The Gift: An Ode to Brother Ridge

By Allison M. Johnston

Get ready to be inspired as you journey through some real-life experiences, as well as heartfelt and intense emotions. This book will challenge you to have the kind of faith to move mountains in your life through stories brought to life through the power of the imagination. It has been said that some of the stories are therapeutic and soothing to the soul. Some have found themselves captivated til the very end. No matter how low you may feel, The Gift will encourage you to persevere through the power of love and Gods Word.

May you be blessed as you embark on a journey meant to encourage and inspire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514460023

Allison M. Johnston

Allison M. Johnston is an ordinary person with an extraordinary talent for bringing poetry and short stories to life through her endless imagination and love for creating thought-provoking inspiration. Allison’s passion for writing is demonstrated through the countless experiences she has documented through a maze of test and trials she has risen above and now shares with her readers. As an author of many poems and short stories she has written throughout the years, this one thing is evident: the words “never give up” come to mind when one embraces the message each poem and short story conveys. Allison was diagnosed over a decade ago with PTSD. With the constant love and support over the years of close family and friends, she was able to overcome hopelessness, anxiety, and depression. Allison has found purpose despite her pain. Her mission has now become to be relevant despite the blows life has thrown her way. She believes the power through her words and imagination are fueled by her relationships with the Lord Jesus Christ. Allison believes as an author/writer, she is a blank canvas that the Holy Spirit uses to help those who need encouragement. She hopes to be that someone who is able to penetrate the darkness of the mind and soul of the hurting, like she once was. She prays that her poems and short stories open up a new dimension of grace to you the reader as you journey from cover to cover.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by Allison M. Johnston.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-5144-6003-0

                eBook             978-1-5144-6002-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Rev. date: 05/13/2016

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ANXIOUS TO ABLE

REALITY CHECK

OPEN HAND GIVING

ONLY WHEN I BREATHE

THE ENVELOPE

THE LAD OF FABIA

I'VE COME TO THE END

A WHISPER IN THE DARK

LIFE IN THE CITY

TOTALLY SUBMERGED

THE MANY FACES OF LOVE

WINTER CHILL

BASEMENT PARTY

PTSD FROM TRIALS TO TRIUMPH

CORNER LOT

STREET LIFE

THE POET

WHERE IN THE WORLD HAS OUR LITTLE GIRL GONE

CAN YOU HEAR HIM CALLING

AN ANGEL HAS PASSED BY

THE TIRELESS SOLDIER

WHEN GOD SAYS NO

THE WISHING WELL

IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN

HOW IT FEELS TO BE KEPT

MAKE LOVE MY NESTING BED

THE FLEETING HEART

HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER

WHEN GOODBYE MEANS EVERYTHING

POPULAR REASONS STILL BREAKING HEARTS

TUNNEL VISION

AN EMPTY PAGE

DON'T KNOW WHY

LORD MAKE ME A CANVAS

TAKE YOUR TIME

QUIETLY I QUAKE PT. I

QUIETLY I QUAKE PT. II

PURSUED

MAY OUR LIVES SPEAK

COMPLICATED MATTERS

THE HOUSE OF PRETEND

SOMETHING TO SAY

GIVE ME JESUS

A LETTER TO MY FATHER

FINDING GRACE

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

SHOW ME THE FACE OF GOD

WHEN THE UNBORN CRY

TO FEEL OR NOT TO FEEL

SIFTING THROUGH THE ASHES OF A USE TO BE LIFE

SIFTING THROUGH THE ASHES OF A USE TO BE LIFE PT. II

THE ALDERMAN BRIDGE

JELLY JAR JAIL

A SUDDEN CHANGE

Chapter Two

A WHIMSICAL WONDERLAND

CHASING THE DREAM

MY FAVORITE THING IN LIFE

THE TRUE ART OF FRIENDSHIP

GIVE ME JESUS

HOUSE OF THE FATAL SECRET

THE WIRE CAGE

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 4

VISUAL EFFECTS

VOICE OVER MY SHOULDER

TIMELESS MEMORIES

PREREQUISITE FOR A BLESSING

TIME, LASSO THE MOON

THE GIFT

BROTHER RIDGE

TWILIGHT

UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

ON THE EDGE OF DARKNESS

THE BLESSINGS

A CARICATURE OF LIFE

STIRRING UP THE GIFT

IT'S TIME TO CALL YOU SISTER

FOOTSTEPS IN THE DARK

CAN'T YOU REMEMBER

THERE IS SUN

THE OLD WOOD STOVE

HOUSE WITH AN OCEAN VIEW

FREE

BLIND TO BELIEVER

NO PLACE FOR SINNERS

DON'T LOOK NOW

ANXIOUS TO ABLE

I have gone from living life afraid to facing all my fears, I've accomplished so many things I contemplated for years.

I've gone from hypertensive to managing my health as I sought for spiritual healing rather than seeking wealth.

It has been my desire to be better than I was before, when people thought I had it all together though inside I needed more.

Thinking life had not been kind I realized God has always seen me through, I was looking death right in the face and I thought my life was through.

I went to the doctor to ease the pain I felt inside, the visit put me in the hospital where I nearly died.

I awoke to see my husband standing faithfully by my side, he has still been my rock even though the news still made him cry.

My recovery wasn't easy it took a long long time, we had lost someone very dear to us and his death weighed heavily on our minds.

What does this have to do with you one might dare to ask, it can make you afraid to move on knowing in life some things don't last.

We faced a different kind of hardship we'd never seen before, my husband and I battled hard to get what God had for us in store.

