100 Inspirational Poems Written from the Heart

By Inge Claus

In the Poetry of this book the author expresses her true experiences and events of her life with its ups and downs, her feelings and the belief in a loving and forgiving Creator who always exercises justice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 20, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462896943

Inge Claus

“Words for Encouragement” is the third book by Inge Claus. Inge was born 1922 in a small village south of Berlin, Germany. There she lived as a child and a teenager. During World War II she studied engineering in Berlin and Vienna, but at the end of the war she had to interrupt her studies, which she finished later. In 1951 she married and immigrated with her husband to Canada, living in Vancouver where both worked as structural engineers. After some years working in her profession, Inge gave up the engineering to work with elderly and frail people in an adult day centre to learn about another side of life. Writing had not crossed her mind until she retired and joined a writing class at a Senior Centre at the age of 76 years. Consequently, Inge is now the author of several books of poetry, short stories and her memoirs. She is blessed with a son, a daughter, two grandsons and a great grandson.

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Copyright © 2011 by Inge Claus.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2011911000

ISBN:          Softcover                                 978-1-4628-9693-6

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4628-9694-3

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This book was printed in the United States of America.

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To my Children

Berni and Elke

and to

my Grandsons

Kulan and Jethro

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Dear Reader:

About two years ago I thought: Why not try writing poetry? At that time I had been in the writing class at the West Vancouver Senior Centre for four years and was inspired by the poems some of my fellow writers created. My paternal grandfather Carl Erler wrote little poems as well and I thought that he might have passed on some of those genes to me.

The beginning was slow, but then I discovered that I enjoyed this new hobby of mine. In my poems I like to express my thoughts and beliefs. I hope you won’t be disappointed if you think differently. We all have our own ideas and beliefs, but maybe you will see the truth in some of the writings.

The style of my poems is a very simple one; I only used couplets which I found the easiest. So forgive me when this style doesn’t match your intelligence.

Nevertheless, my hope is that you enjoy reading the poems and that they may make you ponder.

Inge Claus

West Vancouver, B.C

Spring, 2004

Acknowledgements

My thanks go to three friends who where so kind to read over my poems for wrong grammar and spelling, since I still struggle with this due to the fact that my mother tongue is German. I am grateful to Margaret Williams, a friend who goes to the same church as I do, to Jean Gowland, a friend from the writing class who herself writes poetry, and Hanne Neumeister, who I got to know at my last job, an adult day centre nine years ago. I am in great debt to them for spending their valuable time for me.

Also, I like to mention my son Berni on whom I always can rely with computer questions and problems.

But above all, I like to thank my Creator for the gifts He gave me and for His help all the way along.

I think what we lack isn’t science

but poetry that reveals what the

heart is ready to recognise.

Joseph Campbell

Contents

A. God’s Love, Care and

Guidance for us

Poem: 1-18

B. Difficult Times and Struggles

Poem: 19-46

C. Beauty and Blessings

Poem: 47-71

D. Ordinary and Special Events

Poem: 72-83

E. More Thoughts to ponder

Poem: 84-100

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1. The Love of God

Who does understand Christ’s unconditional love?

Who does grasp the suffering for us from above?

None of us is able to comprehend

how much love God does on us spend.

Many see the Father in Heaven as a judge who is hard;

they complain and think they are smart

when they see a source of evil in Him,

and hate and reject Him because their sight is dim.

Such people don’t see the hurt they cause our Creator,

the great physician who is our mentor,

who likes to remove the cancer of sin from our heart

in order that healing will have a start.

A doctor might seem cruel to us

when lifesaving surgery he does.

Our heavenly physician with a skill so great

wants to heal us before it is too late.

So to the Cross of Jesus let us look,

as on His shoulders our sins He took.

In speechless awe before Him let us stand,

and humbly take his outstretched hand.

Let us ask our Maker so kind,

to let us see and no longer be blind.

Let us embrace His love and His commands let us heed

with all our hearts in word and deed.

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2. The Grace of God

We search for happiness and joy,

and think we find it in every toy.

Buying all what appeals to our eyes

is never, never very wise.

The best we think is our way,

and often very highly for it we have to pay.

Everything we want has to be right now,

and we refuse to God’s will to bow.

In waiting we experience God’s grace,

of His help