For family it’s not difficult
to say a prayer or two
for wife and all his children with
his church, to name a few.
For calling, speech and talents shown-
and sermons Spirit-led,
we’ll stand inside the gap for him
so all the flock is fed.
But then come desperate moments when
all by himself, he cries
that he’ll not lead us well enough
and sometimes compromise.
We just don’t know the tasks in full
or if this shepherd falls,
since we forget the heaviness
to leaders whom God calls.
Will he do this, should he do that
how would we even know?
when sometimes he's at loss for words
and trouble letting go.
So in those frenzied times and tears
with all his begging pleas,
those are the times to only pray
just for the Pastor’s knees!
(Dedicated to Pastor Schwambach, Bret Nicholson, and all those who serve from the pulpit with all their hearts. You are noticed. Bless you EXTRA!) CookieZeal/M.D.Berry
Author notes
They ain't perfect!
Photo: hazel.forest.net/skjold/photo_pages/praying.htm
To view our church and those for whom this was intended,
click:
www.zchurch.com
Written February 15th, 2002
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 18 of 18
-
You've been Hoodwinked!
I know what you mean. Pastors just get held in such high regard that if they stumble it seems to echo throughout a church. People just forget that pastors are people too and though they were called by God to lead their churches, they're still not perfect. If only more people saw this like you do.
And this poem was excellent, wonderful job capturing this truth.
~M~
-
So much has happened since January when you posted an updated comment to this poem, and so many upgrades to the site, I NEVER saw this comment till now...May 20, 2006!
I'm so glad that we have another reason to say that The Lord Reigns. You are soooooooo welcome to print this and pass it around.I'd be pleased. And you can use both my names as authors.
Love you too..Thank you for your ferver to God's calling!
-
Profound!
Hey Cookie. The prayers are helping so much. We're moving into the light now. It's all around us! May I print this poem and give one to every pastor of every church I might enter, as well as posting it in churches on boards and such for the congregations? I love this? I hate judgement. I fight it on every level, especially for others. You do too, and I've always loved that about you. Another applause on this most enlightening poem. So true, pure, loving and profound! I love you, Girl!--Kel
-
Well if this isn't the truth!! What an awesome write you have penned here,full of love and kindness. It warmed my heart!
-
awesome
I really like A pasor's knee its real good -
I loved it! It gives me a sense of the work that goes into being a pastor. You are a great writer and I look forward to more of your poetry!
-
The neediest are sometimes our most selected leaders. Look at Moses...speech impediment, pulled between two cultures.....and yet God selected him! And Joseph, whose precise Christ-like demeanor was thrown into a pit by his own brothers, eventually becoming the right hand to the Pharoah of Egypt!
How He chooses is not at all as our employers do..right?? lol
Thank you so much for your read and remark. Warmly, CookieZeal -
This is really fabulous! You are so thoughtful and kind. We all do need to pray for our religious leaders, sometimes I think they are the ones who need it the most! This is a lovely write!
Karen 
-
This was very nice. I can see it gracing a well-deserved page in a collection!
I also wanted to stop by, say 'Hi'. Hi.
Having spent a portion of my younger years very wrapped and rapt in the church, and having fellowshipped with many a pastor who is/was as you described, this poem echoed memories I have not touched on in a long, long time.
I applaud your style, your spirit, your talent and most of all your skill. -
Nope... You'd say these are all I have
-
Hmmm. I'll need to rethink that correction and do a sentence diagram. As we wouldn't say,
This are all I have, would we? I know it's followed
by a prepostion of 'flock', which again is a collective
noun using a singular verb.
will it go 'round in circles..lol -
This is a beautiful poem. So often, people will remember to pray for family and friends, but not for those who lead us who need that extra support. I hope you were able to share this with your pastor!
~~~~~
Oh, and one nit-picky thing I just gotta point out: Your line, "so all the flock is fed" should read "so all the flock are fed" as 'all' is plural. Think of it as this. Would you say "all have eaten" or "all has eaten". Ok, that's my English lesson for the day.
~~~~~
Thanks for sharing this beautiful write. Though I'm not Christian, I could relate to your words and appreciate what you have written! -
oh this is great! i love the thought. i guess when i pray for my family, friends and church, i never really thought how much my pastor really needs my prayers too. thanks for bringing this to my attention! how stupid i feel!
-
Oh, my GOSH!! I've wondered so long about you. I'm glad you posted this. I will be praying..promise! Im me anytime!
-
I was led here!
Goodness! I was told to read poetry and write, and think on a positive level. I was led here, and I have no doubt about that. My husband is a Pastor, and he fell hard, then I fell hard. Not enough prayer, but plenty of judgment, harsh to say the least. We're separated right now, with restraining order against him in place, and I'm living with my son, Miah right now, and trying to regroup, from being an emotional and physical wreck. I can't and won't go back until he own his mistakes, as I'm owning mine. Alcohol and violence are never the answer for handling incredible stress. I love him so much, but he's got to get back to his faith, and we, both, could use so much prayer! He has no judgement from me, but he's got issues to deal with, including court and sentencing, etc. Pray they go easy on him, because I love him and just want him to be well. When there's no alcohol involved, he is the most incredible, compassionate, loving human being I know. He just fell. We, both did, when I adopted the "If you can't beat them, join them." Bad advice! Never works. Just need plenty of prayer right now for mercy and healing.-- I've missed you so much! Love to you always!--Kel (Kvwriter) -
Excellent, Wise
As Vickie so wisely pointed out, we should be praying for our church leaders as well as our national leaders; for that is exactly what the Bible instructs. This is beautifully written, Diane, and I add my prayers right along with yours!
Lots of love and hugs, B♥nnieQ 
-
A Spiritual Reminder
Dearest Dianne
What a divine gesture of obedience: praying for the pastor. Prayer is where God works, and you verbalized the need of the intense spiritual soul in a beautifully written poem. The "pastor's knees" let me think of the old Church masters, Lüther and Calvyn, especially the latter. Bleeding knees, passionate pleas. INTENSELY DIVINE.
You are His beloved messenger, my friend.
Love
Myra
-
This was wonderful, Diane. I will go and click the link so that I can see your church. You know we need to always pray not only for the leaders of our country, but for the leaders of our churches. You wonder who they go to for counseling or a shoulder to cry on (besides the Father, of course).
Your writing always leaves me going "aw..."-such a treat to read anything by you. Bless you!!!
Adding your comment:
1 - 18 of 18
