a winter poem

A Wintry Day in a Pine Grove

I stood alone in woods
Of pine
With head upturned
Toward winter’s sky,
And found refreshment
For my soul
In pine boughs laden
With new-fallen snow.

And stopping there I
Paused to ponder
Nature,
God’s creative wonder.
And thank Him for
The forest green
Amidst the stark, white
Wintry scene.

Walking on, I turned
To see the branches
Waving back at me,
Beckoning,
As if to say, “Come back
Again another day
To laugh and dance
And dream and play.”

- Jackie M. Johnson

Reawakening Your Hopes and Dreams

(Photo credit: Dave Frahm)


Dormant Dreams

Desires and dreams encased in a seed,
Released in the black earth of faith.
Time to let go of what I think I need,
And hold on to the hope of His grace.

Longingly gazing at empty brown dirt,
Can’t make your dreams grow any faster.
For the seed in the soil is dormant, not dead.
Look up, to the face of the Master.

Call out for courage, have patience, have faith!
A mystery’s unveiling, my friend.
For a small, simple seed can yield sunflower gold.
Surely, this isn’t the end.

In the fullness of time, resurrection.
The earth births a tender young shoot.
Nurtured and tended with strong, loving hands
The flower grows deep, solid roots.

And the seedling unfolds to a blossom,
Pure artistry formed in the dark.
In His perfect timing the Harvester brings
Fruition to desires of the heart.

-- Jackie M. Johnson

Pray On!

Let's face it, life can be hard sometimes. But when we pray, things change...people change...we change. I wrote this poem and thought I'd share it with you. It's about many of life's challenges--whether it's a trying season or day-to-day living--and how we need to PRAY anyway. Enjoy! And pray on...

Pray On


When the bills are due, when the pain lingers on,

or the adoption agency is taking too long.


When you’re trying to balance family and work,

or your boss is annoying or simply berserk.


When a prodigal child simply will not come home,

or the debt collectors won’t leave you alone.


When the car wreck leaves you with metal to mend,

or the man that you loved left you for your best friend.


When you feel overwhelmed—always busy and stressed—

or you can’t seem to focus and your house is a mess.


When you’re lonely, depressed, or stuck in your life,

and you wonder if you’re a good person or wife.


When there’s trauma or pain, or just day-to-day living,

or you find that you always do most of the giving.


When you’re pondering daily the life you’ve been dealt,

with finances, job, relationships, health.


When you’re searching for wisdom, or purpose, or faith

some heart healing, joy, simplicity, space.


When there’s less in your wallet and more on your thighs,

and your mind reels with questions, like “What? How? or Why?”


When you don’t understand and you can’t see the way,

You need four simple words: “Lord, teach me to pray.”


Don’t give up, don’t give in, even though strength seems gone,

Just hold on to hope and pray on, friend.

Pray on.



-- Jackie M. Johnson