TWO SAMPLE SECTIONS FROM: 

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD: INSPIRATION FOR COUPLES

HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES…

Sheep are seldom still.

The shepherd starts them grazing about four in the morning.

By ten the sun is hot and the stomach of the sheep

Is full of undigested food.

So the shepherd makes the sheep lie down in a green pasture.

The sheep will not eat lying down

So it rests and chews its cud

And digests

And, perhaps, enjoys.

Your days are filled with work, my love,

As are mine.

Like the sheep, we are seldom still.

I would like our home to be a green pasture

Where along with celebration

There can be meditation.

May the business of our lives

Find its proper place.

May it not spill over constantly

Into our green pasture of repose.

Green is the color of nature, fertility, life

Of growth, balance, harmony.

I want to see you walk through our door and sigh

And feel some weight slip away

Because here is home and your spirit can lie down safely

Breathe more deeply.

And at day’s end

May we two be the lovers spoken of by Solomon

Son of the shepherd-psalmist David:

“How fair is thy love, my spouse!

How much better is thy love than wine!

And the smell of thine ointments than all spices.

Behold thou art fair, my love;

Thou hast doves’ eyes.

Behold thou art fair;

Also our bed is green.”

In the green pasture of our bed

May we only love

And rest

And dream.

HE RESTORETH MY SOUL...

 Your soul, my love, is the breath of God

And I am its guardian.  

I see it soar

I see it sink.                                         

And when the blows of this world

Take your godly breath away

When I read doubt or defeat in your eyes

When I see your soul suffer--

I will help restore it

With an encouraging word:

“You are wonderful and you are deeply loved.”

“I am so proud of you.”

“Yes, you can.  Of course you can!”

“You are the best!”

Or with a listening that says nothing

And says everything.

And surely with that sweet prerogative of lovers--

That laying on of hands

And lips

And heart.

Should you do things to damage your soul

I will help with the repair

Reminding you always of who you really are.

Even the psalmist David

Turned from his godliness and did wrong.

He was without strength and turned again to the Lord

Who restored his soul.

Out in the pasture when a sheep 

Finds itself on its back, feet in the air

It is a “cast” sheep.

It cannot right itself and will die if not noticed.

It is the shepherd’s job to notice

To come to the sheep, without blame or shame

And gently right it

Restoring it to its place in the flock.

Should you ever be so cast down

That you are unable to right yourself

I will notice.

I will invoke the Master Shepherd

I will invoke others who love you.

We will come to you

And you will be encircled by care

However long it may take

Until your soul is restored.

Purchase a signed copy of the book or other books by Carol Lynn Pearson at http://www.clpearson.com/personal_gifts.htm