Running seems to be my deep thinking time. Often when I am running, lesson plans, songs, or other ideas are created. It can also be my God and me talk and pray it out time. Today was one of those runs. I woke up this morning with my friend Nikki Lerner's song in my head:
You are my shepherd, please take my hand and lead me through
You are my shepherd, no one can fill my like you do
Lead me, guide me, let my cup overflow with more of you.
As I ran today and listened to that song, a poem that I used in class with my 5th graders this year came to mind. It's called Welcome Morning by Anne Sexton. It's theme is finding joy in all. We used it to create our own poems. Here is my rendition:
There is joy in all,
in the cry of a baby in the morning,
in the smell of coffee brewing,
in the sun peering through the clouds,
in the smooth as glass water in the bay,
There is joy in all.
There is joy in all,
in the shooting star that soars across the sunset sky,
in the double rainbow during the pouring rain,
in the moonlit boat ride across the lake,
in the yellow flowers growing out of the canal,
there is joy in all.
There is joy in all,
in spending time with friends,
in hearing Harley Holmes say, "I feel accomplished" after conquering his fear of jumping in the water,
in watching Wyatt Holmes try to ski,
in listening to Sophia Holmes scream as she runs into the water,
in running with Kari Holmes on my normal Lake Okoboji route.
There is joy in all.
There is joy in all,
in watching my parents be grandparents,
in seeing family I haven't seen in a long time,
in observing how much my sister and brother in law love their little daughter,
in being an auntie,
There is joy in all.
All this is God,
right here in this cabin at Lake Okoboji,
and though I often forget to say thanks and worship with rejoicing,
today I am full of joy for this morning.
So while I think of it,
let me paint a thank you for this God, for the joy and the laughter of the morning.
For the joy that isn't shared, I've heard, dies young.
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