I LOVE BEING..... 

I love being a daughter of the Heavenly Father,

Being loved and cherished like no other.

Worth far above rubies His Word says I am,

All because He sacrificed His Precious Lamb.

I love being a woman of His Creation,

Living for Him and His Reputation.

Meditating on His Word that is noble and true,

Transformed this female and made her anew.

I love being a lady of God,

No matter what circumstances through which I trod.

There is so much freedon found in His Ways,

I pray to be His daughter for the rest of my days.

I love being the mother of Anna,

Because of her I have tasted Heaven's Manna.

A Daughter of Zion I pray she will continue to be,

Because I know that my God loves her as much as He loves me.

                      Sharon Beale

                         12/6/01

     I am doing a Nature Journal with my son for science this coming fall.  I knew that I had a sketch book in my bedside table, so I went looking for it.  I found it this morning.  It did have a pencil sketch of a sunrise at the beach in Avon, North Carolina.  The very next entry was this poem.  I had forgotten about it, and I thought I would share it with my friends.

     It was written before my daughter's trial and tribulation (of which she is still in-even though she doesn't think so).  My heart really does long for her return to the LORD!  I know that if I feel this strongly about her return--God Himself feels it unmeasureably more. 

     I believe when Anna does return to the LORD, she will be a young or an old (depending on the timing of her return) woman with a message to other young woman that will totally glorify God! 

     I do hope and pray everyday for her return--the role of the mother of a prodical is a very painful and often times lonely road to trod.  My child is never out of my mind or heart.  Oh, I may joke about her folly and her foolish decisions, but that is only to hide the massive gaping laceration that my mother's heart has acquired during this trial.  I know that I am not the only mother to have walked this road, but the sad thing is-even though others are walking with me--I don't see them.  I don't hear them.  I don't feel them.  Maybe because my senses are dulled from too much pain.  It is like unknowingly eating a very hot pepper in a bite of plain ol' macaroni and cheese.  It takes you totally by surprise and all you can think of is ridding your mouth of this burning taste.  You know that there are other flavors of pasta and cheese, but you only can taste and feel the effects of this wayward pepper.  So, you run about trying to find some milk to soothe this pain--all the while not seeing others handing you glasses filled with possible relief. 

     My heart goes out to all those who are walking this possibly very long bending rocky road.  My only "glass of relief" is to offer prayer and scripture.  Only GOD truly knows the pain that you feel, so only HE can soothe and heal your heartache.  So, just keeping walking, one step at a time, in faith, on this difficult and lonely road.  Someday, one way or the other there will be an end to this journey. 

            May God be with you and your prodical child.......