Writing can be a great therapeutic tool, especially when things are confusing and/or overwhelming. I have found that many different forms of writing can be helpful; journaling my thoughts and feelings, writing my prayers to God, writing a letter to a longtime friend, or writing a letter I’ll never send. One other writing form that may be long forgotten from elementary school is poetry.
Remember learning how to write a limerick or Haiku? Maybe yes, maybe no, but putting words to rhyme and rhythm can be fun, creative and take one’s mind off of the seemingly hopeless problem in front of you. Here is a sample poem to show that it doesn’t have to be as clever as that of Dr. Seuss or as moving as an Edgar Allen Poe. It’s for your own enjoyment, catharsis and inspiration. And you never know, a poem you write could bring hope to someone else if you share it with them. Or it can just be kept for a rainy day to lift your own spirits and chase the blues away!
Finding Hope
When life is hard as it often might be
Take a break with the Lord instead of TV
Pour your heart out to Him
Read His Word to find hope
And pray that He’ll give you the power to cope.
After taking some time to be quiet before Him
Rise up where you are
Trust The Bright Morning Star
He will lead and will guide as you go through the day
You’ll have faith to believe that you’ll be okay.
For time has a way of changing what is
Holding on is the key, if you wait you will see.
For our God is above and around us each day
Bringing light in the darkness
And making a way
To weather the storms of this life as it is
Knowing what is to come is much better than this!
By: Francine Costanza, LCPC
