Welcome to my tab!
At the age of 70, I became a photographer and a writer, without any formal training – what a coincidence! Or is it? I am learning that some so-called coincidences in life aren’t coincidences at all.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Therein lies the answer: It is the Lord directing my paths.
One path led me to “Friends Needing Friends” and eventually to the Apple Store where I bought an iPad. I took the iPad to a FNF meeting and used it to take a couple pictures, which led to becoming the FNF photographer.
Another path led me to become a volunteer at a United Methodist Home, which involves facilitating a senior writing group; that has inspired me to write my memoirs, as part of my legacy, and also several short stories about the little things in my life that are meaningful to me, or simply a pleasant memory. So, now I’m a writer!
I have discovered that writing can be extremely therapeutic. Whether it’s anecdotes to share with others or journaling for your own benefit, it is an outlet for your innermost feelings. I encourage you to give it a try; you’ll be surprised by how many stories are stored in your memory bank – what a wonderful part of your legacy they will be IF you record them.
Here is a sample of the type of story I enjoy writing and sharing. It’s called….
A Very Special Date
Shortly after becoming a widow, I was invited on a date with a very handsome gentleman in celebration of my birthday. I was hesitant, but I could not resist. He wouldn’t tell me where we were going – he wanted it to be a surprise.
When the day arrived, I leisurely dressed for the unknown event. I wanted to look nice for my date. It brought back such fond memories of when I was dating my husband during our courting days many, many years ago.
When I answered the door that evening, there he stood, as handsome as ever, holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers. How thoughtful of him. He smiled, gently kissed my check and said “Happy Birthday.” I fought back the bittersweet tears as I located a vase and quickly arranged the bouquet.
We drove to a very nice restaurant where we shared a delightful dinner. When the meal ended, he looked at his watch, “We better leave now in case traffic is heavy. We don’t want to be late.” Late for what, I wondered.
He headed north and crossed the bridge to Philadelphia. At last we arrived at our destination the Mann Music Center featuring a performance by the River Dancers. How exciting!
It was fascinating to watch the precision and energy of the dancers. It was almost contagious. We walked about during intermission; he was attentive to my every need. When the show ended, I held his arm as we walked back to the car. Conversation never waned as he drove me home.
It was a very special date with a very special gentleman. As he was leaving my apartment, I hugged him tightly as I said, “Thank you, Honey. I had a wonderful time.”
“You’re welcome, Happy birthday, Mom, I love you.”
EndNote:
It was definitely one of the best days of my life and made even sweeter by the fact that it was my daughter-in-law’s idea. I am very blessed.Thank you Doug and Jen. I love you both dearly!
May16, 2022, was the 22nd anniversary of George’s passing. Grieving the loss of a husband can be a very slow journey and on a very rough road, especially in the beginning—two steps forward/three steps back; three steps forward/two steps back. And so it goes. But healing does come, and the road smooths out eventually. Plus, you start to recognize milestones along the way. In the meantime, I have learned how to live and laugh once again, hopefully in ways that please my LORD, because without HIM, I would not be living a wholesome life. My latest milestone had taken 22 years to achieve. It inspired the following poem.
The Milestone His side of the bed…
the left; My side…on the right.
We’d talk a while to share our day,
Then doze off through the night.
Maybe in the morning,
I’ll turn and he’ll be there,
Lying right beside me,
Without a want or care.
Once again I’m disappointed;
There’s still an empty spot.
Regardless, I will face each day,
Whether I want to—or not.
But this morning, it was different,
No left or right—instead, My 22-year journey took me,
To the middle of the bed.
~Diana E. Clark ©May 2022
(I wonder if I hold the record for that milestone—almost 23 years to move 18 inches.)
All poems on this page: Copyright 2002 Diana E. Clark - All rights reserved.
Please
If you want to help me through my grief,
There's something you can do:
Please talk about my dear one
And what he meant to you.
I want to hear your memories
And store them in my heart.
It keeps him with us even though,
For now, we are apart.
It's okay to laugh and share the tales-
He would do the same.
My heart stirs and warms each time
You share and speak his name.
You Never Know
For whatever reason,
It wasn't meant to be,
To share more years together,
Growing old with me.
All the trees he planted,
I thought he'd see them grow
Along with our grandchildren.
Boy--you never know.
Thank God my love was ready;
He knew the Lord so well.
Even in his suffering,
About his Lord he'd tell
All our friends and family.
"It's okay," he'd say,
"I know where I'm going.
Meet me there someday."
Do you know our Savior?
Do you know the way
To forgiveness and salvation...?
'Cause you never know the day.
~Diana Clark
"Simply Put" collection (c) 2002
"Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found (claiming Him by necessity and by right); call upon Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:5
"Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) me. John 14:6
"But of that (exact) day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Watch, therefore (give strict attention, be cautious and active), for you do not know in what kind of a day (whether a near or remote one) your Lord is coming.
Matthew 24:, 36,42
After the Storm
Acknowledge the storm
That ripped through your life,
Tore open your heart,
And filled it with strife.
It happened to you,
This you cannot deny,
Then hear God's response
To your desperate cry,
"Trust Me."
Accept all the changes,
Don't grope for the past,
Cherish the memories
But move forward at last.
It happened to you,
It's okay to ask why,
Then hear His response
To your heartbroken cry,
"Trust Me."
Adjust to the difference,
You must yield to the flow;
At times you'll be frightened
By things you don't know.
It happened to you,
But press on--you must try,
Then hear His response
To your struggling cry,
"Trust Me."
Endure those times when
Your prayers are a groan;
The journey is hard
But not yours alone.
Consider your loved ones,
It's their plight too -
A twofold heartbreak,
For they care about you.
Yes, it happened to them,
It goes beyond "my..."
Then hear His response
To each one's cry,
"Trust Me."
His grace is sufficient,
His promises, true.
It's not about me.
It's not about you.
It's about God the Father,
His glory, His plan
For eternal salvation
Through Christ, Son of Man.
It happened to Jesus,
He suffered too,
But He chose to trust Him-
What about you?
"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
(Read: Psalm 71:1, Matthew 26:39, Romans 8:26-28, 2 Corinthians 12:9)
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With permission by: Diana Eileen Clark from her booklet
"Simply Put ~ Inspirational Poems of Hope as You Journey Through the Valley"
