Jessica Lovely

I look out to the horizon. Hoping that one day we could be at peace. Holding your hand, we step on the golden sand. A light, so pure you shine to show this land is your land, and we are just guests to this place. We look at each other. As though to say it is going to be a better day. Do not give up, she says. As we walked on the shore, we hoped for a moment of fresh air, and the silent sound of a wave pouring to land. Oh, dear mother. It is, so beautiful here. The waves are slender and suave, and birds fly overhead. If we were to do a bottle with a wish in it, would they get it? Dear daughter, only the brave shall read the bottled letter that tells our journeys. A moment on a pear. A silent walk by the dock. We hope that one day our journey could be as peaceful as the moments we all shared hand to hand. Footprint to footprint we shall walk. One day this journey will be shared with those that live after us. - anonymous, 1999. 1993- Dear mom, Does God leave footprints like ours onshore? 1993- My mom gave me a plack by mail to put on the wall. It stayed on the wall for many days and was brought with me to California after years of prayers wanting to be with my mother. Being, so young and others separating us brought tears and hurt. I, Just, could not understand why after the cold war and returning to America why it was that my parents could not be close. Why did Americans separate families...Why others; just, could not help the family stay together....with little understanding about family rights, the plack stayed close, and I would pray. Hoping that one day our family could stay close. This poem is for those that remember those long days when we were apart from our parents. Shall it be held with no anger, hurt, or pain? Be valued by those that remember that we are never alone. It is not okay to hurt others just because of a drug or other habit or need....... If this shall be my only and last words. It would be the prayers that kept me going from 1993 to today. As well as a poem my mama once gave me to put on a wall after the incident of 1993....... FOOTPRINTS Version 1 One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene, I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one set of footprints. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints. So I said to the Lord, You promised me, Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me? The Lord replied, The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you. Version 2 One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it: "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The LORD replied: "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." "One night I dreamed a dream. I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord. 2022 Dear mama, I miss you. The anger from those around me who do not understand loss with sympathy will not have me give up. you told me to pay the debts to those that are selfless, but selfish. The family will always be there no matter the pressures that others give or gave. It was wrong to not have us all three together with her, but in some way, she will always be close. Tender love and care... Always remember the ones you love. When it is time to let a loved one go, I hope that others respect the time a person should have together, and never not tell them to press the x button and shut it off during a loss like grief and loss or not tell another daughter or son to a dying mother or father," he/She does not have a right to be here....." It is a sad moment when others do not know a mothers relationship with their own child is more valuable than a dollar bill or a rock will be to a consumer. In Gods hands, we hope that this will be a lesson to all that family always should come first no matter the hurts or harm. Family is especially important. Consumer needs shall never come before a mother and daughter or son's needs. May she and he rest in peace. Our dear mother and father...... - a documentary from a cold war survivor, 2022