OUR TIME ON EARTH IS BUT A JOURNEY
AND WE WILL FACE MANY A ROUGH SEA
LIGHTENING WILL FLASH AND LIGHT UP THE SKY
LIKE FIREWORKS ON THE FOURTH OF JULY

THUNDER WILL SOUND WITH A MIGHTY ROAR
WHITECAPPED WAVES WILL CRASH UPON THE SHORE
THE WIND WILL HOWL AND HURL THINGS ABOUT
UNTIL IT'S RAGE IS SPENT AND BEGINS TO FADE OUT

SOMETIMES IT LEAVES DEVASTATION IN IT'S WAKE
LIFE IS ALWAYS A MATTER OF GIVE AND TAKE
BLESSINGS ARE GIVEN AND TAKEN AWAY
ONLY GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY

AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED THROUGH
LIFE BEGINS TO REBUILD ANEW
NATURE REPLENISHES ALL THAT WAS TAKEN
AND GIVES BACK ALL THAT WAS FORSAKEN

AFTER THE STORM AND AFTER THE RAIN
WE'VE BEEN DELIVERED FROM ALL OF OUR PAIN
CALM BREEZES NOW BLOW UPON OUR FACE
WE'RE ONCE AGAIN IN GOD'S GOOD GRACE

COPYRIGHT 2008
DEBBY HARRIS

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CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TWINKLE ON HOUSES
PROCLAIMING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
DECORATIONS EVEN DON THE COURTHOUSES
DO THEY CELEBRATE THE TRUE SEASON

THE CHRISTMAS TREES ARE A SIGHT TO SEE
BRIGHT COLORS AND TINSEL OF SILVER AND GOLD
CAREFULLY WRAPPED PRESENTS UNDER THE TREE
TAKES QUITE A CHUNK OUT OF OUR BILLFOLD

STORES OPEN EARLY AND RUN LOTS OF SALES
SHOPPERS ACT LIKE WILD ANIMALS AND RUN PEOPLE DOWN
EACH ONE WANTING TO BE THE ONE THAT PREVAILS
RUNNING TO THE CHECKOUT LIKE A TOUCHDOWN

WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN ABOUT CHRISTMAS
THAT IT'S OK TO HURT SOMEONE TO GET WHAT YOU WANT
THAT AT CHRISTMAS TIME YOU GET A FREE PASS
TO BE RUDE AND MALICIOUS ON A SHOPPING JAUNT

WHY AREN'T WE TEACHING THEM IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS
IT'S ABOUT A NEWBORN BABE BORN IN A MANGER STALL
THE ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS DIDN'T HOLD ALL THIS FUSS
THEY FOCUSED ON THE CHRIST CHILD, SAVIOR TO ALL

WHY DON'T WE TEACH OUR KIDS THE MEANING OF GIVING
WE FAIL THEM BY ACTING LIKE IT'S ALL ABOUT TAKING
WE CAN HONOR CHRIST BY THE KIND WAY WE ARE LIVING
BY THE LOVE THAT WE GIVE AND THE CHOICES WE'RE MAKING

COPYRIGHT 2008
DEBBY HARRIS

MATERIAL GIFTS DON'T LAST FOREVER;  BUT GIFTS OF THE HEART DO.  THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE CAN DO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO ONE AND NOTHING.  RIDES TO THE DOCTOR, CASSEROLES FOR THEIR FREEZER, A WARM BLANKET FOR THEIR BED, A HEATING BILL PAID SO THEY KEEP WARM...ETC...  I COULD GO ON, BUT I'M SURE YOU GET MY DRIFT.  THE NEEDS ARE THERE FOR THOSE WITH EYES TO SEE AND HEARTS TO FEEL.  THIS CHRISTMAS...I WILL SHOW OTHERS THE "CHRIST" IN CHRISTMAS.