It was a heated battle I have to tell you the truth, we lived in constant sorrow and thought we never would get through.

So, if you have lost a loved one remember you're not alone, there is an end to your sorrow when all is said and done.

You have to pray and surround yourself with loved ones and preferably the church, you have to look deep inside yourself and find what you are worth.

There is always someone who would miss you if you're gone, it could be the smile you gave to someone who like you felt all alone.

I use to shake in my own boots each time trials came my way, but now I know I'm able to stand for God has brightened up my day.

REALITY CHECK

A crystal candle will never burn and a senseless child may never learn.

An empty wagon will make some noise as wars should not kill young girls and young boys.

Laughter in secret can hurt if revealed and lies destroy friendships that may never be healed.

A smile can heal the broken in spirit while those with deceitful hearts still may not get it.

Time ushers in each day by the hour, while many are praying awaiting God's power.

The pleasure of some is found in a bottle when others are lonely with no one to coddle.

There are ideas unborn you haven't thought about yet, so when you do, write them down so you will not forget.

Remember when traveling down the road to be being blessed, only Faith does not require a reality check.

So, live to dream and live your dreams...

OPEN HAND GIVING

Lord, may You use my open hand to help those who are in need and may the seeds I'm now planting produce good fruit free from greed.

May the praises I give come from deep in my heart as I've shared this gift with other's as a way to do my part.

I use to look in the mirror and only my face I'd see until I took a second glance and saw You looking back at me.

Now I see the work of Your hands that have molded my life and gives me motivation to do what is right.

I feel the midnight moving in as time again unfolds, it reminds me of another time when I stood before my foes.

I stood as the accused in things I had not done, I remember having dreams when my feet could not run.

All I could do was call on His name, God gave me the victory as He freed me from shame.

Graciously, I await the day You will return for me, accepting this earthly sacrifice making memories for folks to see.

Thank you Lord for blessing me to enhance another's life and thank you for the mercy seat that has kept me from all strife.

I give unto God the sacrifice of Me.

ONLY WHEN I BREATHE

The only time it hurts is when I inhale and hold it in, my thoughts are then contained inside and the change in mood begins.

It only last for just a minute then I must exhale again, emptying my thoughts on paper and that with my favorite pen.

I've learned to write things down in order to change my mood and leaning not to my own understanding it's by eating spiritual food.

I had to learn to pray a lot when things weighed heavily on my mind, when trials would come my way through others not so kind.

Soul food is what you need when things begin to get too tough, this race is not won if you faint sometimes it can get rough.

The Lord didn't promise each day would be filled with laughter, He only promised to see us through even in our worst disaster.

The lessons we learn along the way may seem harder than we expect, but when we hear God's voice we will prosper if His word we don't reject.

So lay down your burdens at the Masters feet, for in due time he will bless you, we don't have to live in defeat.

There is life support running that is keeping you alive, it's the Word of God written in our bibles that help us to survive.

They help only if you read them and learn to quote the Book, directly at the devil when in your face he looks.

Let him see our Savior looking back at him for Jesus lives within our hearts and obedience is how we win.

I use to hurt the more I prayed until I felt at ease and now I feel those burdens lift, but only when I breathe.

Let Christ be in you the hope of Glory.

THE ENVELOPE

It started off as paper just like the canvas upon which I write. It then was shaped and later glued with no contents placed inside.

It comes in many shapes and sizes while the purpose is still the same. It is used to hold many thoughts or objects like a frame.

It can come in many colors and shades, whatever pleasures your eyes or simply in plain white just like the clouds up in the sky.

It's been known to be called personal as it holds so many thoughts or can come in legal size when some one is at fault.

The envelope holds the secrets that would otherwise be exposed, it can be a paper trail to some with contents hidden and stored.

Our hearts are like the envelope, it holds so many things. It can hold our most important possessions, our words, our thoughts our dreams.

So when you prepare to send your letter just keep in mind this note; it must have the proper postage and show the return address you wrote.

So now it's time to mail it off and wait for a reply, the letter carrier is now responsible for the contents that are inside.

He'll deliver it in the snow and rain and even on hot days, but don't you get discouraged for soon your answer will be on its way.

Remember everything you said plus the contents that are enclosed and remember in matters of the heart our carrier always knows.

You see at the postal service they scan what has been sent and later on down the line if returned you'll see just where it went.

If your letter wasn't received then think of everything you've done. Was the address properly written or was that mistake number one.

Secondly, was it plain and clear or was it hard to read, you must make sure you did your part or they cannot meet your need.

In matters of the heart like this letter we must know, if we have given God our best or have we left room in our hearts so we can grow.

Our hearts are like these letters we must be careful of what's inside, the contents are important so be careful of what you hide.

On the outside of our envelope it can appear that all is well, but what is written on the inside can cast your soul to hell.

Don't let this poem scare you or cause you to lose faith, just get your life in order and when tested pass with grace.

Well, now your letter is fixed or sent and your answer is on it's way, rejoice and be ye ever glad for when you receive your answer it will be an awesome day.

When God answers prayer!!!

THE LAD OF FABIA

There lived a boy from the town of Fabia, his hair was long and straggly, his shoes didn't fit and he always walked alone. Many might say that he was a loner, and of course they would be right. To many this boy was merely an eyesore to the community and would be better off to not be seen at all.

Never a friend to talk to, the boy would walk right by the many popular of Fabia upon arriving home he'd cry.

His teachers were judgmental, they judged him by his looks and when the school year began he got all the tattered books.

The lad