Always There

In this fast-paced world

Where everything changes

You never do

In this world of abandonment

When people walk away

You never will

Your character is constant

Your support unfailing

And your love never ending

If I am on top of the world

You are with me

Celebrating along with me

If I am on my knees

Broken and bruised

You will come alongside me

Even when I walked away

And tried to hide from you

You came and found e

No matter where I am

You are always with me

Encouraging me along

Jo Anne Kennedy

October 2018

Inside Out

You know me inside out

You know my every move

And every word I will say

Before I even do!

You know all my flaws

And my weaknesses

You know all my failures

And all the mistakes I have made

Yet you still love me

Your love is great

It transcends everything

Including my worried heart

When I hand onto my failures

And my shortcomings

I am doubting you

And betraying you

When I criticise myself

And beat myself up

I am showing a lack of trust

In the absolute power of your grace

Living inside of me

And putting my thoughts first

Is keeping me back

From loving others

Carrying all my mistakes

Around inside my head

Stops me from receiving

All that you have to give me

Please help me to stop

The debilitating self-criticism

And help me turn to you

For true freedom

Jo Anne Kennedy

September 2018

You Were There

When I was bullied

You were there

When I was hurt

You were there

When I was rejected

You were there

When I walked away

You were still there

During heartache

You were there

In unemployment

You always provided

In health issues

You were there

Keeping me going

Making me strong

When people walked away

You stayed

You have been a constant

In my life

When I was ungrateful

You were there

You forgave me

And helped me through

You were always there

Even when I didn’t deserve you

For that, I am truly thankful

Thanks for showing me the way

Jo Anne Kennedy

August 2018 

Hold On

Hold on to God

He always helps

He is always there

He cares deeply

Just need to know Him

And trust Him completely

When in despair, call on Him

He always answers

He is always by your side

He rescues us

And celebrates who we are

We are His children

J Kennedy

August 2018

Hurting

Right now

I am hurting

I don’t know why

I just am

I feel lost

I feel confused

All my bones ache

And it’s a wrestle inside

My heart and my head

Are fighting each other

Saying one thing

And then another

So many thoughts

No clear way

What to do?

What to believe?

Life is a journey

One day at a time

Plod on each day

Clinging to the truth

Acknowledge the truth

Step out in faith

Just keep going

Rest in the truth

Jo Anne Kennedy

August 2018

Clear Direction

I am a bit confused

Not sure what to do

Or what to think

I was listening to you

And I thought you told me

To take some time

But now I am not so sure

As my heart says that is wrong

But my head says go

I know I need time

Just to be with you

And collect my thoughts

But I am not too sure

What that really looks like

Please show me clearly

Please give me an idea

And show me the direction

In which you would like me to go

Jo Anne Kennedy

August 2018

Sing Out Loud

Sing Out Loud

I want to serve

To write hymns of praise

To say thanks to you

But I can’t do that

I am not a hymn writer

So all I can do is sing

However, I can’t sing

I haven’t a tune in me

But that doesn’t stop me

I sing my wee heart out

I know I am out of tune

But that doesn’t bother you

You are just happy

That in my heart

I am praising you

Jo Anne Kennedy

August 2018

Burned Out

I am burned out

Can’t take any more

I am just exhausted

My body aches

My soul feels empty

And my heart is heavy

I need time to breathe

To take stock of life

And rest myself

I am not broken

I am not in despair

I just have a few cracks

I know my heart

Will become less heavy

As I have faith

I know my soul

Will be filled with joy

As I sit and reflect

Life does take its toil

But it’s important to remember

That setbacks occur

And normality resumes

Once we adjust our perspectives

And start to see more clearly

Jo Anne Kennedy

August 2018

Created

I was created out of nothing

But made into something

I am who I am

Because of the one who created me

And every day things change

But also things stay the same

The daisies always grow

And the sun always shines

Everything in time becomes better

With a touch of love

The flowers grow brighter

And nature flourishes

Not only does nature sing

But we also thrive

And with every new day

We become more beautiful

In the eye of the creator

We are his masterpiece

His work of art on display

For the whole world to see

And doesn’t he smile

When we accept who we are

And begin to grow

To be the person he designed

Jo Anne Kennedy

August 2018

Thank You

I want to thank you

For being there for me

For supporting me

In times of trial

Thank you for your understanding

Thanks for your kindness

And for helping me

Through the tough times

You are strong and loyal

Ever quiet but wise

Standing up for the weak

And helping us through life

So thanks for being you

For doing what you do

I am glad that I have you

To be in my corner

Jo Anne Kennedy

August 2018

Peace

I long for peace

Inside myself

To feel like I am whole

And not torn in two

I long for peace

In the world in which I live

For families to love

And not tear each other apart

I long for peace

In my own country

For sides to come together

And leave the past behind

I long for peace

But not sure how to get it

Where does it come from?

And how does it heal?