DEBBY

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MAY LOVE SHINE THROUGH
IN ALL I SAY AND DO
MAY MY HEART SEE THE NEEDS
SO I MAY SOW THE SEEDS
MAY MY LIFE BE AN EXAMPLE
AND MY FOOTSTEPS NEVER TRAMPLE
MAY I HEAR YOUR VOICE LOUD AND CLEAR
SO THAT I MAY PERSEVERE
MAY MY LIFE BEAR WITNESS
GIVING HOPE TO THE OPPRESSED
MAY I REACH THE LOST AND LONELY
WITH THE TRUTH OF MY TESTIMONY
MAY I LIGHT THE WAY FOR OTHERS
ALL MY SISTERS AND MY BROTHERS
MAY I EMPOWER OTHER SURVIVORS
TO OVERCOME AND RESTORE
MAY I CONTINUE IN THE WORK I DO
FOR IT'S ALL TO GLORIFY YOU

COPYRIGHT 2008
DEBBY HARRIS

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YOU PASS US EVERY DAY ON THE STREET
NOT THE KIND OF PERSON YOU'D LIKE TO MEET
WE CAN BE HOT TEMPERED AND RUDE
AND AT TIMES HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO GET TOO CLOSE
FOR FEAR THAT YOU MAY DIAGNOSE
WHAT WE TRY SO DESPERATELY TO HIDE
THE FRIGHTENED CHILD THAT LIVES INSIDE

ABUSED SEVERELY OVER MANY YEARS
MY BODY STILL BEARS THE SOUVENIRS
NEVER TAKEN TO A DOCTOR TO SET BROKEN BONES
NO ONE WAS TO KNOW WHAT WENT ON IN OUR HOME

LIKE A RERUN OF A 3 STOOGES EPISODE
MY DAD'S TEMPER WOULD EXPLODE
LIKE MOE, HE'D BASH OUR HEADS TOGETHER
WITHOUT A THOUGHT OF WHAT COULD OCCUR

HOW WOULD THEY HAVE EXPLAINED OUR DEATHS
WOULD THEY CRY WHEN WE TOOK OUR LAST BREATHS
WOULD THEY HAVE BEEN SORRY AND WISH US BACK
OR CONCOCT A LIE TO KEEP THE LAW OFF THEIR BACK

I PRAYED TO JESUS EVERY NIGHT
TO COME AND GET ME BEFORE MORNINGS LIGHT
HE'D TELL ME THAT SOMEDAY HE WILL
BUT HE HAS A MISSION FOR ME TO FULFILL

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT BACK WHEN
BECAUSE I WAS JUST A CHILD THEN
NOW I'M DOING WHAT HE WANTED ME TO DO
TO REACH OUT TO OTHER'S LIKE ME AND YOU

SO WHEN WE MEET ON THE STREET
IF YOU'VE NEVER WALKED A MILE IN MY FEET
DON'T JUDGE ME FOR THIS MASK I WEAR
FOR IT HIDES ALL THE PAIN AND FEAR

COPYRIGHT 2007
DEBBY HARRIS

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ONE LESS FACE AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
FOR DEATH HAS TAKEN YOU AWAY FROM ME
ONE LESS CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO WRAP
CUZ' HEAVEN ISN'T EVEN ON THE MAP
ONE LESS CHAIR AT THE DINNER TABLE
GRIEF SHOULD COME WITH A WARNING LABEL
ONE LESS VOICE MY EARS WON'T HEAR
CHRISTMAS IS VERY HARD FOR ME THIS YEAR
ONE LESS SET OF FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW
GOD CALLED YOU HOME AND YOU HAD TO GO
ONE LESS WOUNDED SOUL TO SUFFER IN PAIN
FOR NOW YOU LIVE...IN HEAVENS DOMAIN

COPYRIGHT 2009
DEBBY HARRIS

MICHAEL, THIS WILL BE MY SECOND CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU.  I MISS YOU SON.  MOM

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I'VE BEEN ASKED "WHY DO YOU WRITE THE TYPE OF POEMS YOU DO?"  I WILL SHARE WHY.

