Rhyme & Reason - a reason to rhyme

 Many moons ago, late teen years, 'Youth group' leader, now passed, An elder in my church, then, His cancer, took him, fast. Good friend to eldest brother, Knew ALL our fam-il-y,  One day before my birthday, Those Heaven's Gates, he'd see. Unbeknownst to me, years earlier, My parents, he had told, "Your Colin has the 'Gift of Helps' He'd seen that gift unfold. Our church choir, I had joined it At seventeen years old, Didn't know what part I'd sing there, "Sound like a bass", was told. So when I'd joined the church choir, Sat 'tween two men, one blind, Th'other, he'd suffered a Stroke, In middle, you'd, me, find. Back then, I still had seizures, Though role, with them, I took, Of caring for those members, Like opening hymn book. The blind guy, I would lead in, Remind which hymn, was due, Th'other, hymn book open, T'whatever hymn was due. Aft' career in caring over, It came eas'ly to me, I STILL see ...

 "A diamond is just a piece of coal, that            did well under pressure" People often grumble About, how they were raised, Perhaps they may do something grand, End up, not being praised. They may have had to struggle long And sore, to make ends meet, While coveting their neighbour who  Could relax more, raised feet. These same folk, admire jewelry, Without full story known, The work, of how the gems 'became' To make that stone that's glowin' With some great fete accomplished,  A piece of common coal Becomes a precious jewel, That end game, is its goal. So when in life you struggle, While others 'breeze right through' Just think about that "jewel" That's being made, through you. "A diamond is just a piece of coal, that               did well under pressure"

As youngest in the family, A dozen, halved, - all boys, We learned to share together, Both clothing, also toys. Bought good, so 'twould last longer, With solely, one wage earned, My father's mother stayed at home, So that is how he learned. Alas these days, all vestments,  Once, made to last, don't now, A few times on the body, The seams open, somehow. The stitching, loose or broken, Some holes appear, too soon, Some folk know nought 'bout sewing, So garments, gone, like balloon. Just recently, with a friend, A pair of shoes, on sole, Some glue or stitches missing, Beginning of a hole. Some power glue, happened to have, So asked him for the shoe, Restuck the sole to leather, Will do, a year or two. Richard's (Fergus Place) shoe.

One fruit I LOVE for sust'nance, Is long and curved, starts, green. Then changes to a yellow  When, ripe for eating, seen. Acquaintances, I do have, Who, 'when-one' black mark, on skin, Is seen on their banana,  Will throw into the bin. I know this person's mother,  A older gal, retired, So I made a comparison  To make my point desired. Told her, some folk get 'age marks' When older, they become, Though doesn't mean their useless Still have a heart, and some. So when those 'marked' bananas Were ready for her trash, Kept them for me, for eating, It sure saved me, some cash.

As the youngest sibling All six of us dear boys, Many 'hand-me-downs' received  From clothes, and even toys. When last three, with our parents, A country drive, would go, The two above me, they did get  A seat by the window. So I was stuck in middle, I wasn't giv'n a choice, I yearned to b'able to have one, But couldn't, my say, voice. So 'piggy in the middle' For aye, it seemed, was I, Even at home, on sofa,  To complain, dare not I. Now older, with more 'say so' I actually prefer  The mid seat, car or sofa, A sense of safety, there. Encased between two others,  Protection, all around, Shielded by those bodies, 'Security', there, found.

Since youngest son of six, I am, An uncle, at age nine, I  recall many times, my folk Had 'baby sitting' time. The eldest nephew, had toy dog, A 'comforter' for he, His 'Wowie',  with him everywhere, Wherever he would be. Out visiting grandparents With his dear Mum and dad, 'Wowie' would go with him, Thankfully, t'was a fad. As years went by, the 'wowie' To pieces, fell apart, 'Til only one ear, lasting, Still held it, close to heart. So "part of wowie" kept him, Subdued, happy and calm, Something, he could hold to, It eased his sense of qualm. In life, we have a "Comforter" Beside us every hour, Christ, sent to us, THE "Comforter" To us, He is strong tower. Can depend on Him fully, He'll always have your end, With inner voice, call to him, HE's your dependable friend.