The good news is,

That peace is within us

We just need to believe

And it will come to us

Peace can be achieved

If we look within

And realise that this life

Is about more than us

J Kennedy

August 2018

Not Alone

You gave me the ability

And an imagination

To take me to places new

Inside my head

In the darkness

I can turn on the light

And there I will be

Standing in illumination

In the brokenness

I can take the glue

So I can patch together

The lost bits of life

In the loneliness

I can go to places

Where I have been before

And smile at the memories

I can also go to places

Never before seen

Where I am not alone

Because you are always with me

Jo Anne Kennedy

August 2018 

Grace

Who are we?

What are we?

What is our identity?

By God, we are saved

In Him, we are raised

By his side we sit

He has gifted us

He has equipped us

And by Him, we are commissioned

Through this grace

We can say goodbye

To all earthly condemnation

So goodbye to all the lies

That people tell us we are

And all the lies we tell ourselves

Goodbye to the words we hear

Stupid, unproductive, quitter etc

And hello to the words of God

To Him, we are spiritually alive

And heavenly positioned

We are His honoured children

By His grace, we have been forgiven

By His grace, we have been made new

And by His grace, we are now His.

J Kennedy

August 2018

Time to Grow

I need a break

I need time

To shower my head

And restore my soul

I feel suffocated

Not allowed to grow

Being told no

In being able to serve

It’s not for you to decide

What is best for me?

I am held in the hands

Of one who is bigger than you

He’s bigger than me

He decides my future

He is the one who,

I should be listening to

Please give me space

To breathe and grow

Help me to grow

Do not stunt my growth

Let me flourish

Let me serve

Be a friend who helps

And not an enemy who restricts

Jo Anne Kennedy

August 2018

A Reality

I just want to be married

I want to have kids

I want a perfect husband

These are the wishes

Of many a teenage girl

But are they always a reality?

Being married will sort everything

Having a husband to love

Will make me content?

These are the thoughts

Of many a woman

But is it a reality?

A man will make me whole

Life will be perfect

And I’ll never be alone

These are the thoughts

Of many a female

But are they are a reality?

Jo Anne Kennedy

July 2018

The Perfect Man

You don’t ignore us

Don’t look down on us

Or condemn us

You talk to us

Not because of who we are

Or what we have done

You come alongside us

Because of who you are

And what you have done

We could have had five husbands

And five failed marriages

But you do not judge

You understand our hearts

And our deepest longings

And you offer yourself to us

You will not disappoint us

Nor will you abuse us

But you will love us unconditionally

Jo Anne Kennedy

July 2018

Here With Me

So I feel so alone

When I hear a voice

Telling me I am not alone

He is here with me

He says to me

If you want to walk

Take a walk with me

For you are not alone

If you want to rest

Then rest with me

Because you are not alone

For I am here with you

Jo Anne Kennedy

July 2018

Sunday Morning

Sunday Morning

It’s a struggle every time

Do I go or do I stay in bed?

If the answer is go

Then that brings up more questions

At the door, I panic

I am alone and it’s a struggle

Who is there to sit beside me?

Or do I sit on my own?

Then when it is all over

And the questions arise

Do I go for coffee?

Or do I just go home?

If I stay

Who will I talk to?

Where do I sit?

I just feel so alone again

How is it that in a full place

I feel so so lonely

Struggling with anxiety

And wanting to run away

July 2018

Jo Anne Kennedy 

You

You sit there all jittery

Constantly looking around

As if you were in hiding

I tried to avoid you

But it wasn’t easy

Cos you were always watching

I didn’t talk to you

But you took it upon yourself

To chastise me in front of others

What is your problem with me?

What have I done to deserve this?

You always seem out to get me

You really do not like me

And I am not sure why

I so wish I did

You really hurt me

With your cutting words

But that's probably your aim

Jo Anne Kennedy

July 2018

Grow and Flourish

Lord, I am frustrated

I want to flourish

I want to grow

I want to serve

But its difficult

As there are no opportunities

To help me do this

And no one to grow with

My growth is stunted

By people’s attitudes

And pre-conceived ideas

That I am not able or capable

My growth is stunted

By people who fill seats

But do nothing else

To help others grow

We need to come together

To help people grow

We need to change our ways

To help people flourish

We need to leave the past behind

And focus on today

And get up off the seat

And into the street

Go out and be with others

Try to bring people in

So that there will be opportunities

To help us all grow

Jo Anne Kennedy

July 2018

Staring Back at Each Other

As we drive along

We stop and look

At the beauty of you

You look back at us

Watching us closely

While chewing the cud

As I sit and watch

I start to wonder

What is going through your mind?

Do you think?

Who are these creatures?

Staring back at you?

Do you think?

What is that weird metal thing?

Getting in your way?

You are probably just thinking

You weird people

Just go and leave me alone!

Jo Anne Kennedy

May 2018

Come to Drink

We come together

At the watering hole

To have a drink

And a splash

Here is you and me

And ma and da

Enjoying the sun

And having a rest

It has been a hard morning

Trudging through the grass

Looking for some water

Amidst the dry ground

But here we are at last

Some water for us to drink

To quench our thirst

And clean our dusty feed

Jo Anne Kennedy

May 2018

Wild Dogs

I was tired

So I stayed in bed

And you went on

And while I saw

The back of my eyelids

You saw the dogs which were wild

Playing in the water

Splashing around

Annoying the zebras

Trying to protect their young

But all the dogs wanted to do

Was have a bit of fun

Jo Anne Kennedy

May 2018

Expectations

Do I expect too much?

