Sore Tummy

A sore tummy keeps me awake
during a long night
and leaves me, in the morning,
feeling so tired …
and so sorry for myself!

A few hours of pain
and I’m struggling –
I don’t seem to do suffering
well!

And yet there are so many people
for whom
pain and sleepless nights
are simply
a fact of life.
Injuries, mental health,
on-going medical conditions,
cancer.

These people suffer
terribly
and carry a heavy cross of pain
every day,
often uncomplainingly.

People of courage,
people of resilience,
people of forbearance.

Lord,
bless people today
who are battling against pain
and lack of sleep.
Walk with them today
and help them
to carry their cross.
Bless these people of forbearance
with your gifts of healing
and peace.
Give them some relief
from their pain
and lack of sleep
today.

Please??

© Claire Murray, 15 May 2020

As Close as the Air that I Breathe

It’s a Sunday morning
and Paul and I are out
on Kennedy Way
to cut our hedge
before the footpath
fills with pedestrians,
eager to enjoy
this sunny May morning.

Paul cuts the hedge
causing leaves and cuttings
to rain down on the foot path.
It’s my job to sweep them up.

Easier said than done!

A wind blows up,
picking-up my neatly-swept
pile of leaves
and sending them
chasing and cavorting
all the way down the road.

I shake my head
in resignation
but I have to smile –
the leaves and clippings look so happy
as they swirl playfully
in the May wind.

Seeing all of those leaves
blow away from me
makes me stop and think.

That wind is blowing the air –
air that always surrounds me.
I cannot see the air
and yet it is always there.
A bit like My God
whom I cannot see
but who is always there
right beside me
as close as the air
that I breathe.

And in the days to come
and life feels stressful
I remember those leaves
dancing in the wind
and I take comfort from knowing
that My God is with me right now –
as close as the air
that I breathe.

© Claire Murray, 10 May 2020

Storm Ciara

We decide
to spend a week at Malin
on the coast of North Donegal
and we happen to arrive there
on the exact same day
as Storm Ciara.

Inside our wee cottage
we listen
as winds howl
and hailstones rattle
on the roof
and the windows.

Thank God for our turf fire!

During a lull in the storm
we drive to Ballyliffin
where, from a safe distance,
we watch wild Atlantic waves
as they crash and roar
rumbling and tumbling
onto the shore
in a huge expanse
of churning, gleaming
white foam.

The wind picks up again
and it’s time to return
to our car.

Gusting wind
whips strands of my hair
into my blinking eyes
and stings my cheeks
with hailstones and sand.
We pull our hoods up
like Arctic explorers
and lean into the wind.

Paul leads the way.

I can’t see to right
or to left –
I can only see
directly in front of me.
I follow Paul’s steps
exactly.

This is tunnel-vision
and is slightly disorientating
but I know that I am safe
because I’m with Paul –
if I stumble
he will steady me.

Feeling this safe
in Storm Ciara –
imagine!

And yet that’s how I feel
when life’s storms
rage around me.
I always feel
that if I just keep my eyes
fixed on Jesus,
He will see me through,
no matter what
my troubles may be.

It’s not easy, of course,
but, in prayer,
I button up my coat,
put my head down
and follow Jesus.
He always leads me safely
through life’s storms.

© Claire Murray, February 2020

David and Goliath

This morning
I read about David –
a teenage boy
who went to battle Goliath
an armoured, experienced
Philistine war hero
while he, himself,
was armed only
with a slingshot
and five smooth pebbles.

It must have been
like seeing the Karate Kid
preparing to face-up
to the Incredible Hulk!

To everyone’s amazement
David defeated Goliath.

As I picture the scene
in my mind’s eye
I immediately think
of two friends of mine
who do battle every day
with pain –
in one case physical
and in the other case, mental.
Some days
it’s just a dull ache.
Other days
they suffer excruciating pain
or mental anguish.

Pain –
every …
single …
day.

It can feel unbearable,
insurmountable,
hopeless.

It can look as impossible
as David the shepherd boy
facing up to Goliath the Champion.

But what Goliath couldn’t see
was David’s invisible weapon –
his steadfast faith in God.

Lord,
please bless my two friends
this morning
who rise today
to face up to some degree
of pain.

Give them a sense
that you, Almighty God,
are by their side
just as you were
by David’s side.

Give to them
the strength that they need
today.
Renew their faith
and give them hope that,
with you by their side,
they may conquer
their pain.

© Claire Murray