Shadowed Forests of the Past

A place I left behind when “Hope was born anew…
Bad old, dark places…
Places where my life no longer dwells…
Looking back upon the past…
That wasting, dark, drear past…
Come words from a long ago
Where my soul no longer cowers.

A place of wrenching loneliness
always on the edge of light,
waiting to drag me back…
back into it's embrace….
I just kept trying to hold on,
trying to hold out for love;

But, every day that passed without it,
Loneliness lurked to overwhelm.
And, darker still, monsters lurked…
Monsters lurked at every… every turn…
Soul shattering dramas spun out
in relentless perversions of hope.

Until that pivotal moment…
that time when change began…
Change began and Hope was born…
Hope born anew within my breast.
In that Hope, on angel’s breath…
An angel-friend led me forward.

She led me through the dark
and back to light and Faith.
I learned the true Me…
the truest Me I was meant to be
And learning Me, I learned Love.
Learning Love, I learned to love.

It's a truly blessed state…
In brilliant shining sunlight…
A place of laughter and love and joy…
Such have I found for myself…
After the long, dark road through tortured,
Shadowed forests of the past.

by D. Denise Dianaty
©19 September 2014

My True Friend

“Without her, the sister of my heart, I’d never have become the person with whom my husband fell in love… I’d never have this NOW.

"

My True Friend

When others saw what they wanted me to be…

My true friend saw who I desired to see.

My true friend held up a mirror…

Showed the deeper me did endure.

When love seemed far beyond my reach…

My true friend did stop to teach

How love would grow from love within,

Not outward signs nor raucous din.

When love within seemed hard to find…

My true friend always was kind,

Loyal and true, a guide undaunted…

Though by doubt t’was I haunted.

With oft gentle reflection…

And sometimes annoyed intercession…

My true friend taught me to grow,

Refused to let me be laid low.

My decisions tho’ oft confusing,

Never turned my friend’s inducing…

Led me ever to deeper understanding…

The seeds of worth t’was planting.

Much frolic and laughter shared…

My true friend always cared

To make me whole and complete.

T’was the first I knew without deceit.

A bond and spiritual kinship…

Taught to me true friendship.

My true friend, the sister of my heart…

Even distance cannot part.

A beacon’s light I ever see…

My true friend will always be

She who taught me myself to love,

And opened my life to blessings above.

This poem is dedicated to Diane, sister of my heart and devoted godmother to my son. These words are too small to adequately express the blessing she has been on my life.

By D. Denise Dianaty

©23 August 2014

Pick up your own copy of my first book of poetry, entitled My Life In Poetry at D. Denise Dianaty

Be A Friend To Make A Friend

"Be a friend to make a friend” ~by D. Denise Dianaty
Friendship Devotional Philosophies

Image from
BibleEncyclopedia.com

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” 

– NIV Romans 12:12-13

We’ve all felt the exclusion of our peers, as kids (and, sadly, as adults) and seen our “friends” look away or even join in our exclusion not to be themselves excluded. We may even have done the same. But, what a stunning memory is that friend who takes our part, stands with us, facing down that risk of being excluded themselves. Shares a kind word, lifts us up, and reminds us that there is joy and hope in the world for us too. This is when we begin to understand true friendship. 

– NIV Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope ...”

Other times, when life seems to be an ever burdening weight, a friend will commiserate with you, share their own burdens with you and try to help you carry yours. We learn our understanding of friendship and the fulfillment we receive from it in knowing that we are not alone in our suffering. We are lifted out of our misery little by little by the love and compassion of friends, and by learning to look outside ourselves to uplift those around us with our own love and compassion. We learn that we are stronger and together. 

– NIV Romans 12:12, “... patient in affliction ...”

Then, the simple act of prayer, of knowing someone is dedicated to our needs and lifts us up in prayer gives us hope and strength. And praying for others, lightens our own hearts and teaches us that, sometimes, a still and listening heart will lift us up and create bonds that last a lifetime. 

– NIV Romans 12:12, “... faithful in prayer.”

What greater act of friendship is there than to have a friend stand shoulder to shoulder, without expectation, to help us in our need? What more telling reflection of Christian example could we possible exhibit than to be that friend who steps up? 

– NIV Romans 12:13, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need ...”

Perhaps the most personal act of friendship we can exhibit is to invite someone into our homes. It’s such an intimate act of trust between friends. To be invited into a person’s home is an invitation into their lives. To reciprocate is an acknowledgment of that person’s friendship. Inviting someone into our home is taking down those walls we all build to protect ourselves from the hurts of this world. The simple act of hospitality is an act of trust, of belief in the better nature we want to see in humanity. 

– NIV Romans 12:13, “Practice hospitality.”

Finally, together, we are stronger and in that strength, we can do more and share more of the love of Christ with all the world. What greater expression of our friends and our friendships than that we support each other and work together to do good in the world.

– Hebrews 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

I put this together a long time ago. I’ve lost track of what my inspiration and sources were, other than the noted scriptures. These are just some observations and philosophies on friendship I chose to share.

D. Denise Dianaty
© 07 June 2015

Pick up your own copy of my first book of poetry, entitled My Life In Poetry at D. Denise Dianaty

Poem: "Monsters"

Original Pen & Ink drawing/painting, by D. Denise Dianaty

Monsters, monsters everywhere…

Mother monster too wounded to care…

Monster peers so vile…

Kindred monsters, secrets keeping…

Hounding, pounding, clutching, tearing…

Monster peers catching you out of sight…

Ripping cloth, clutching you and dragging…

To hateful, vile purpose.

Kindred monsters, can’t be trusted…

Touching, whispering loathsome words…

Hidden moments, scarring the soul…

Keep the secret or worse will come.

Belts swing, bruises rise black and purple…

Cutting deep, whipping, lashing switches…

Monster Mother played out her rage…

Her wounded soul striped ‘pon her babes.

I wasn’t becoming the monster I hated…

I was falling… falling… falling…

Down a black, endless chasm…

Toward complete self obliteration.

Until a new friend, sister of my heart…

Walked me out of the darkness…

Picked me up, egged me on…

Wouldn’t let me stop ’til we embraced the light!

by D. Denise Dianaty

© 21 August 2014

Dedicated to Diane, the best Christian example I could have known. The Lord used her to draw me back to Him. In His infinite Grace, He made her the sister of my heart. Through Him, she led me out of pain and darkness, and wouldn't let me stop, refused to leave me behind. Because of her, I became the person my husband grew to love… the person who learned to be loved.

Pick up your own copy of my first book of poetry, entitled My Life In Poetry at D. Denise Dianaty