Need Love

Sharon Lynn Mobley

I sit here crying

Crying, but I can't explain why

Why am I upset

Upset for many reasons

Reasons that no one will understand

Understand, I don't myself

I have so much pain

Pain deep inside of me

Me, yes I do hurt

Hurt from the past, present, and future

Future, oh, I'm so scared

Scared of my own feelings

It's so hard to think

Think of my many worries

Worries which I have

Have a lot of confused thoughts

Thoughts that I can't let go

Let go, do I have to

Please help

Help is what I need

Need time, love, and tenderness

Tenderness is no where to be found

This poem, Need Love, was written by a teen-aged young woman. We felt moved to share it with you in this edition for several reasons.

One reason is to dramatize the depth of feeling that young people have. Some of our readers are teens and can identify with the thoughts Need Love surfaces. You're there, or have recently been there.

Some others of our readers are older and tend to forget what it was like when we were 17.

It's important that we never forget the hurts, the loneliness, yes, sometimes even deep despair and depression that others feel.

There's an answer. The only answer is Jesus.

That may sound too simplistic for some, but think about it.

There's no temptation, common to mankind that he did not share with us. He knows our temptation. He knows our weaknesses. He knows our frustrations. He knows or sorrows and our loneliness. There's no feeling we can feel that he doesn't understand. He created us! He knows us even better than we know ourselves.

He can fill the empty place in our hearts. He can bathe us in the love we crave. He can be our companion when we walk alone in the dark places. He can lift us up and make our hearts sing!

Only he is the answer.

But, how does that translate to a young man or woman who is feeling these feelings, asking these questions, feeling these frustrations?

Jesus rarely just plops his message into our heads. Usually, he sends a messenger.

His messengers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and colors. You and I can be his messengers. And, we must take the message to those who long to hear it.

Tell them, "Someone loves you very much. That someone is Jesus." "Give yourself to him. Place your very life in his hands."

He didn't promise that you'll never have any troubles after that. But, he will be your companion through the valleys, over the steep hills, along the rocky paths, and beside the still waters.

You'll never be alone again.