Joy Comes in the Morning

Psalm 30:1-5 (ESV)

Joy Comes with the Morning

A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up

and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 

O Lord my God,  I cried to you for help,

and you have healed me, O Lord,

You have brought up my soul from Sheol;

You restored me to life 

from among those who go down to the pit

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,

and give thanks to his holy name. 

For his anger is but for a moment, 

and his favor is for a lifetime

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning.

The poem below is what came to my mind

when I was watching the storm clouds gather as it started raining.

Some days, I allow things that are of no real 

concern to consume my mind.

With that same thought process - 

I know that God hears our pleas

He hears the broken hearted

He hears the heaviness we carry

God will always want to give us Joy.

God always gives me the words and once I put them down

I am always uplifted and encouraged. 

I hope you feel the same after reading.

Today the sky is gloomy, dark and grey

no happy invitation to come out and play. 

Clouds of grey, blue and white

The brightly shining sun hidden from sight.

Puddles gather here and there on the ground

Finding my inner child, I begin sloshing and splashing around.

A slight drizzle falls from the sky into my eyes as it pours down

I look up, embracing the cleansing freshness that erases my frown.

I notice the newly budding flowers soaking up the moisture in their leaves,

Ready to show us the splendor of what their deep drinking will achieve.

I see Robins and wrens playing in their own small puddles

Reminding me of the joy we are all seeking to find amidst our troubles.

Dark skies will come to us one and all, the darkness, especially the gloom.

Then, after a period spent in the squall and storm, sunshine will resume.

So, on the days when you're not able to embrace the storm that is all around,

Quietly instead embrace the quiet reflection of the lessons sure to abound.

Wait for the sunshine days ahead that will quickly chase the gloom away

Pack away your melancholy, dark thoughts - don't allow them to stay.

Approach your days with a full expectation towards feeling love and joy

Train your mind to see the positive side, to know the gloom comes only to toy.

Step toward a brighter future knowing that you will survive this gloom

Knowing the darkness will not forever stay, step aside and give it room.

Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning

Reach up and keep his promise close, you will strongly rise from your mourning.

Dark skies are here today, for now, there is no other way

Joy comes in the morning, thus we know it's true and soon it will always stay.

Be blessed and know that you will pass through

 English Standard Version

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

God promises he will protect and carry you safely!

©DarleneBl 2026

 

 

 

Finding Your Blessings

FINDING YOUR BLESSINGS

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT ACTIVELY SEEKING YOUR BLESSINGS?

AS A CHILD IN SUNDAY SCHOOL, YOU MIGHT HAVE SUNG THIS SONG:

"COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, NAME THEM ONE BY ONE..."

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT BLESSINGS LATELY.

THANKSGIVING IS USUALLY WHEN WE DO THIS 

BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT DAILY REMEMBERING 

WHAT YOU ARE BLESSED WITH.....

BEING GRATEFUL FOR EVERY MOMENT.

THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVEN'T EXACTLY BEEN THE EASIEST.

SITUATIONS THAT I NEVER EXPECTED CAME AT ME HARD.

LOSING PEOPLE THAT I NEVER KNEW WERE GOING TO BE GONE 

BEFORE I WAS READY TO SAY GOODBYE. FRIENDSHIPS THAT CHANGED AND DISSOLVED. LOVED ONES THAT WERE IMPORTANT. 

LOSING THESE ARE ALWAYS HARD ON THE HEART, AND TAKE TIME TO HEAL FROM. TIME TO REGROUP. TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AGAIN.

LIFE CHANGING WHEN I REALLY JUST WANTED TIME TO STAND STILL.

ALSO KNOWING THAT GOING BACKWARDS WAS NOT AN OPTION!

SADLY, OUR HOME OF 15 YEARS HAS HAD IT'S OWN SHARE OF TRIALS AS WELL.

HAVING DISCUSSIONS AND HAVING TO MAKE DECISIONS TO REPAIR OR MOVE ON.

I REALIZED THAT IT WAS WHEN I HAD STARTED TO FEEL THE DISCONTENT CREEP IN.

ALLOWING THAT DISCONTENTMENT TO GROW WAS NOT A GOOD THING!

DISCONTENTMENT WILL DEFINITELY MOVE OUT ALL THOUGHTS OF THE BLESSINGS!

WHEN WE MOVED BACK TO COLORADO IN 2002,

WE SEARCHED AND SEARCHED FOR THE 'PERFECT' HOUSE.

