by Pat Severin

The forecast says, a chance of rain, initially, I groan,
“We must forego the morning walk, we’re faced with staying home.”
But then I stop, I hear God’s voice, “How else will flowers grow?”
“Forgive me, Lord, I thoughtlessly, thought of myself, I know.”

And isn’t that the way we are, neglect the bigger picture?
We oft complain because we think we’re God’s important fixture.
We think the world revolves ‘round us, and likewise God should do
Whatever we may want from Him and have since our debut.

Remember what the first folks did, though told they should abstain?
He told them that, “This garden’s yours, but from one tree refrain.”
Yet tempted, they believed that the tree was one that they should have
And so they ate it foolishly, and that’s how it began.

We humans think that since our God is there to hear each prayer
We think He’s there to take requests, with our entitled air.
It’s time that we accept He’s not our personal magician.
But rather He will always hear all of our petitions.

This world that we all occupy is His and not our playground.
Its beauty’s rare, beyond compare, but we are not just Earthbound.
Though we are loved with God’s whole heart, it isn’t our possession.
Our lives are lived for Him who died because of our transgressions.

This world He made, He let’s use, remember it’s a gift.
So maybe if you think on this, your mind can make the shift
To understanding what God meant by giving us this treasure.
For rain or shine, He says, “You’re mine. I’ll love you all forever.”

Pat Severin is a retired Christian school teacher who serves her Lord in many ways. These have included school, church and teen ministries and her current personal ministry of creating cards that include her original poems of encouragement. These she sends out weekly to those going through difficult life struggles.

In addition to her Christian poetry contributions to the Agape Review, she has been published in the Clay Jar Review, Thewayback2ourselves, and Pure in Heart Stories, which feature Christian poetry and stories for children. She has been published in many of the Southern Arizona Press Anthologies, in the book called I Chose You: Imperfectly Perfect Rescue Dogs and their Humans and will be featured in the upcoming book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons I Learned from My Dog. Pat is a member of SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book writers and Illustrators.