“The hurt you embrace becomes joy”*
Pain is necessary for growth
You don’t have to look for pain
It will simply come your way

The hurt you embrace becomes joy!
If you accept it and
Listen to its message
If you let it shape you
And build you anew

The hurt you embrace becomes joy!
Leads to understanding
Leads to emptiness
Leads to humility
Leads to accepting kindness

This is the way of the world
So don’t run away from pain
Embrace pain and sorrow
Live with them
Learns from them
Let them lead you to somewhere new

The hurt you embrace becomes joy
If you fight it
It will fight back
If you let go
It will let go too

Pain is like the broom of life
It cleans things out
So you can build again
Make a new beginning
Come to new understanding

Pain is a gift of life
So …..
“Welcome sadness
Welcome pain
I’ll embrace you
When you come my way!”

Lida Berghuis
July 12, 2010

*Rumi

transitions
in-betweens
neither here, nor there
neither east, nor west

no man’s land
not my land
not your land
neither east, nor west

between cultures
between ages
between east and west
neither here nor there

not a science
not an art
not precise
neither here or there

not a child
nor an adult
neither old or young
neither here or there

not quite there
neither here
between here and there
neither east nor west

no man’s land
that’s my land
between here and there
between east and west!

Lida Berghuis
2002

Surrounded by mud
The lotus grows
Pure and white

Surrounded by darkness
The candle glows
At midnight

Surrounded by doubt
Faith shines resplendent
In the heart

Surrounded by fear
Serenity rules
As the heart turns heavenward

Surrounded by shadow
The flame is ignited
And burns bright!

Lida Berghuis
June 16th, 2006

I have a like-hate relationship with my glasses
I’ve had them for two years, I must confess!

I like them because they help me read
When lighting is poor and I must read tiny print
I like them because they are red
And in colours, red is my favorite!

But I hate them because they show my age
Because they imply that my eyes are not perfect
I feel self-conscious when I put them on
That’s supposed to be my mother or grandma!

But one day I saw a dear friend
Who took out her glasses with much flair
She wasn’t concerned about her age
She felt she had earned her place with grace

With self-assuredness and much poise
She proceeded to put the glasses on her nose!
She looked at her notes and then at us
Very content with her place in life

That made me see my glasses in another light
So what, I’m not twenty or twenty five
Forty and forty five is good too
And so will be sixty and sixty two!!

So the next time I need my glasses on
I’ll try not to snicker and feel awkward
I’ll try to put them on with pride
So I’m getting older, so what?

December 19th, 2008
Story telling at Lisbeth and Wytze’s place
With Fred

Strong women know to dream
Know what they want
They know what they are good at
And what they’’re not

They are compassionate and caring
But know how to set limits
They won’’t say yes to everything
They know when to say no
And when to say maybe!
They are wise and tactful
They are loving and sincere!

Strong women hang out with
Others who are strong
They feed off their energy
They learn, they try
Try new things
Are open to new ideas
They are adventurous
Out of the box!

Strong women are joyful and free
They are passionate
That’s easy to see!
Strong women like to forge new paths
Tradition is respected
But so are new ways

Strong women
Attract strong men
Together they are the
Wings of a bird
As they fly
They get stronger
They travel the world
Move in unison

Strong women keep on learning
And doing things
They never arrive
They keep going

I’m lucky to have
Many women friends like this
They inspire me
Their warmth surrounds me

From them I learn how to be myself
How to be true to who I am and take care of myself
From them I learn what passion is
What confidence and assertiveness is

Strong women
Help each other along
The success and happiness of one
Is that of them all
It’s a sisterhood
It’s a bond
That won’t be broken
During trials!

Lida Berghuis
May 22nd, 2010

What is the colour of love
One asked
Red is the colour of love
Said one
Red is the colour of passion and fun
Red is the best colour of all!

Yellow is the colour of love
One said
Yellow, the colour of my beloved’s locks!

Purple is the colour of love
Said one
Of sunrise, and sunsets and oceans of love

White is the colour of love
One said
Of purity and sincerity
Of the deepest love!

All colours are the colour of love
The answer came
When you are with the one you love!

Lida Berghuis
August 21st, 2007
After Martin Kerr’s concert at our home