EVENTUALLY THOUGH, YOU HAVE TO BE CONTENT WITH 'ALMOST PERFECT'

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK DECISION.

EVERYTHING ON YOUR 'WANT' LIST WILL NOT ALWAYS BE MET.

IN THE THE LAST 15 YEARS THOUGH, OUR HOME HAS CHANGED - 

EITHER FROM OUR WORK APPLIED OR FROM JUST AGE IN GENERAL.

THE MANY TREES WE LOVED CAME TO THE END OF THEIR CYCLES AND HAD TO BE REMOVED.  IT CHANGED THE DYNAMICS OF WHY OUR YARD WAS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL PARK.  WE HAVE MANY MEMORIES OF TIMES WHEN OTHERS ENJOYED OUR HOME AS WELL.

I THINK THAT IS WHEN IT ALL STARTED TO CHANGE FOR ME.

FINDING YOUR BLESSINGS ISN'T ALWAYS EASY AND SOMETIMES THAT DISCONTENT SNEAKS UP ON YOU.

SOMETIMES YOU NO LONGER SEE THE BEAUTY IN THE CLOUDS

SOMETIMES THE TRIALS SEEM TO OUTWEIGH THE JEWELS.

THE OTHER NIGHT I REALIZED THAT NOW I CAN SEE THE STARS - THERE ARE SO MANY! ITS QUIET, CALM AND SO VERY BEAUTIFUL

BUT I HAD TO LOOK UP TO FIND THEM!

I HAD TO STOP LOOKING AT WHAT ALL WAS WRONG AND START SEEKING MY BLESSINGS! 

THINKING ABOUT BLESSINGS - SOMETIMES THOSE COME AFTER HARD WORK

WHAT ABOUT THE DIAMOND? WITHOUT HEAT AND PRESSURE -A DIAMOND 

WOULDN'T FORM. 

IN LIFE - WITHOUT HEAT AND A WHOLE LOT OF PRESSURE - 

WOULD WE REALLY GROW? WOULD WE REALLY REMEMBER ALL OUR BLESSINGS?

TODAY I WAS REMINDED THAT THE BLESSINGS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT BUT BLESSINGS THEY ARE ALL THE SAME!

SO, AS BID YOU ADIEU 

I HOPE YOU WILL ACTIVELY SEEK YOUR OWN BLESSINGS

THEY REALLY WILL CHANGE YOUR HEART! THEY MIGHT EVEN CHANGE A DARK CLOUD INTO A BRILLIANTLY FILLED STARLIT NIGHT!!

Saying Goodbye

Goodbyes are never easy - they just aren't.

Whether it is a goodbye to a traveling friend, a relationship and especially to a loved one.

Memories flood your mind - and also a little regret.

Regret that you didn't spend the time you should have with this person.

Regret that you didn't tell them often enough how dear they were to you.

Regret that you didn't have more time together.

Memories also bring joy.

Joy for the times that you DID spend together.

Joy for the love that you knew you both shared.

Joy for knowing this person will still live on in your heart.

Memories bring comfort.

Comfort for the chance to have know this special person.

Comfort that if they are no longer in pain, that you are grateful.

Comfort that you have special memories to keep in your heart.

Memories bring resolution.

Resolution to make each day special - no matter what may come.

Resolution to always be the best you can be - no matter who may shoot you down.

Resolution to hold on to the good times - no matter what bad times may arrive.

I've had many goodbyes in my half of a century life.

I've also had quite a few times that the goodbye wasn't an option.

It takes time to be okay with the goodbye never said.

It takes time to mourn a loss of a life here with us on earth.

Although some goodbyes are never granted,

When you have a special moment to speak your love, your memories,

your joy in the knowing

Those are the goodbyes that really touch the heart.

You leave with a peace that is not easily explained

You are able to smile when you might just cry

You know that you'll carry the memory with you -

a certain kind of joy.

I had such a goodbye recently.

It was oh so very special -

saying goodbye.

This Poem was written for a man who

didn't have to be my dad -

because he was a very special 'extra' dad to me.

He didn't have to love me -

but he did and I am forever grateful that he did!

The Dad He Didn’t Need to Be

Pop, Dad, Friend – it’s really not in the name you see…

It’s in the loving kindness that he always gave to me.

As a teen, He took me into his heart

Adopted me as another daughter – I always had a special part.

He always understood how to truly see me

He was always the dad he didn’t need to be.

The calls out of the blue – to check on his other daughter

To let me know that his love, even all these years had yet to falter.

