Trials

I wrote this poem for a very dear friend. I hope it helps in some small way.

Trials

It's hard to understand right now

The trials that you face

You wonder what transpired

To lead you to this place

You ponder shoulds and might have beens

The what-if's and if-onlys

Sometimes surrounded by a crowd

You still feel awfully lonely

"I'm not sure if I can take this, Lord."

You say as you're down on your knees

"Please give me the courage and strength to go on."

You send up to Heaven your pleas

And then you hear a whisper

So gently it wisdom imparts

A tender and loving prompting

That speaks to your troubled heart

"My child, I'm right here beside you

I'll never leave you alone

I know your trials and struggles

I've taken them on as my own."

"The road ahead may be rocky

Filled with bumps along the way

But dearest child, I'm ever near

I hear you when you pray."

"I know the prayers that fill your heart

When it feels like you can't go on

My Comforter I'll send to you

He'll help you to hold on."

"I love you more than words can say

I ache each time you cry

My heart is overflowing

My Spirit ever nigh."

"This time will not last forever

Though right now that may not seem true

Still, in due time all will be well

'Til then I'll carry you."

As quickly as it came

The gentle whisper departs

Leaving in its place a sense

Of peace and calm in your heart

He wants to have you understand

You are loved beyond compare

A precious soul He did create

A Royal and Heavenly heir

So lean upon His promises

They'll help to see you through

Reach out to Him with prayer and hope

He's reaching out to you

Melinda Durrant - June 2011

The Struggle

It’s tough I know to grow up right now

There’s temptation everywhere you look

It seems so harmless and risk-free

You don’t realize that is the hook

That drags you under before you know-

You’re fighting for your life

It seems to hold you tight until

You’re filled with confusion and strife

You wonder if the choices you’ve made

Have any chance of being forgiven

You wonder if you have the strength

To change and keep striving for Heaven

The stumbling blocks in your path right now

Seem to rise up and bar your way

But, those stumbling blocks turn to stepping stones

When you take time to sincerely pray

There is no choice that you can make

That will ever lessen His love

He only seeks to lead you back

To your Heavenly home, above

So keep on trying to resist

The temptations that mark your road

Remember  our Father has promised you

That he’ll not give you too heavy a load

We all will fall, and fail, and sin

Mistakes are a part of the test

But repentance and forgiveness will

Help give us a hope for the best

So, if you try and if you fall

Don’t give up, just keep fighting on

Keep reaching for the Iron Rod

That will lead you safely on

Avoid the mists of darkness

That would tempt you to stray from the path

Don’t look at the spacious building

Where the wicked will mock and laugh

Instead let your hand firmly grasp

The Rod with all your might

Focus on the Eternal rewards

You will earn at the end of this fight

Think ahead to the future beyond what you see

Beyond the haze of the world as it is

Don’t let a few stolen moments of fleeting bliss

Threaten the joy of being eternally His

Sometimes it will be lonely

You’ll wonder if there is only you

But rest assured that there are more

Who are watching out for you

On Earth right now and beyond the Veil

There are people who really care

People who will try their best

To help you to make it There

There to your Heavenly Father

There with a family so dear

There where our own Elder Brother

Will greet us and beckon us near

This life is a test, and a tough one at that

So keep the Enemy far, far away

Seek only the ones who enlighten your life

Seek the ones who will help on the way

You are worth so much more than you may ever know

You are worth all He suffered for you

Your life is of value far greater than gold

Far greater – if you only knew

For you have a royal birthright

Given before your mortal life began

A noble and special calling

That will help fulfill His Plan

Don’t give it all up because you’re feeling some doubts

Do not let the Adversary succeed

Hold fast to the Truths you’ve been taught in your youth

Hold fast I most earnestly plead

 Call out to Him when you feel lost and afraid

When you feel that you’d like to give up

He’ll send the Comforter as a help

Who will lift and buoy you up.

 Spend time on your knees and in studying His words

Fill your mind with worthy things

And you will know the lasting joy

That a well-lived life will bring.

