By Lacey Baker*
In Honor of Megan Johnson

You saw a seed of promise in me
that needed a lot of care.
So you took it upon yourself
a load unnecessary for you to bear.
You reached out to me with laughter,
love, kindness and cheer,
and helped to reach inside of me
and wipe away the fear.
You saw me heading down the wrong path
so you cultivated my heart with conviction.
Even though it caused some pain
you steered me away from my sin addiction.
Then when the dry desert winds began to blow
and my soul seemed to whither away.
You watered my life with encouragement,
sometimes an “I’m praying for you” is all you had to say.

Time went on, the seasons changed and my heart began to thrive.
You fertilized my life with the Word, and the sun began to shine.
I began to grow and develop in the rays of His will
because of that promise you chose to till.
And now here I am budding in the breeze,
unsure of what is up ahead:
a clear sky or some dark stormy seas?
But I know from what you’ve taught me about the power of God’s will,
that I can bloom wherever I’m planted, because I’m planted in the hollow of his hand.

—

Lacey Baker received the 2008 NAC (Nurturing Abilities for Christ) scholarship in the Christian writing category at CE National’s Momentum Youth Conference last summer. The scholarship was given by the Brethren Missionary Herald Company in Winona Lake, Ind. She wrote this poem in honor of a former youth pastor’s wife. To learn more, click here.