The Rose's Response to the Leaf

 

 

If I were a rose and you a leaf
I’d think myself well graced
For having you beside me
And knowing your embrace.

 

I’d gladly share my beauty,
My fragrance, I’ll be bold,
Grateful for your support
There’s nothing I’d withhold!

 

Most benevolent of companions,
Delightful source of much relief,
Attended by you I’d know pure joy,
If I were a rose and you a leaf.

 

Cherel S. Justice
 Copyright © 2009

 

The Leaf's Declaration to the Rose

 

 

If you were a rose and I a leaf,
My life would be inspired,
And being by your side
Would gratify my heart’s desire.

 

The leaf beholds the beauty,
The leaf inhales the scent,
The leaf enfolds the flower,
What more to be content?

 

Most amiable of companions,
In truth, for me, ‘twould be no grief,
To attend you by the hour,
If you were a rose and I a leaf.

 

Cherel S. Justice

Copyright © 2009

The Value of You

Friendship’s a treasure chest filled to the brim.

Bright golden trinkets provide quite a trim

For jewels that sparkle and call to the eye,

And catch the attention as one passes by.

If one lingers longer and looks past the shine,

One finds that true riches come only with time.

The durable treasure is not to be found

By one passing by, but by one sticking ’round.

Too many take nuggets or just settle for gems.

They see not the treasure that’s buried within.

But I saw true riches were not on the top,

And after a moment decided to stop.

Looking beyond the glitter, I began to discover,

The deeper I searched the more wealth I uncovered.

Ornaments are pretty and plentiful too,

But nothing compares with the value of you.

Cherel S. Justice

1980

Friendships Being Born

True friendships are a wonder.

It’s so hard to comprehend

How two souls meet each other

And make themselves a friend.

Truly, they are mysterious,

New friendships being born,

Somehow, gaining parentage,

Emerging as they form.

New life, full of potential,

Ready to grow and to become,

From the hearts of former strangers,

Something familiar– somehow one!

Cherel S. Justice

Grateful

When I was wounded in my spirit,

Alone and wondering who cared,

Without direction, ever searching,

Needing someone to be there;

Others turned away and left me

Trying to make it on my own,

But you came along beside me

Sharing love I’d never known.

Receiving love revived my spirit,

And I rejoiced to find a friend.

My life will never be the same,

And I’ll be grateful to the end.

Cherel S. Justice

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;

but a wounded spirit who can bear?

Proverbs 18:14

I Will Remember

You've never been so far away

My heart could stand to let you go.

There's never been a single day,

A love for you, I didn't know.

All through the years, I've thought of you

As quite different from the rest.

Someone special, someone dear, and

Always the noblest of the best.

You've been a friend to me in ways

That are not easily explained.

Your life inspired me to improve;

Encouragement brought needed change.

And still today you bless my life

By who you are and what you say.

I will remember– ne'er forget.

So, as a friend, I'm here to stay.

Cherel S. Justice

Use A Friend, Lose A Friend

As you know from my last post, I just finished reading Doing Virtuous Business by Dr. T.R. Malloch. Being a book on business, you wouldn’t expect to find insight on friendship, but that’s just one more benefit I gained from reading the book. And, I’d like to share some of his comments with you.

To give some context for the quotes: Dr. Malloch deals with the benefits of the free market that go beyond the expected. He says, a business man may go into business to meet a need and end up making a lot of money. The profit is the outcome of meeting the need. And so, all capitalistic endeavors don’t start out as get rich schemes, contrary to what critics would say. Dr. Malloch illustrates this principle by discussing the unsought benefits derived from friendship.

“Consider friendship: The person with friends has help in his time of need, consolation in despair, and fellowship in rejoicing. In everything he attempts, he is better off than the friendless person, and all his burdens are more lightly born. But this does not mean that he values his friend merely as a means to achieving his own selfish goals. On the contrary, he values his friend for the particular person he is and without thought of benefit… The person who treats another as a means to his own goals… is not treating the other as a friend. And if you do not treat someone as a friend, he ceases to be one.”

“Friends are useful, so long as you do not make use of them! Treat someone as a friend, value him for what he is, and he will repay your friendship a thousandfold. Treat him as useful, however, and he will soon cease to be so.” 

One might think this would be obvious to all but it isn’t. Some people lose relationships like water off a duck’s back and never understand what happened. If you are having relational difficulties, you might want to ask yourself, “Am I a user?” or "Am I being used?"

Dr. Malloch concludes his thoughts on friendship with, “only the virtuous have true friends.” Much to think about.

Feel free to leave a comment if you have some insight on this topic.

Friends and Family

If you’re thankful for the saints of old
Who walked along the pilgrim road,
Helped make the path, and clear the way
So you could walk it.
Then it’s your turn to do the same,
So your loved ones will trust His name,
As they see you live for Him,
And not just talk it.

 

You can cross over there
If you’ve been faithful.
You can cross over there
If you’ve been true.
And the greatest joys you’ll share
With your Lord over there,
Are friends and family you brought with you.

 

Cherel S. Justice

Sanctuary

No matter what I think,

No matter what I do,

No matter what I feel,

I know that you’ll be true.

You’ve given me your word,

You’ve given me your hand,

You’ve given me your heart,

I know you understand.

A refuge for my thoughts,

A shelter for my soul,

A haven for my life,

You’re all of these, I know.

To Mike from Cherel

Temporary Sanctuary

White Stone Country Inn, Paint Rock, Tn

Oh, my friend, such a pleasant inn,
Source of comfort, warmth and rest,
In your rooms, my heart’s refreshed.

Sheltered in your feathered nest
I am content and long to stay,
But, I know, I must away.

Amidst our earthly days,
An inn is aptly meant to be
A temporary sanctuary.

And that, dear friend, you are to me.

 

Cherel Justice

 

Dedicated to my friend, Betty Rogers.