Helene, you stormed through Appalachian way
from the gulf coast,
you brought a merciless wrath,
a hurricane in the early autumnal mountains.
Mudslides, flooding, high winds, driving rain,
helpless people swept away.
You had fierce scorn,
you screamed and rattled our windows.
A hellion of force,
Blue Ridge recovery,
slow, but hopeful.
Weeping as the waters recede.
Some loss of lives, some missing.
Homes destroyed,
the abiding Lord,
His presence is here,
as many of His local churches are feeding people.
Under October sun, we gather again. ~
Every morning at close to four
She made the coffee, percolated
Poured it into cups with saucers
And they each would have a cup
Pouring the potent black liquid
Into the saucers before drinking
The cooling solution from them
This was only one more glimpse
Into the heart of Appalachian living
A day by day extravaganza of insights
Carried down from the Irish ancestors
Who’d come to this land in America
Realizing it reminded them of the
Wonders that were once their Ireland
As the coffee moved from the percolator
To a Mr. Coffee that sat on the sink
The children began to drink from their cups
But Granny and Pa still used their saucers
A reminder of all that had come before
And the things that were past that would
Forever remain ingrained in their hearts
M aking their way from nothing
O pening their hearts for others
U sing what they have on hand
N ature seems to draw them in
T ime keeps them always alert
A mazing grace is a part of church
I nner peace comes from hope
N ever giving up on a Holy God
P recious people in their souls
E very one knows everyone
O ver the hill they send love
P resented by caring and kindess
L ove that adores with serene joy
E veryone here loves the mountains
Making their way from nothing
Opening their hearts for others
Using what they have on hand
Nature seems to draw them in
Time keeps them always alert
Amazing grace is a part of church
Inner peace comes from hope
Never giving up on a Holy God
Precious people in their souls
Every one knows everyone
Over the hill they send love
Presented by caring and kindess
Love that adores with serene joy
Everyone here loves the mountains
The Bible sits on the coffee table
The center of the home
As it should be, naturally,
The heart of God’s word
The Bible makes its mark on me
And every family
That has lived in this rural place
We call Appalachia
The Bible is a healing word
A quiet touch
During a struggling hour
The good book is filled with love
The Bible teaches these people
To go to the nearest church
Fall down at the alter on knees
Bent to receive salvation from above
The Bible is a part of each home
That knows about Jesus love
And understands we’ll be meeting
Him up in the air after death
The Bible is used by the preacher
The missionary and grandma
To reveal the way, truth and life
All that was Jesus’ mission on earth
The Bible is a part of my heart
It whispers through my mind
Revealing pieces of God’s lesson
To accompany me through this world
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