The flow in the stream

Must move in both directions

Or often the stream

Will run dry.

"Hey, Frank, your losing you marbles,

Water in a stream runs only

In one definite direction,

Well...except for tidewater.

Are you talking about tidewater?

Make yourself clear, knucklehead!

Water in a stream must run one way.

In both directions? Ha! Ha!"

"Sam, you're right, it is a tide flow,

But what is running is not water,

It's the flow of love ebbing and returning

In a loving personal relationship.

In a love where only one gives

The channel can and often runs dry,

When the other person fails

To return the love in kind.

Yes, Sam, a marriage creates a stream,

A passageway formed by a ceremony,

But I would speak of a greater stream

Of eternal importance -- your destiny.

It is our relationship with God, our Creator,

He loves us unconditionally, always,

And many pretend He isn't even there,

So their streams run almost dry.

When we rediscover His great love,

Yes, we must find it in the hurry of life,

And return His love, we watch our lives

Bloom like a spring day in May.

You know you have met Christians

Whose essence just bubbles with joy,

Even in the midst of personal problems

And your mind asks, "How can they do it?

Ask them and they will tell you

They found the love stream of Jesus,

Which flows into them and out

In a wonderful channel of love.

"Frank, how can I find God's love stream?"

"Sam, consider the awesomeness of God

So beyond our mind to comprehend and yet

In His love He sent Jesus to die for us.

Ponder this and soon your world will enlarge

Big enough to let some of His love

Pass down that channel of love and oops,

The nourishing flow will revive your life."

Happy stream restoration.

By Frank E. Henrich March 16, 2009