untitled poem as prayer for change

I wrote this when I was very frustrated in the aftermath of yet another school shooting. This was the best way for me to deal with my anger and frustration surrounding the event itself, and the response that such events have. So, without bring politics in, I worked through some things I needed to say. 

After the first three lines try to read it with some rhythm, like you are rapping it, I think it makes it flow better.

I'm not afraid to die,
but I certainly don't want to

I don't fear for my kids,
but I love and protect them

My eternity is secure,
yet I'm called in the finite
. . .
A better answer there must be,
but I don't think we'll find it
Without Jesus there's no hope,
I pray that you'll find Him
We constantly hear of rape, murder and mayhem,
we ask how this happened
Now I ask look around you,
our society says that you make your own truth
If that is the truth,
then truth doesn't exist
We get bogged down in politics,
that isn't the way
Love is the answer,
There's no other way
This news that I bring you,
has been all along
For our omnipotent Creator,
embodiment of love
He sent His own Son,
to die for our sins
Now we must surrender,
and begin again
Or this shall continue,
as we draw near the end

Lord Jesus help us,
please show us the light
Your arms are wide open,
with mercy and might
Now help Your church lead,
be Your hands and Your feet
Bring us together,
as we crawl to Your feet
How do we reach to,
the world of the day
How do we help them,
when they run away
They say we are bigots, close-minded or dumb,
as we cling to truth, morality and love
Help us, help us, Lord help us I pray,
For we are sinners and we've gone astray
We're called to declare Your good news, O Lord,
across all of the earth, those near and the far

Help me remember,
help me I pray
To show Your love,
on earth every day
I'll turn off the news,
to not become numb
And I'll pray for Your guidance,
that comes from above
All this I pray,
as I look to Your throne
Help me to spark change,
in the world with Your love

Library adventures

Going anywhere with three girls under 4 around noon is always risky. Today I decided that would be an outstanding time to go to the library to pick out some new book. Well I was definitely wrong. I tried using a leash on Zoey (my 2 year-old), but that didn't help things at all. She laid herself flat on the floor multiple times as she fought to get away from me. As I was checking out our books, it was so bad that two separate library staff members came up to me to ask if they could help me carry anything. I told them no thank you, not out of embarrassment, but more because I really can do it all - though perhaps not if Naomi was also unwilling to walk.

Well, going off of my own desire to make sure that I am representing Christ well everyday, when we got out to the car I asked Naomi if she thought we represented Christ well. She looked sad and said, "No." Then we talked a bit about how the best way she and her sister can represent Christ is to obey, but when they don't I have to show patience and grace.

For the record, I do think I exhibited pretty good patience, but not the best discipline. I did also mention that I deserved every bit of Zoey's behavior (as she was screaming on the floor in the middle of a hissy fit) because I was the same way when I was a kid.