Before time was called time

Before beginnings had ends.

Where love knew no bounds and promises no mends.

There I once stood

with hope in my heart

preparing for my journey to a land far apart

From the life I had known and friends I held dear,

To experience great pain, humility and fear.

The time soon arrived-my journey to begin

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my dear friend.

He smiled at me and said, “Come closer to see!”

He held out His hand, a bag to release.

As He gently asked, “A true friend will you be?”

In order to choose this invite, you see.

There’s a bag full of promises you must return to me.

Be wise in your journey, be fair as you go.

These promises you make, will your love to me show.

I held out my hand and willingly grasped,

The bag full of promises, accepting the task.

For more than anything, I wish to obtain

This man as my friend, and I called Him by name.

“My brother, My Savior, My Redeemer, My Lord, My Deliverer, My Shepherd, The Son and the Word.”

So onto my journey I went with great faith

To fulfill my mission and promises make.

For what I was told, was to give them away

And keep them so true, in order to say…

“I have meant what I said, and kept what I meant

I have come back to you with no false pretense.”

That was my goal, but what I didn’t know

Was how hard it would be to truly succeed.

My memory erased, but desire still thrived

As I moved along slowly

On the path of this life.

With my memory gone, but feeling so sure

I made promises many, my intentions were pure.

“I’ meant what I said, when I said them so true.

But promises change – well sometimes… they do!!

Now I travel once more, not always knowing for what

I hold onto this bag, wanting so much

To keep that one promise  made to my friend,

Holding on tight

Enduring to the end.

As my journey continues

My bag’s running low

But promises I must make

So my love to Him show!

Each one of us has

A bag given to us.

Full of promises made; we must show Him our trust.

We carry these through

Our life here on earth

To bring the bag back

Full of jewels, not dirt.

“How do we do this?” I too have asked.

I think it must be a very big task.

For in this bag, holds his promise to us!

And as we return, as all of us must

We give our promises to others we pass

truly believing we’ll keep them and make them all last.

But ALL of us fail and give them away.

They fall to the side

And we’re left to say.

“I’ve lived what I knew!

 And I knew what I lived!

The promises made…I meant them, I did!

Please know that I tried

To do all that I knew

Please be my friend!!!

I really need you to.

I know that I failed

at the task you gave me!

What can I do now

To return back to Thee?”

I hand him the bag,

I’m filled with fear and great dread.

The dirt poured out, like a huge flower bed.

With tears in His eyes, He gently looked up

He smiled at me

And then filled my cup.

He said to me, “Come closer, you’ll see…

This bag I have filled with my blood for thee.

You have ALWAYS been mine,

Before time was called time

Before beginnings had ends

Where love knew no bounds and promises no mends.

There is NOTHING you could do

To keep me from you!

Come closer to me

A true friend, I WILL BE!!!

A mighty wind blew night and day

It stole the oak tree’s leaves away

Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark

Until the oak tree was tired and stark.

But still the oak tree held its ground

While other trees fell all around

The weary wind gave up and spoke.

How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you

Can break each branch of mine in two

carry every leaf away

Shake my limbs, and make me sway

But I have roots stretched in the earth

Growing stronger since my birth

You’ll never touch them, for you see

They are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn’t sure

Of just how much I could endure

But now I’ve found, with thanks to you

I’m stronger than I ever knew!!!

Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.