She hath wings

Learning to soar above life's storms

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I have enjoyed writing poetry since childhood and I am hoping to find a wider audience on my blog, sharing the hope that I have and connecting with others.

    Little Signposts

    I have been doing a lot of thinking the last day or so, after learning that a close relative on my mother’s side had passed away. It came as a complete shock, and our family had been looking forward to seeing her towards the end of the month,  but it wasn’t to be.

    This dear soul has been through so many health issues over the years, defying the odds and keeping a positive, gentle attitude. She quietly influenced her children, never looking for fanfare. I never once heard her raise her voice, even when in disagreement, she kept calm. She possessed a wealth of knowledge but she saw it as her duty to equip people rather than control their ultimate decision making.

    For much of my life I have wanted to leave a giant-sized legacy that the world would recognise. I didn’t see any point in anything less. It was a rather arrogant viewpoint- the notion that worldly recognition would secure my sense of self. It led to a constant feeling of inferiority. It even infected my parenting; I was never good enough unless my ability  measured up to certain people I admired.

    Losing my in-laws – quiet, unassuming people, who didn’t want public praise, yet managed to raise several kind-hearted children who knew how to band together in crisis and grow in wisdom, made me start to see things differently. Their lives left little signposts to follow- clear, well-lit places where myself and others could receive clear guidance for life. It was the same with Mum’s relative who died this week. She spent her life equipping and serving others, and in so doing, she left the world a better place and left a very big gaping hole which enables me to feel the loss of her ever more acutely than if she had been famous.

    I’m sure I will write on this topic again, as I find new-found freedom in being one of the quiet ones to pass through this journey of life, but for now, may I encourage you to value the little things you do to make the lives of others shine brighter. There is only one sun, and the  rest of us are like the  other little stars in the galaxy. Only a few of us will ever stand out- the rest of us help to light the night sky together, each with an important role. Keep leaving those little sign-posts for others, knowing that you have and you are making an incredible difference.

    ©️ M.Patterson 10.7.26

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    3 responses to “Little Signposts”

    1. Prog2Goal Avatar
      Prog2Goal

      The amount of loss you’re feeling is commensurate to the love she spread. That’s as beautiful a testament that anyone could aspire to. I’m sorry for your loss.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Mez Avatar
        Mez

        Thankyou so much. It was hard living at opposite ends of the freeway but I’m glad for all the times we shared as families together and the many memories. My heart goes out to her immediate family- I hope we can be a great support in times to come.

        Liked by 1 person

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    2. Lawrence Morra Avatar
      Lawrence Morra

      Excellent perspective here about purpose and what truly is important during the very short human lifespan in this material flesh passage we all experience; which got me thinking and focused on what I’ve been contemplating about quite a lot lately! I must quote you!

      “For much of my life I have wanted to leave a giant-sized legacy that the world would recognise. I didn’t see any point in anything less. It was a rather arrogant viewpoint- the notion that worldly recognition would secure my sense of self. It led to a constant feeling of inferiority. It even infected my parenting; I was never good enough unless my ability measured up to certain people I admired.”

      I was immediately drawn to these thoughts and words of yours, as I have reflected on this specific idea of wanting recognition and to measure up to some people I admired over the years especially in my youth. I now see how those things or desires were a false worldly mirage of purpose and importance.

      The wisdom has come to me over time thank God in Jesus’ name to help me see the truth and know it was so much better to have been on my more humble or ‘humbling path’ than any fancy highfalutin worldly trajectory! I thought back to a time when I was working as a very young guy on a motion picture project and got to have a conversation with a huge mega star actor whom I always admired since I was a boy. It was an amazing blessing how I even got to be there so involved to begin with when I was traveling through, but though that connection I made had other major potential connections readily available for the asking I ultimately didn’t pursue any of it; and I know now I was blessed to see enough to know that worldly praise, success or adulation by the masses could be much more detrimental to my existence than I had realized when more young and naive.

      My mother had me memorize the following Scriptural proverb back then before I journeyed off into the big wide open road of seeking fame and fortune in Hollywood, or can we say actually “the crooked ways of the world.” Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” It is such a wonderful thing to trust in God with all our hearts as individuals and allow Him to direct our paths! I didn’t always just do that and got some lumps along the way that could have even been total disaster, but I was given graces to wake up, learn even from mistakes I made and then move on with that greater singularity of purpose; to humble myself to God, to know and love Him!

      I can say this following Scripture so greatly applies to my own life that I see clearly now with time and gained wisdom could have been so much worse and perhaps a massive disaster if I had followed my own volition and not believed how that Proverb from God was best to guide my decisions! Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

      Because I do see clearly now in retrospect that these following Scriptures are so prevalent and pertinent in today’s fast paced materialistic and tempting world!

      Matthew 7:13 “Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the road is spacious that leads to destruction, and many people are entering by it.”

      Matthew 16:25-27 “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.”

      Amen.

      Liked by 2 people

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