Do I care too much?

Do I think too much?

Is it hard to pick up the phone?

To send a text or make a call

And say how are you today?

You know my number

You know me as well

Yet you still don’t care

Am I really that person?

That when I am out of sight

I am out of minds as well

Does it really matter?

In this grand scheme of life

I am just one tiny particle

There is more to life than me

There is you and there is them

And we all make the world turn

Jo Anne Kennedy

April 2018

Complicated Minds

Minds are complicated

Hearts are too

Filled with thoughts

Filled with feelings

Thoughts which are random

Thoughts that are true

And I tend to overthink

Which makes my brain ache

Feelings of hurt and love

Of weird and wonderful things

But the heart is precious

And can easily break in two

My mouth says one thing

And my mind another

Then the heart gets involved

And everything is a jumble

Jo Anne Kennedy

April 2018

Pushing Away

What is wrong with me?

Every time someone gets close

I push them away

I think I must be scared

Of them walking away

So instead I give them a push

I don’t want to do that

And I don’t even realise

That I am doing it

I am just like everyone else

In that, I want to be loved

And to be a friend

But it just seems to happen

That one day they disappear

And it’s not their fault

It’s me that is the problem

I make them go

And that makes me sad

Jo Anne Kennedy

May 2018

Beautiful

I look into the mirror

And say I am ugly

Then I hear your voice

Saying you are beautiful to me

I may think I am nothing

But you made me something

You gave me my days

To be who you made me

A person with creativity

Someone to shine for you

Though I don’t feel I can

So you give me the strength

You are there when I wander

In the dark and lonely woods

Taking my hand

Leading me back

Back to an understanding

That I am not ugly

But made in your image

I am beautiful

Jo Anne Kennedy

May 2018

Space

Too much space

Scares me

As it gives me time

To think

Thinking too much

Isn’t good for me

As it takes me

To places, I should not go

Empty places

Full of dark and gloom

Which makes me sad

And question who I am

Jo Anne Kennedy

May 2018

Co-dependency

You are a rescuer

You sweep down on people

In their hour of need

You surround them daily

Offering your services

And giving them advice

You think it is healthy

And that you are important

And being helpful

But it actually causes problems

Because your co-dependency

Makes others dependant on you

It brings hurt to them

And also to others

As it shows favouritism

And that is not healthy

It is actually distracting

To those around you

It causes people to talk

And gossip behind your back

As you love some and ignore others

The behaviour is unhealthy

For you and for them

As it causes divides in the ranks

Take a step back

And look at the chaos

And the lives you have turned upside down

Jo Anne Kennedy

April 2018

Open or Closed?

You open yourself up

Leave yourself vulnerable

When you are honest

And wear your heart on your sleeve

But that’s the type of person

That people feel they can trust

Because when you are open

It makes them feel safe

It’s the people who are closed

That are the ones to avoid

Because they put up a wall

And won’t let you inside

They say they are safe

But their words are cold

And their eyes distant

Which should be a warning

They never talk about themselves

But always speak of others

Of their rights and wrongs

And how they could change

That’s not a positive thing

So it’s important to choose

Who will be in your life

And who will be on the outside

It’s also important to choose

Which one you will be

The gossiping critical person

Or the person full of love

Jo Anne Kennedy

April 2018

Church

The Bible doesn’t promise us

A safe church

Full of safe honest people

Instead, we are told

That it’s full of wolves

As well as of sheep

Everyone is human

No one is perfect

We are all affected by sin

In the church, we can find

Tremendous healing

As well as tremendous hurt

But we need to realise,

That the church isn’t perfect

It’s full of people just like you and me

Jo Anne Kennedy

April 2018

A Safe Church

The church should be safe

A place to be you

To ask for help

When feeling down and out

It should be a place

To worship God freely

Without criticisms

Or feel you are being judged

It should be a place

You go with happiness

And not somewhere

You end up in tears

The church should be safe

But that’s not always the case

Cos those who are in the church

Are just humans like you

Humans who are broken

Sinners like us all

No one is perfect

Not even us Christians

Christians should be safe

But that’s not always the case

Cos like everybody else

We can still cause hurt and pain

That may sadden you

But it is the truth

Because we are only human

And openly make mistakes

The church isn’t everything

Christians aren’t perfect

But the one sure thing

Is that Jesus is safe

Jo Anne Kennedy

April 2018

Walk Away

Each time I walk away

You came knocking

Every time I let go

You come closer

If I say no

You don’t listen

But if I say yes

You turn away

You are like a tap

You turn hot and cold

You leave me confused

With my head in a spin

I don’t understand you

And don’t think I ever will

I want to say goodbye

Will you please let me go?

Now when I walk away

Please just walk the other way

Jo Anne Kennedy

April 2018