NOT ENOUGH

MOTIVATON FOR “NOT ENOUGH”


Best friends turn their back on you… Former lovers give you the cold shoulder… Away from home but nobody writes or answers your letters… Does someone point out all your “bad” points but forget about the “good” in you??
When you care about these relationships, it can hurt.

Being away from family, friends and loved ones for any reason can be a devastating experience for anyone. When we learn that those we care most about (and need the most) seem to have forgotten about us, it leaves us in a state of abandonment that is hard to describe.

I know people who haven’t heard from their families or friends in years. Not their parents, not their spouses, not their siblings, children, nor their friends. The loneliness and emptiness that results takes a serous toll on attitude and personality of the individual.

After speaking with many of such unfortunates, I decided to write this poem. Not to be sent to anyone, but to be read and to hopefully give some sense of release to those who can identify. Some people did, however, send these words to those “back home” and found that it did make some difference, suggesting that the right words can sometimes be … ENOUGH.





NOT ENOUGH!!


It seems that some forget about … the things we ought to do
To show we have compassion and love… for friends and family too
Many of us have troubled lives, and folks will surely judge
They formulate “opinions” … from which they are “slow to budge”

Assuming they are above us (from we who have made mistakes)
They say that we’ve already … had far too many breaks
And yes, it’s true …we must confess ... we’ve messed things up before
But is doesn’t help a bit …when in our face they slam the door

The good outweighs the bad sometimes… as often folks have seen
But that is not enough for some … do you know what I mean?
It’s not enough that we were there when no one else would show
That we bent over backwards … to help them out, you know?

It’s not enough that we came through to help them pay the bills
Or to know that they could count on us to help clean up their spills
It’s not enough to know it’s we … who always had their back
Defending them, protecting them, and taking up their slack

Friends … lovers … partners … and family members too
Not all but far too many … forget about the YOU
The part of you that’s good and right … the you who really cares
You who were ready and willing to help … in all of their affairs

The you that that shared some tears with them … the you that shared their joys
The you that helped to baby-sit … their little girls and boys
No! ... we are not saints, by far … but we shouldn’t be ignored
And to keep these thoughts and feelings in … we just cannot afford

So let this be our outlet …here is our feelings put in words
Our “spoken thoughts” for you to hear… (Although you’ve probably heard)
It’s wrong that you won’t speak or write … and you don’t want us to call
Just because (perhaps again) … we’re going through a fall

Ask yourself this question … What’s happened to the love?
The forgiveness and compassion that we get from God above
Where is that “good person” that you like to call yourself?
I guess the love you have for us is put up on the shelf

Please don’t be upset with us … please try to see our pain
We feel the love we have for you … we “cuddle” it in vain…
We’ve made mistakes, we’ve fallen short … we’ve made out own way tough
But it hurts to know that our love for you …is simply "NOT ENOUGH".

We’re sorry you feel that way

By Benjamin Graham

“GET IN SHAPE”
Pg.1

We all have had our problems has we travel through this life
Difficulties, Obstacles, and “Seasons” filled with strife
Challenges will confront us and from that we can’t escape
So if we expect to win for God … we have to “Get in Shape”

Fitness is an attribute we cannot do without
Physically, and mentally and spiritually (no doubt)
We must “exercise” our mind, and body, and or spirit too
To be prepared to fight (as we will surly have to do)

And it might take some work to get that body “looking good”
And all of us won’t do it … but we all know we should
Get out of the house, surprise yourself and jog around the block
And instead of riding all the time, tell yourself to… walk

Do some push-ups, stretch your legs … bend over and touch the floor
Start today with five, or ten … tomorrow do some more
Take some time out everyday to exercise a bit
Get a routine going… and try hard not to quit

Even if you’re old and weak, still it’s not too late
God is more than able … to get your body straight
You may not be slim and trim, from that you might escape
But you must be ready for battle, so you have to Get in Shape

Our thinking muscles weaken too, from lack of exercise
Causing mental deterioration (which we may not realize)
Indiscretions, falling behind, finding it hard to focus
Living the past as if detained by “Hocus-Pocus”

Wondering why we are having problems, things are never right
Having trouble sleeping as we toss and turn all night
Double-minded half the time, straddling the fence
Trying to explain our falling back, making little sense

Thinking things will be alright … (far from being true)
Caught up in the world and doing things we shouldn’t do
The bible says there is no excuse for us to fall behind
When we should be growing daily … by the renewing of the mind

When the devil comes against us, we should STAND and not be moved
And we can if we will study … to show ourselves approved
The bible stimulates the mind, even if you’re slow
It educates our thoughts and helps our “thinking muscles” grow

And when our spirit is weak it’s always hard to make a choice
Because we’re not prepared to hear the “still small voice”
This means we have to exercise and practice how we listen
So we can tell when something’s wrong, or when there’s something miss’in

We must exercise our body and mind, and exercise our spirit
God speaks to us quite often … we must be prepared to hear it
Let’s practice being sensitive as the spirit gives us guide
Let’s not be confused about who lives with us inside

Lets us try to be a little more aware of who we are
We are ambassadors for Christ … (who is never very far)
God gave us the GOOD NEWS, that we must give to others
We are sent out to encourage, our sisters and our brothers

We are messengers with messages for those who may not know
How to be victorious … how faith will help you grow
You need a healthy body, for it takes you place to place
You need a healthy mind… to respond without disgrace

You need a healthy spirit to “discern” what’s best to do
And to filter all the information coming in to you
We are going to have to fight my friends, from that we can’t escape
So if we intend to do our best … we have to GET IN SHAPE

Take care of that “temple” which you’ll need to move around
Prepare for persecution and be ready to abound
Body, mind, and spirit… we must exercise them all
So we can then be ready … whenever GOD should call… AMEN?



By
Benjamin Graham
3-03-10