Stop, But Don't Stop

Stop the hating, degrading, the harmful berating
Stop the cowardly shading of truth

Stop the bleeding, the cheating, even conceding
Stop the useless pleading for the addict to change for you.

Stop the mocking, the blocking, the tasteless gawking
Stop the locking of your heart to the One who longs to enter.

Stop abusing, confusing, the self-centered using
Stop the boozing that hides the pain and masks who you really are.

Stop the hurting, deserting, responsibility averting
Stop flirting with disaster and with those you only intend to use.

Stop the lying, the dying, the endless crying
Stop the vying for attention and love from those who are incapable of giving it.

Stop fearing and jeering, the haughty sneering
Stop the vain appearing to be someone you are not.

Stop the fighting, the chiding, the constant hiding
Stop the shrill back-biting of those who you call friend.

Stop yelling and telling, love repelling
Stop the selling out of yourself, your friends, your family and your God.

Stop fretting, forgetting, the wasteful betting
Stop the endless setting aside of the people who mean the most to you.

Stop the voices deep inside
Stop the choices that ultimately decide
Self-destruction…the eating away of mind and heart…
The corrosion of your body and soul.

But….

Don’t stop caring, sharing or repairing
Don’t stop daring to be spiritual, to be yourself, to be different.

Don’t stop growing or glowing or knowing
Don’t stop the flowing of ideas or simple acts of kindness toward all mankind.

Don’t stop exploring, adoring or soaring
Don’t stop imploring the children to laugh, to play, to dream.

Don’t stop preaching, teaching or beseeching
Don’t stop the upward reaching toward your goals and deepest longings.

Don’t stop praying, playing or graying
Don’t stop saying, “I love you… I need you…I want you,” to your soul mate.

Don’t stop worship or courtship or friendship
Don’t stop the discipleship of those you mentor...those who want to be like you.

Don’t stop believing, achieving or conceiving
Don’t stop relieving a burdened heart with a smile, a touch, a whisper of love.

Don’t stop thanksgiving, forgiving or living,
Don’t stop the giving of your talents, resources and time in order to make a difference.

Don’t stop creating, awaiting, or elating
Don’t stop stating what you wish, what you need, what you desire.

Don’t ever stop learning with each new day
Don’t ever stop yearning for a better way
To love….the mending of mind and heart
The healing journey of your body and soul.

~ Maggie ~