The conversations about what I had been up to, and the same for him

The prayers I knew he always spoke for me, and I for him.

I cherish the love he poured out to me,

I cherish the man, the dad he didn’t need to be.

Pop, you’re a precious jewel of my heart

My love for you, as your adopted daughter shall never depart!

When The Past Calls

My past didn't actually call yesterday - 

it came knocking in a text.

I say 'the past' because it's been 2 years since I've seen this 

'friend'.

It was a long time friendship that was full of drama -

and the toxic levels weren't understood

until the ties were gone and I stood alone reflecting.

 

I've also grown during this time.

I'm the same 

and yet I'm not who she used to know.

I realized that my caring nature put me there -

my caring nature also made me stay 

for way too long.

You know when you meet someone that you 'connect' with and it all seems good - 

but as time wears on, 

you realize it's a 80/10 percent effort relationship - 

and you're putting in the 80% or more?  

That was the old me.

I took care of her and our friendship 
I made sure that when I saw danger -
I warned her. 
Time and again she didn't listen.
Time and again she went off the cliff -
who rescued her? 
I did.

My hubby and I dropped everything
many times.

When my world was dark 
and I needed someone to turn on the light
she either wasn't there
or I wasn't a priority.

This became a pattern. 
Eventually it was too much in the last cliff hanger.
I couldn't do it anymore.

At first when things went south - 

it wasn't even a fight with my friend - 

it was with a family member of hers.

 

That day I walked away though -

I waited.

I waited for a phone call.

I waited for a text message.

I waited for an email.

I waited for a Facebook message.

I waited for a knock on my door.

Eventually....I stopped waiting.

I knew the 'sorry' was never going to come.

I knew that 'closure' wasn't going to come.

I knew I'd never hear the knock on my door.

That took an act of responsibility -

that was never going to be acted upon.

Let Them Go!

Why did I wait so long?

I wanted the person to make the choice to contact me 

first.

I'd done all the contacting and work for so long,

I figured it was due time for the other party 

to make their move 

first. 

That move never came.

Then the 'I miss you' & 'You've been on my mind'

text comes -
 2 years later.
Two years too late.

I'm not that person anymore.

The person you broke - grew strong in your absence.

The person you hurt - healed.

The person you 'miss' isn't here anymore. 

You don't miss ME

You miss what I did for you.

So, when the past comes calling - 

depending on your situation -

you might do what I did.

Don't answer. 

It really has nothing new to say.

You no longer are the person they are seeking.

You are strong enough to say NO!

Delete the message 

Block the access

Purge the drama

Walk away with your head held high!

Invest In Others

Invest in Others

Have you ever been in a crowd 

but felt surrounded by loneliness?

I think we've all been there 

 at least one time in our lives.

When I was a young girl, 

I had a 'crew' that I always hung out with.

My mother wasn't always supportive

so when we moved for High School,

I lost touch with my friends.

I always thought they had forgotten me,

that I wasn't important enough to remember,

that I wasn't important enough to write to 

(yes, letters were still the norm back then)

that I wasn't important enough to call. 

It wasn't the case, but I didn't know it then.

A young girl's mind can totally

warp the truth.

Who am I kidding? 

Anyone's mind, no matter the age

can warp the truth.

Adults battle being alone.

Adults battle being lonely.

Is there truly a difference?

I agree with this poster - but it took time.

I was thinking about the differences today- 

I have been growing away from

loneliness and finding 

that when I am alone - 

I am still okay.

I am also learning to turn loneliness around:

I am learning how to 

Invest in Others.

Last week I went to an event and 

I found myself withdrawing.

Standing off to the side observing, 

but not interacting.

I knew everyone there - 

and they knew me

but old habits die hard as they say.

Sitting back - quietly observing 

when in reality 

I was choosing 

to be lonely.

I was choosing

to be alone in the crowd.

My friend caught me in the act and called me out.

She and I together interacted with the group.

I learn each time how to do better

I learn about myself - I also learn about others.

It's okay to sit back and LISTEN and observe.

However, 

don't stay there forever.Get out of your comfort zone!!

We all have at least 1 thing in common.

Begin there!

I also learned from my friend something 

I've heard before: 'Be Interested'

With the holidays coming 

how are you investing in others?

Don't invest in others for your own gain

to feel important - to be SEEN.

When you invest in others 

you could gain strong friendships

you could gain confidence in crowds

you could gain a sense of purpose.

It can literally change your life!

It can also change theirs!

*DarleneBl*