A hummingbird danced near my window, so quick, so delicate, yet full of boldness.
It felt like God was reminding me, that even the smallest ones carry light, beauty, and purpose. – denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
Un-rav-el: to free from complication or difficulty; to make plain or clear.
Father God,
I lay down what I can no longer carry, the masks, the striving, the silent weight. Help me to not fear the unraveling, but to trust that even now, You are near. Even in the undoing, You are making space for what is true. In Jesus name, amen.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”. – John 8:36
Thank You Lord for this sacred stillness, for the way creation speaks Your name. I breathe in Your love, and breathe out my praise. – denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. -John 8:36
As I stood there slightly shaking, nervously sharing my story, I glanced up occasionally making eye contact with an empathizing woman in the audience, her encouraging smile seemed to give me permission to courageously keep speaking my truth.
Breathing deeply then exhaling slowly;
the words flow like a raging river
from the depths of my soul,
secrets and shameful
encounters fleeting as they
no longer keep me bound,
I yell from the pit of my gut,
I am free.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
#nolongerheldcaptive
Several years ago, I attended a women’s retreat in South Lake Tahoe. Being one of only a couple black women there, I felt lonely in a room full of women who seemed to be connected.
Our human desire is to be “seen”, experience connection & to show up in our true authentic self.
As an empath & encourager, I intentionally try to “see” the gold in others, praying quietly asking God to help me “see” & love others as He see’s & loves me.
I hope you quietly whisper the same prayer. 🩷 – denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
#nolongerheldcaptive
In the darkest hour,
where shadows loom,
Faith’s ember flickers,
dispelling gloom.
A journey through the night,
guided by belief,
Grief and faith entwined,
offering relief.
The heartache’s dance,
a solemn waltz,
Yet faith persists,
its melody exalts.
With each teardrop,
a prayer takes flight,
Uniting grief and faith
in the quiet of night.
– denise marie
A family member passed away this past week….
Grief is complex, with many highs and lows, the waves of emotions tend to hit me as uncontrollable tears flow. As a believer, I know she is in heaven, no longer in pain and at peace. Yet, I still feel such a loss, a void. a sadness that I think she never really would’ve imagined how much her passing would affect me.
Her light, unconditional love, words of encouragement and friendship, will leave a lasting mark on my heart forever. Thank you for being such a gift.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4.
It’s beautiful to be still in
the midst of a busy world,
allowing my mind
to slow down
just enough to
process each thought,
minute by minute
inhaling fully then
exhaling slowly
listening to the beat
of my own heart,
lulling me with peace.
—denise marie
*picture of me taken in Washington State.
In the realm of self-care, I find my retreat, a sanctuary where my soul finds its beat.
A gentle reminder to tend to my needs, to nourish my spirit, to let it be freed.
I start with a moment, a pause in my day, to breathe in the calm, let worries drift away.
Inhaling the peace, exhaling the stress, creating space for my mind to find rest.
I listen to my body, its whispers and cues, honoring its limits, refusing to abuse.
I nourish with kindness, with wholesome delight, feeding it with love, each day and each night.
I bathe in self-love, a warm, soothing embrace, letting go of judgment, accepting my grace.
With sunlight aglow, casting a soft, gentle light, I surrender to stillness, embracing with such delight.
I move with intention, in rhythm and flow, dancing away worries, letting my spirit grow.
Expressing my emotions through graceful motion, releasing the tension, embracing the notion.
I seek solace in nature, its beauty and peace, walking in forests, where worries find release.
The whispering trees, the song of the birds, nature’s healing power, beyond any words.
I indulge in moments of pure, simple pleasure, reading a book, savoring each word and measure.
Escaping reality, entering new realms, where imagination soars and the heart overwhelms.
I surround myself with love, with cherished souls, creating connections that make me feel whole.
Sharing laughter and tears, in moments so rare, knowing that love is the ultimate self-care.
Self-care is a journey, a lifelong embrace, a commitment to oneself, a sacred space.
For in nurturing my soul, I find the key, to unlock the door to a life that’s carefree.
– denise marie
It took me a minute to settle down and calm my anxiety, but once I did my words flowed.
Writing and reading my poetry is good for my soul.
Titled, “Engulfed fully by his love”. – denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
Today..
I encourage you
to bravely,
peel back,
each layer,
revealing
the deep roots
of secrets that
have been gracefully
hidden.
In this place,
is where YOU have
remained concealed
beneath the pain
of your untold stories.
Surrender…
and allow
Gods love
and grace
to heal this
sacred space
in which you’ve
kept sealed.
– denise marie
Writing Poetry is truly one of my passions, it feels amazing to release words that at times have been hidden beneath insecurities, allowing my creativity to flow, sure does bring me joy.
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved writing, reading and listening to poetry. It was a common occurrence to see me with a pen and pad of paper jotting down my thoughts and eagerly reading them to my Mom. Looking through boxes in the storage closet, it’s fun to find journals filled with poems I’ve written as a child or teen. Recently I was looking through my yearbooks from high school and to my surprise (1987 was a long time ago.. lol! I had forgotten about this) I saw a poem I had written my Senior year in the yearbook.
Maya Angelou has always been an inspiration and I hope to one day publish my own book of poetry.
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
My Journey Home….to God & Self 