday moments. Her life wasn’t loud or demanding; it was a soft, steady light that warmed everyone around her.

As I watched her navigate challenges with grace and faith, I found myself wanting to grow into those same qualities. I wanted to become gentler, more compassionate, more willing to serve without being seen. This poem is my way of capturing the influence she had on me and a reminder that some of the greatest lessons come not from words, but from the quiet radiance of a life well‑lived.

The days rush by
And I’m trying to do
All that the Savior
Has asked me to .

And when I think of our Savior
Each day I go through
I’m reminded of His goodness
I’m reminded of you.

My dear cherished friend
My heart you have touched
Through your love and your service
You have taught me so much.

I desire to be worthy
To stand in your shoes,
As I watch and observe
And do as you do.

May I learn from your example
There’s a time to be still
If we truly desire
To know our Father’s will.

So allow me my friend
Each time that we meet,
To learn from your wisdom,
And stop and wash your feet.

I want to give back
What you’ve given to me
And our joy will be great
Throughout all eternity.

Widening My View

I wrote this poem out of the deep love I carried for my husband and the way he changed the way I saw the world. He widened my view and opened places in my heart I did not know were there. So many moments with him felt like light breaking through a window, revealing beauty I had never noticed before. This poem is my way of remembering how he touched my life, how he helped me grow, and how grateful I am for the gift of having walked beside him. Even now, when I think of him in the quiet moments, I thank God for the love we shared and for the way he helped me see life with a clearer, fuller heart.

I parted the curtain
And looked through the window
The light in my eyes shone bright.

I never imagined
That from where I stood
There could be such a beautiful sight.

For I had only seen
What surrounded my world,
A mere portion of what could be.

But now in my view
Is a gift beyond dreams
A new scene opened to me.

A brighter tomorrow,
With you in my life,
Touches every part of my soul.

I see so much clearer
When I look beyond me
A new person begins to unfold.

I tremble to think
What my days might have been
If I had spent even one without you.

So in the silence of moments
When I’m all by myself,
I thank God for widening my view.

Chosen to Become

All of my writings come from feelings and emotions triggered by some life teaching moments.  I wrote this poem to reflects the truth that each of us has a place in the story God is directing. We step onto the stage of life with roles we think we understand, only to find that circumstances shift and parts we once expected to play are handed to someone else. It speaks to the quiet ache of change, the uncertainty of not feeling fully settled in our place, and the reminder that God sees the entire script even when we do not. Themessage also includes the reassurance that what matters most is not the size of the role but the spirit in which we live it. When we offer our best with humility and trust, our performance becomes something worthy of heaven’s applause.

The poem isn’t about God scripting our lives or assigning roles without choice. It’s about something much more nuanced and true. We each step into life with agency, with gifts, with opportunities to grow, and with a loving Father who sees the whole stage even when we only see our small corner. With this in mind it is hard to choose a title that depicts what my heart is trying to express. I thought about "The Gifts We Carry" or "The Stage of Becoming" but I will use "Chosen to Become".

The curtain is drawn
The actors in place
Everyone has a special part.
But not all feel absolute
With the role they are in
For the script seems to be incomplete.

A calculated part
Once studied for
Is now played by someone else.
Could it be they are better
In the position they assume
Or simply chosen by the director’s will.

The answer is clear
For the one who’s in charge
He knows we all share the same stage
But it’s the performance we achieve
In role we are cast
That will command a standing ovation.

The Garden of My Life

Today I gather a rich harvest,

Reaping the rewards of seeds once sown.

A garden of beauty greets me each day,

Born from values I’ve tended and grown.

The sun coaxes tender seedlings upward,

And the rain quenches their thirst with grace.

Yet daily I must pull the weeds

That threaten the roots at their base.

Just as a farmer prepares his soil,

I must cultivate every part of my life

With lessons of love and integrity

To withstand the storms and strife.

My soul has been tilled and nourished, refined—

And now I watch what blossoms within.

A treasure I’m eager and willing to share,

For these seeds will live on again.

A Silhouette

This poem comes from a tender place in my heart. I no longer remember who I wrote it for or what moment inspired it, but the message still feels true for many who have come and gone in my life. The silhouette in these lines is the fading memory of someone I once knew well, someone who still crosses my mind in quiet moments. Time may soften the details, but the love remains. This poem is my way of remembering what they meant to me and honoring the gentle light their life left behind.

A faint silhouette, diminished by time,
Yet the visions of them are not forgotten.
The dreams of the one I used to know
Still rise in my soul so often.

And whether the sun upon my lips does brush
Or the wind through my hair does blow,
Through the roaring of oceans and splashing of waves
I am thankful for the person I came to know.

For with every star that lightens the dark,
So increases the thoughts I have of them.
And though the stars fade at first morning light,
Our love will never grow dim.

No, time cannot diminish the visions long ago,
Nor let my dreams fall into dejection,
For I will always remember the friend from my past
And cherish the new silhouette with affection

Blessed to Call You Friend

This poem is a small expression of the joy and gratitude I feel for a friendship that blessed my life. These words come from the heart and reflect how much this person has meant to me and how thankful I am for the light they brought into my days.

To my dear sweet friend
Whom I love so very much,
I want you to know
How deeply my heart has been touched.

The moments we have shared
Have truly been the best,
And I can say with all my heart
You are more special than the rest.

Though many late night hours
Were spent visiting with you, my friend,
Great joy has been my blessing
And a friendship I hope will never end.

I treasure every memory
You added to my days,
And hope you also felt
The light I offered in my ways.

I am grateful to call you my friend,
A blessing sent from above,
And I hope you will remember
That I think of you with love.

So now I wish you well
In all you do from here.
We will keep in touch, my friend,
And bring each other cheer.

May the Lord continue to bless you
In all you do and say,
And know I look forward to seeing you
As our paths cross again one day.