CHAPTER 1
PILLOW KNOWS BEST
Pillow,
Are you really God?
Are you one of His angels?
I think it might be so.
When I hold you close and tell you my heart,
I feel as though my God is listening.
Within your folds I feel safe and secure,
Almost as if another were here.
I think and I talk and I empty my soul
To a case filled with feathers and foam.
I snuggle with dreams of what will be
As my heart travels far and begins to roam.
If God so chose, He could be my pillow!
Of this I have no doubt.
For God is God and can be what He chooses.
He does the impossible, which makes all things possible!
And to Him, nothing is unknown.
So tell me, dear pillow,
Are you God in disguise?
With all of your wisdoms and consoling ways,
As you comfort without arms
And listen without ears,
I sense you are God and have been all these years!
Whichever it is, whomever you are,
I thank you, my friend and/or God!
For through storms of night
And sunshine of morn,
While others have wandered,
Beside me you've stayed.
My comforter, my friend, my God!
As your pillow, I've listened and learned from you much
Through the sharing of tears,
Through the sharing of fears,
And even in sleep through your dreams.
The moments of wonderment in silence of night,
Alone and armless I hold you tight,
Simply a pillow of feathers and foam.
The blessings of wisdoms roam.
You matter to many yet question your meaning.
The ways you walk and the lives you touch
Are godly and filling to others who seek.
Yet you fail to see even a peek
Of the goodness you give and the love you share
Simply by showing others you care.
I offer these words for you to see
The ways that God has made you to be
As His tool for good and sharing of love,
Sent from the One who leads from above.
I know you will worry. It is who you are.
I know that your faith will continue to lead.
As you walk through the days before you,
Look up to the heavens when feeling weak,
Trusting His will and asking for strength
To again step onward and bless those who seek.
A new day will dawn.
Fresh beginnings are born
With the sunrise of skies,
And smiles adorning.
Your pillow believes in you;
You should too!
You are loved ... go touch the world.
Oh, my friend who shares my space,
I hear your heart, and I see your face.
If I could tell you what I see,
Perhaps you would feel differently.
I do not sense you feel your worth
As you sort your thoughts,
And you share old wounds,
Repeated time and time again
In echo of days gone by.
If your heart is full of love and flowing
More and more without you knowing,
What you feel will find the sun,
And freedom again to walk not run.
The wisdom gained will serve you well
In the path ahead and feeding of souls,
Shining brightly for those who watch,
Even though you do not see.
You do not know how you are used
Through every breath, through every smile,
Through every touch you matter much,
Through what you do and how you live
For peace of heart comes as you give.
I lie here with you, your pillow of thoughts.
Holding your head, I will never let go
For too many people have walked away
In earlier days as they searched their way.
In journeys of self they did not stay.
It is their loss, or so I say.
As your pillow of night I hear your soul
As it speaks of dreams and visions.
You are precious, my child,
With so much to give
And so much to live.
Doubt not; do not settle.
A heart so pure, a brain so bright,
So little to fear in the dark of night.
Walk on, my child, with soul alive.
Steps now slower, yet with great stride
As you glide through life in pride.
Look on in faith and hope and knowing,
And steer your path toward peace
For you, my child, are a gift from above.
A gift to many, a gift of love.
With purpose and passion, your feet are set free.
With heart wide open, your eyes can see.
The future holds much as your life unfolds.
Step forth in strength; go ahead and be bold.
Believe you will.
Know that you can.
Expect it is so, and be that friend.
For love awaits and goodness soars.
Step out, my friend, and open those doors.
You are not things told in the past.
You are now free ... finally ... alas.
I hear her thoughts and catch her tears
As they flow in wait and wonder.
They said they would call, but never did.
Too busy with life; therefore, in sadness she slumbers.
She asked them to visit; sorry, no time.
She asked to go there; we won't be home.
She loves that they smile in the busyness of life.
She wants them joyful; in solo she slumbers.
She looks at the photos and imagines the hugs.
She watches the videos and giggles within.
She chooses to focus on blessings received.
She and her pillow hug in slumber.
Life is short and meant to be lived.
Love is deep and meant to give.
The day is done, lights going out,
Prayers sent to those out and about.
"Dear Father in heaven, please join them wherever.
Deliver my love to their hearts.
Give them a squeeze in hopes they remember
They are special and loved in the distance."
Days have passed, and they need her no more.
Moved on, being parents to their own.
Memories remain of days long gone,
Of story time readings and tuck in prayers,
Of food for the hungry and homes for the homeless,
Of moms for the orphans and shelter for the strays.
"Remember those days, Mr. Pillow?" she asks of me in the dark.
"Remember their talks to avoid going to sleep?
Tis now my turn to talk with you solo,
As I pray for my Loves and my Littles.
It's you and I, Pillow, and I thank you so much,
For holding me tight and hugging my limbs,
In the cradle of your lumps and bumps.
Good night, dear Pillow,
Sleep well, my friend.
If in dark of night I join God in the heavens,
I will tell him of the years of tears and giggles.
The times you have held me and discussions we've shared.
I will offer my thanks that you've always cared."
Powerful it is to touch another-
A child, a stranger, sometimes a brother,
Sometimes just listening,
Sometimes by giving,
The power of influence is huge.
Hand to hand and heart to heart,
It takes only one person to start.
Then one becomes two, and two become three.
The love flowing great as the sea!
The world so large with differences many,
Yet small and so much alike,
Travel afar, and see who you meet.
Bend as with God, and wash their feet.
The smiles will grow.
You'll see faces you know.
Differences seen,
But eyes...
