perspective

May 10, 2025

I Heard a Chicken


Have you ever heard a chicken laugh?
… Heard it burble with much glee?

What marvelous thoughts do they ponder?
… and what great things to see?

“Ah ha-ha-ha”, now hear them chortle.
… With darting gaze they look about.

Loyal sisters comment, clucking with much delight
… Then run around in confusion, expressing a bit of doubt.

Now the mighty leader loudly calling too
Expressing his opinion… a personal great view

Never a boring day, approached with grin and chuckle
… Sharing chicken laughs with you!

Charlotte-Anne Allen

August 18, 2024

Mush


An interesting word! Now, think about it.
Is it something to eat or something to do?

A warm thick porridge
To fill and to satisfy

Or flying across the snow
As swift dogs pull a sled

Is it too sentimental?
Just mushy romance?

Is it mashing and smashing
To a soft pulpy mess?

Whether cooking something wholesome
Or exclaiming, “charge on”

Let’s look forward, seek always
For good and our best

From “Words of Interest”
Charlotte-Anne Allen

June 16, 2024

Reflections on Crabgrass


• Life’s achievements are like flower clusters growing from tough situations
• Thrive where you are planted, where you find yourself
• A worthy goal is to grow and produce good seed
• Nourish a noble and good heart to make positive results
• Keeping a low profile can help avoid pain and conflict
• Lean on one another, persevere, be tough when needed
• Stars shine out best when surrounded by darkness
• Learn to bend and be flexible when we get stepped on
• Spread out and enjoy the small moments
• Don’t reject something simply because others perceive it as worthless
• May you be encouraged on those days when you feel worn
• When we cling to God we won’t be ground down in defeat
• Take time to be refreshed, especially when in high-traffic areas
• Peace grows from learning yourself and releasing all to God who planted you

From “Reflection from the Everyday”
Charlotte-Anne Allen 6/15/2024

March 31, 2024

YET


A word has recently been popping into my mind and so I have returned to it to see what it is saying to me. 🙂 That word is “yet” …Have you thought about this small but powerful little word before? It’s one of those words that we use a lot. Some ways we might use this small word are:

Are you finished yet?
I don’t know yet.
I have yet to see that happen.
He was yet a child.
Is she here yet?
Yet they were still able to come.
Are we there yet?

Are those any you find yourself saying? …“Yet” means that we have expectations. When we haven’t finished something, called someone, or done something we’ve been asked to do … adding “yet” can make a difference! There are still plans or hopes for the future. “Yet” can spark both anticipation and concern.

Now, the hard part for me, and for most of us, is staying motivated and encouraged. Keeping a positive attitude and persevering can be challenging, can’t it? I still well-remember and appreciate my mom reminding me to take one thing at a time. I’ve also learned to work on my perspective, to trust God for direction, and to focus on the small and “do-able” steps needed. And then there are times to give up our own “yet” and re-examine expectations and life’s journey.

Look how God leads us to adjust our own “yet” as he modeled his own:

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NASB

God didn’t wait for us to be perfect examples (That’s impossible anyway, isn’t it?!). His help with waiting, reminding me of the need for patience, and adjusting expectations knowing that He with us through the long haul… that’s what keeps me going. God has gone before us and is waiting and preparing for us as we travel to the “yet.”

My prayers for myself and for us all, is that God will surround us with people, and will create us to be people, who help during all our “yets”. I am so thankful that he came to us first, during our greatest “yet”. Be encouraged.

Charlotte-Anne Allen

December 23, 2023

In Fullness


“In fullness,” now what does that mean,
When busy or stressed and a way is not seen?

Of God, of time, on earth to show
He comes to us so that we can know

Filled through Christ, God’s Son
In awe and humility before Mighty One

Wholeness, abundance in what really counts
Overflowing through grace in generous amounts

Tired souls can then begin to sing
Fullness in all and everything

Completeness satisfies our yearning
Filled to capacity, overflowing… we’re learning

This is life, breathing that goodness
Living daily in His fullness

Ephesians 3:19; 1:22
Charlotte-Anne Allen

October 8, 2023

Let’s Take a Walk


“I need a break. Come on. Let’s take a walk!”

Growing up in a small town, it was very common to see our neighbors strolling down the sidewalks in front of our house. As we greeted each other they would occasionally stop to chat for a few minutes. It was a place and time of closer communities and greater security. We kids were always racing up and down, our shoes pounding the ground as we played and talked with friends in nearby yards.

Walking. Wearing shoes… Even with our occasional disagreements or upsets, we valued those friendships. That makes me think of another kind of “walk” and “shoes.”

What do we do when we see real or perceived differences in others, whether big or small, that we disagree with? I know that, for myself, these are especially important times for me to step back and try to see and understand things from their perspective. We have probably heard or said, “Put yourself into their shoes” or “You haven’t walked in their shoes.” For some things it’s just a simple and easy adjustment or a matter of miscommunication. Other things may be big challenges.

A neat word for being aware of and responding to something or someone is “sensibility.” It makes me think of “the ability to sense things” about situations or others. Considering things from the perspectives of others is key to empathy and compassion… or just plain dealing with the stressors of life. It reminds me of Jesus’ words to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:28-34)

So, let’s take a walk, in community, and nurture our sensibility. My prayer for us all is that we continue to grow in wisdom and understanding. May we learn to love better and to see others through God’s eyes, uplifting each other in prayer and grace.

Charlotte-Anne Allen