I GREW UP PHYSICALLY AND SEXUALLY ABUSED.  I NEVER THOUGHT I'D MAKE IT TO ADULTHOOD.  I WRITE TO RELEASE THE PAIN OF THOSE YEARS.

I WAS AN ABUSED WIFE.  I PICKED A MAN LIKE "DEAR OLD DAD" WHO BEAT HIS WIFE.  I THOUGHT THAT WAS LOVE.  IT WAS ALL I'D EVER KNOWN FROM BIRTH ON.

TWO MONTHS AFTER I WAS DIVORCED, I WAS A VICTIM OF A HORRIFIC ASSAULT BY A STRANGER.  I WAS RAPED, BEATEN, STABBED 17 TIMES AND BURIED IN A GRAVEL PIT.  I DUG MY WAY OUT THE FIRST TIME, AND WAS REBURIED DEEPER THE SECOND TIME. IN MY GRAVE, GOD FOUND ME AS I LAY DYING.  I WAS LIFTED UP INTO THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT I'D EVER SEEN.  I FELT WARM AND SAFE AND PEACEFUL.  I COULD LOOK DOWN AND SEE MYSELF LYING IN MY GRAVE.  FROM THAT LIGHT, GOD SPOKE TO ME.  I WANTED SO MUCH TO STAY WITH HIM IN THAT LIGHT, BUT HE SAID "IT WASN'T MY TIME."  I WAS TOLD TO "BE A LIVING TESTIMONY AND HELP OTHERS WHO HAVE WENT THROUGH ABUSE."  THAT'S WHAT I HAVE DONE EVER SINCE.  I AM A MIRACLE.

I'M A CHILD ADVOCATE.  I CAN'T STAND TO SEE HUMAN OR ANIMAL ABUSED.  I'VE BEEN GIVEN A GIFT TO WRITE, SO I CAN RELEASE MY PAIN.  HEALING IS POSSIBLE AND TALKING WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE...IS SO THERAPEUTIC.

IN JULY OF 2009, MY BEAUTIFUL, 29 YEAR OLD SON TOOK HIS LIFE.  HE WILL BE FOREVER 29.  HIS PICTURE IS ON MY PAGE.  I HAVE WENT THROUGH SO MUCH;  YET NOTHING EVER HURT AS BAD AS LOSING MY SON.  I HAVE A HUGE HOLE RIPPED OUT OF MY HEART.  I MISS HIM SO MUCH!!!  THE ONE THING THAT GIVES ME SOME PEACE...IS KNOWING THAT HE IS NOW LIVING IN THAT BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL LIGHT WITH JESUS.  HE IS AT PEACE AND KNOWS NO MORE HEARTACHE OR PAIN.  HE IS HEALED OF HIS SEVERE BIPOLAR DISORDER.  I HAVE FORMED A GROUP CALLED "SUICIDE SURVIVORS" UNDER THE BOOMER CENTRAL GROUP.  MY HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE COME AND INTRODUCE THEIR LOVED ONES AS I HAVE MY SON MICHAEL. 

THANK YOU FOR READING MY POEMS AND COMMENTING.  DEBBY

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DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU
YOUR NOT WORTHY OF LOVE
THAT'S ONLY THEIR POINT OF VIEW
NOT THAT OF HEAVEN ABOVE

DON'T LET THE WORLD DICTATE
HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF
DON'T TAKE THE ENEMYS BAIT
YOUR A CHILD OF GOD HIMSELF

DON'T LET YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED
TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYONE
FOCUS ON PLEASING GOD INSTEAD
HE SHOULD BE YOUR NUMBER ONE

