Love Never Fails

True love is not found at glorious, soaring heights,

Extravagant, mouth-watering feasts

Or in meadows of fragrant flowers

It is found in the corners, creases and quiet seconds

Making the mundane a sacred song

It is an oasis in dry desert dunes

Patiently pursuing

Constantly kind

Holding hands

An unquenchable warm heart

Through storms and floods

It never drowns

True love’s light burns brighter in the darkest, tear-drenched nights

Through hardship and hunger, the meager meal delights in love’s garnish

Strength, beauty and splendour often precede, and sometimes surround, love

But they can all exist apart from it,

And love unveils its true beauty when it has to disrobe of these outer glories

For truest love stands, even when the earth shakes and falls.

It always gives, though it scorns to be bought or sold.

It is the singing stream, in the desert of dry bones,

That saves the lost.

It never fails.

© Leesa Briones 2021

This is a poem I finished on Valentine’s day this year when we had a lockdown – what better excuse to share a poem I wrote about how love thrives and shines amid the ordinary and difficult moments. This poem was inspired by my husband, who has been through so much after being admitted to the hospital with crushing back-pain and being diagnosed with cancer. He and I have grown closer through the difficult times. In the hospital he spent a lot of time bed-ridden and I had to bring him food, move him around in a wheelchair and shower him. It made me think about how I had taken the simple things for granted. At that time I thought about a simple dream of being able to walk with him on the beach, holding hands. Thankfully he is able to walk again and his cancer is currently at a low level. Despite his pain he is so considerate every day. Whenever he has the energy he helps around the house and plays with the kids. He always likes to leave the kitchen clean at night so when I get up in the morning, the first thing I see is a clean kitchen! In my opinion the small things, repeated every day can make or break a relationship.

Image credit: coryclayful from Pixabay A silhouette of a couple’s hands with a backdrop of tall grass, a blue sky, and bright sun.

Your Love

Verse 1:

How can it be that you would paint the sky for me?

The whole array of nature lies beneath these sunset skies

And how can it be, that You would give your heart to me?

To these awkward hands You know, just keep on letting go

Bridge:

How can it be, how can there be so much beauty

In one man, the One who set me free?

Chorus:

And the sunset paints my heart like the sky

Is this what it’s like to look into your eyes?

Where Heaven and earth seem to touch

I couldn’t do anything, to escape Your love

Verse 2:

How can it be that You would still forgive me

When I have rejected You a thousand times before?

And how can it be, that You would give Your life for me?

Even dying on the cross, Your arms stretched out to us

(Bridge, Chorus)

I couldn’t do anything bad enough, to run away from Your love

You love me so much

You love me so much

© Leesa Briones 2021

I wrote this song while watching a sunset with my guitar. Sunrise and sunset are my favourite times of the day. It just seems like God has painted the sky, and I feel like I could just soak up the beauty and keep it in my heart.

Image credit: David Mark from Pixabay A man running barefoot where the sky and sea meet in a bright golden orange sunset that is reflecting on the wet sand.

Heaven

Verse 1:

Raindrops fall so pure and true

They melt away and I’m with you, with you in

Sweet golden fields and flowers free

Resting under our own blue sea, blue sea

Chorus:

And wouldn’t it be lovely

To have Heaven

And You with me

Closer than we are

Right now,

All I know of you in my heart and soul

Is a shadow

Of reality

And wouldn’t it be lovely

Verse 2:

Laughing eyes and healing hands

Love that grows and heals our land, heals our land

Say goodbye to all the pain

The tears we cry are in yesterday, yesterday

© Leesa Briones 2021

This is a song I wrote about looking forward to Heaven. And I’m not just looking forward to beautiful scenery. I’m looking forward to meeting my Creator, and never having to say goodbye to loved ones again, and never being lonely. To the whole world being healed and, full of love and peace.

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay A silhouette of a couple standing in a grassy field holding hands, in front of a golden sunrise.

Her Song

She wrote a song, didn’t think much of it

But her melody reached right to my soul

She sang a song

It sounded like Heaven

But she would keep it to herself

She wrote a song

That could heal the whole wide world’s aching hearts

Could put the divas and the rock stars to shame

A song that reached out and called your name

But no-one knew

She kept her song in a lonely place where

She knew she wouldn’t often visit there

She hid her song, and still she hides it

You can see her joy is fading away

She kept her song, through all the years she could have sung it loud

All the times she couldn’t speak her aching heart

Now she’s crying cos she can’t remember quite how it goes

May all the flowers wither up, the leaves turn brown and die

Before these songs of our hearts, can all be kept inside

© Leesa Briones 2021

I wrote this song as a story about someone who had something beautiful to share, and never did, and waited for so long that she forgot. The greatest regrets in life are often from what we don’t do. Not showing love, or trying our best, or sharing the gifts God has given us. I believe God has given everyone something special – a “God spark” inside of them, to share and bless the world with.

Image credit: Sarah Richter from Pixabay A woman wearing a wedding dress, playing piano at the beach, with a soft yellow sunrise on the horizon.

In My Heart

Verse 1:

It’s a lonely day, grey rain grey sky

I look through my window, watch the day passing by

And I think that if I had wings I would fly

Away, far away from here

They say You’re close with me but it feels so far

And sometimes I’m not even sure who You are

And it’s like looking at a shooting star

So beautiful, but it soon disappears

Chorus:

But I know You love me, and You’re always here

Your endless love cuts through my fear

And though You seem far now I know You’re near

Right here in my heart

Verse 2:

Your love I know is always with me

But sometimes I find it hard to see

So I know that faith is the only key

The key, to get me through

I get on my knees and start to pray

And though You, Lord, still seem far away

I can say the words I found hard to say,

“Lord, I love You.’

And I know You love me, and You’re always here

Your endless love cuts through my fear

And though You seem far now I know You’re near

Right here in my heart

Right here in my heart

© Leesa Briones 2021

This is a song that I wrote when I was a teenager. Often I wrote songs when I felt a bit sad or lonely. It’s about how sometimes God can seem far away when we feel alone, but He’s actually really close. He never leaves us.

Image credit: Photo Mix from Pixabay A silhouette of two hands making a heart in front of blue-grey and golden sunrise.