-Melinda Durrant

June 2011

Another year ends...

Here is a poem that I wrote for my staff this year. 

Our lives are full of changes

That’s what we’ve all been told

And when we’re faced with those changes

We must choose to be timid or bold

When facing the challenges ‘round us

We must choose to advance or retreat

We must resolve to battle onward

Or choose to accept our defeat

And though some battles may seem to be hopeless

When we are facing them day after day

There is always the hope we can conquer

When we forge right into the fray

So - carry on through the challenges we’re facing

With courage and compassion to spare

Encourage our students and guide them

Let them know just how much that you care

Face each day with the knowledge

That your positive impact will be

Felt longer than you can imagine

With each of the people you meet

  Melinda L. Durrant

          May 26, 2011

Thank you for all that you do to help our school. I hope that you have a wonderful summer.

Reposting poems

I thought I'd try to make the poems a little more user friendly, so I made each of the poems I had in my longest posting into their own separate post. I hope it helps.

Warrior of Truth

Warrior of Truth
(based on D&C 27)

Serving the Lord is a noble call
A warrior of Truth standing so tall

Having your “loins girt about with truth”
And a “breastplate of righteousness” formed in your youth

Your feet you have “shod with the gospel of peace”
You’ve a “shield of faith” you must never release

Along with a “helmet of salvation”, you raise
The “sword of my Spirit” to conquer each day

The Comforter’s presence will always be near
Even in times of trial, heartache, or fear

As you earnestly teach, taking a stand
 You’ll seek out His children upon this new land

Your “armor” is whole and tempered by Love
As you faithfully serve your Father, above

You know the Truth, you’ve heard the Lord’s call
Go, serve him with Honor, and give Him your all

By- Melinda L. Durrant
March 22, 2005

Homecoming

Homecoming


You left
And when you left
I wondered – why?
Why me?
Why now?
Why, when I need you so much are you gone?

I wondered – how?
How could this happen?
How can I let go?
How can I go on?

And then I heard
Or maybe felt
A quiet voice saying,
“My daughter,
I am happy here.
I am doing the Lord’s work.
Don’t sorrow!
Rejoice for my happiness.

Oh, daughter
If only…
If only I could lift the veil and show you –
Show you life’s purposes,
Show you how short this minute of life really is
You would not sorrow then
You would rejoice
We will meet again my precious daughter
And then there shall be joy!”

Softly and gently,
Another voice whispered,
“Oh my dear child
I know your loss is great


Remember – my Son died also
But He died to gain life
Eternal Life
I wish I could show you all
But this life is a great test
If I told you
You would not learn and grow

Remember also –
I will not try you beyond your means
Smile my child and go on, ever higher
On to perfection
You will meet again!”

Now,
No longer do I ponder the
How’s?
And the
Why’s? –
But what He would have me do
Here and now
Progress is slow
Slow and sometimes hard
But the final result is worth the fight

So,
I’ll rejoice for you
Rejoice for your happiness
Though at first it may seem impossible
I’ll do what I must and someday
Someday!
I’ll be back
Prepare my mansion, Father –
I’m coming Home!

- Melinda L. Durrant

Dawn

Dawn
(Original)

At night when darkness falls
And shadows seem so near
Reach upward to the Heavens
To One who’s always near

He knows your hopes, your fears, your dreams
He knows the pain you bear
He wants you to reach out to Him
Look up, He’s always there

He’ll hold you when you tremble
Send His angels ‘round about
To buoy you up and help you
Of His love there is no doubt

He mourns with every loss you feel
Weeps each time you cry
As He holds and hears and loves
His Comforter is nearby

Each night the darkness fades away
Into a new tomorrow
Each dawn becomes a brand new day
Bringing hope instead of sorrow

Hold close to those who love you
Cling to them with all your might
These family ties that bind us
Help us upward to His light

For families are Eternal
Joined with sacred ties that seal
Generation to generation
In a never ending wheel

- Melinda L. Durrant