Born full of promise and happiness,
how was I to know that it was only an illusion.
The innocence of childhood is the best of all worlds,
soon I would see that it was all just confusion.
Before I could reach double digits in age,
I sought to hide from another’s rage.
Rush to sleep to avoid the fights,
only to be awoken in a fright.
Abuse, physical and verbal was to be my experience,
in my heart I was to seek my forbearance.
To be beaten was to give way to a new fear,
along with alcohol, guns were brought about in later years.
To please and appease was my goal,
failure would be my woe.
No matter how I tried,
my family would still be capsized.
Into the night my father would be dragged,
out the other door my mother and sister would fly.
It was another family my father would brag,
and out into the street I went again, denied.
Such was many a relationship, no happiness would I find.
Until many years later would success arrive.
I no longer seek the parents I do not need.
In the heart of another I have purchased a deed.
Love and acceptance at last I have found,
yes, in life purchase an ounce receive a pound.
In the Lord I have put my faith,
for in another’s heart He has shown my fame.

Copyright 2013 M D Griffin

For the love of a good woman
a man will do almost anything.
For the love of a good woman
a man will save to give her a ring.
For the love of a good woman
a man will drop to his knees.
For the love of a good woman
a man is eager to please.
For the love of a good woman
a man will pray to the most holy.
For the love of a good woman
a man will engage in childish folly.
For the love of a good woman
a man will be grateful.
For with the love of a good woman
the world seems less hateful.

Copyright 2013 M D Griffin

It has been just over five months. Five months since my wife lost the fight with her illness, actually illnesses if we itemized them all. Do I miss her? More than words can explain. Has it been hard? Yes, spend seventeen years with someone every day and then have them ripped out of your life. You would miss them and miss them greatly. 

The hardest part is spending the years watching the health of my wife deteriorate, knowing that help will only come in the effort to attempt to make her comfortable. Spending all those days trying to be upbeat and supportive while quietly falling apart inside. 

I did and do continue to take comfort in my faith. There was something to be learned. Comfort in that at some point her suffering would be over and she would be in heaven surrounded by joy and peace, free of suffering. As to my learning, patience. Patience in dealing with others who did not understand what we were going through or who were in denial as to the seriousness of the illness we were dealing with. Also I learned patience in God's own time line. We do not know why His time line seems so different from ours but it is. I had things to learn, the biggest being learning to let go. I was selfish at times, not wanting to loose the one person that meant so much to me. I also did not want to be alone. Watching the suffering at the end I realize just how selfish I had been and prayed for her suffering to end. As I watched at the end I saw the look, expression on her face as she saw heaven. After all the pain, confusion, and suffering the look of happiness, the smile on here face was priceless. I thank God for that. 

God is in charge of my life. I give it all to Him. He puts the people in my life He wants there. He has put some special people in my life.