Two Boxes

Two Boxes
I have in my hands two boxes
which God gave me to hold
he said, "put all your sorrows in the black
and all your joys in the gold."

I heeded his words, and in the two boxes
both my joys and sorrows I store,
but though the gold became heavier each day
the black was as light as before.

With curiosity I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why,
and I saw in the base of the box a hole
which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,
I wonder where my sorrows could be?
He smiled a gentle smile at me,
my child they're all here with me.

I asked, "Heavenly Father, why give me the boxes,
why the gold and black with the hole?"
"My child the gold is for you to count your blessings,
the black is for you to let go."

A moment

I went for a drive today.

Up into the mountains.
Squaw Peak to be exact.
Found a beautiful parking spot just big enough for my car on the side of the road, on a ledge overlooking the valley.

Blue, snow capped mountains in the distance. . . a brilliant sparkling lake. . . green foilage and hills and budding plants all around me. . . Cool breeze. Warm sun.
I sat on the top of my Geo Metro, legs to my chest, just enjoying the view and thinking about life. Praying. Trying to figure my crazy life out. . . had a nice little crying session. Prayed some more. . .

Every now and again a car would drive by.

And I felt so close to God. . . a feeling of comfort and peace washed over me as I prayed and laid out all my concerns for what the summer will bring. . . for what life will bring or has already brought. . .
It was so quiet and peaceful on that mountain. So high above the noise of every day life, on top of a giant, majestic bit of land. It's hard to feel lonely in such a place. . . surrounded by every intricate beautiful detail of untouched wilderness, the rays of the sun wafting onto the face. . .
It's hard to be unhappy thinking of all the life blooming around me, or seeing how green the wild  grass grows. . .
I've always felt closer to God in the mountains and so much happier too.

I sat for at least forty minutes and then drove home feeling fresh and lighter.
I'm so blessed with mountains and sweet, peaceful "moments" such as today. . .
So blessed and so grateful.

Awful things happen. . .

And in despair, I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men."