Thorns In Our Lives • A Poetry Prompt

​EXPLORING THE IDEA OF THORNS

Abraham Lincoln once said, “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”

HOPE IS LIKE A HAREBELL

by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

Hope is like a harebell, trembling from its birth;

Love is like a rose, the joy of all the earth.

Faith is like a lily, lifted high and white;

Love is like a lovely rose, the world’s delight.

Harebells and sweet lilies show a thornless growth,

But the rose with all its thorns excels them both.

Like the Apostle Paul, I have repeatedly asked God to remove the thorn of pain from my life.

“… so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap (thorn) to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

“My grace is enough; it’s all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.”

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, MSG

My own poem below is sharp with a thorn.

DON’T CALL ME COURAGEOUS

don’t call me courageous

that title belongs to those

who make a choice

to move, or take action

brave? not me

there is nothing I have done

but breathe, or gasp

eyes briefly shut

till the worst of it

passes, dauntless? no

I have simply survived

another moment

another day

I press on, stretch slow

inquire of and lean into my Lord

my petition simple, aching

remove this thorn

or pour out more grace

as You will

that I might best serve You

IDEAS TO SPARK YOUR POEM:

• Is there a thorn you can write about? Perhaps you have been hiding it. What is the shape of it? What is the feel of it?
• Can you think of what other things are as sharp as thorns? List them. Use them in your poem.
• Think of the roses in your life. Would you forsake the roses to escape the thorns?
• Let your words speak directly to the thorn. What would you ask it?
• What would God say to the thorn?

These questions are just to get you started. Sit with the word “thorn” for a bit. Then allow your words to find their own way. Follow them. And when they find their voice, we invite you share them.

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