DON'T LET SOMEONE RUIN YOUR DAY
WITH THEIR CRUEL WORDS AND LIES
YOU CAN CHASE THE ENEMY AWAY
ALONG WITH ALL OF HIS SPIES

DON'T LET SOMEONES OPINION
WEAR AWAY YOUR SELF ESTEEM
FOR YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN DOMINION
BY GOD HIMSELF SUPREME

DON'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF HEAVEN
OR LET SOME WANNABE KNOW-IT-ALL
SCRIBE YOUR LIFE WITH THEIR POISON PEN
BECAUSE GODS LOVE IS ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL

COPYRIGHT 2008
DEBBY HARRIS

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WOUNDED ON LOVES BATTLEFIELD
DISCARDED LIKE I WAS GARBAGE
KEEPING MY PAIN SO CONCEALED
I BECAME GOOD AT CAMOUFLAGE

EVENTUALLY THE BRUISES FADED
BUT ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE
INSIDE THEY REMAINED BARRICADED
OVER THE YEARS THEY MULTIPLIED

I WAS BUT A PUNCHING BAG
AS A CHILD AND AS A WIFE
EVERY DREAM I HAD HIT A SNAG
VIOLENCE LOOMED LARGER THAN LIFE

WHEN SOMEONE TRIED TO TOUCH MY FACE
I AUTOMATICALLY DUCKED AWAY
EVERY READY JUST IN CASE
LIVING IN CONSTANT FEAR DAY TO DAY

MANY NIGHTS I CRIED MYSELF TO SLEEP
AS A CHILD AND AS A WIFE
CRYING WITHOUT MAKING A PEEP
AFRAID FOR MY VERY LIFE

SCREAM SILENTLY SO THE NEIGHBORS WON'T HEAR
FOR IF THEY DID THERE'D BE HELL TO PAY
RETALIATION WOULD LEAVE MANY SOUVENIRS
RESULTING IN MY DEATH ONE DAY

I WAS TOLD NO ONE COULD LOVE ME
I HEARD IT ENOUGH I BELIEVED IT TOO
I RARELY HEARD ANYONE DISAGREE
THEY SEEMED TO HAVE THE SAME POINT OF VIEW

JESUS, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU EVEN LOVE ME
WHAT DO YOU SEE IN ME THAT OTHERS DID NOT
WHY HAVEN'T YOU TOO ABANDONED ME
HOW CAN YOU LOVE ME WHEN OTHERS WOULD NOT

COPYRIGHT 2008
DEBBY HARRIS

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A FAKE SMILE FROM A COLD HEART
MAY LURE YOU IN IF YOUR NOT SMART
LONLINESS CAN MAKE YOU VULNERABLE
PEOPLE DON'T COME WITH A WARNING LABEL

THEY SEEK YOU OUT LIKE PREY
PUTTING ON SUCH A KIND DISPLAY
YOU SOAK IT UP LIKE A DYING FLOWER
RELINQUISHING YOUR WILLPOWER

FOR AWHILE YOUR HAPPY ONCE MORE
LOVES GIVES YOUR HEART WINGS TO SOAR
ALL GOES WELL FOR QUITE AWHILE
YOUR BLINDED BY THE FALSE SMILE

LITTLE THINGS START TO GO WRONG
YOU SEEM TO HAVE TROUBLE GETTING ALONG
THE MASK IS NOW STARTING TO SLIP AWAY
GLIMPSING THE REAL PERSON ON DISPLAY

LOOKING IN THEIR EYE'S SOMETHING'S AMISS
YOU FIND YOURSELF STARING INTO AN ABYSS
COMING TO THE PAINFUL CONCLUSION
THEIR LOVE WAS JUST AN ILLUSION

THEY HAVE NO LOVING HEART TO GIVE
FROM THE PAINFUL LIFE THEY HAD TO LIVE
TIME HAS HARDENED A HEART THAT WAS WHOLE
AND PAIRED IT WITH A VACANT SOUL

COPYRIGHT 2008
DEBBY HARRIS

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