Looking back on days gone by
On carefree days of youth
On summer days of simple pleasures
And winter days of snow

Barefoot days in glorious pastures
Berry pails at my knee
Picking yellow wildflowers
Clenched in an eight-year-old fist.

Dreams filled my brunette head
With fantasy and tales
They swept me far to days ahead
Of my life that God would give.

Dreams of future, ambitious goals
I was certain I’d attain
Dreams of wealth and high applause
Respectful fear and awe.

At times my dreams would take a turn
I’d see the grown-up me
Living, loving a godly man
That loved me for who I am.

My dreams grew wild, wild and free
Like the hairy blackberry vines
That covered the ground that they had claimed
And reached farther every day.
Now here I am—where I longed to be
I’m respected, I’m twenty-one
I have that life I craved so much
The schooling, and the name.

But does it really satisfy? Will it fill the gap
The gap in which my God must stand
The gap which He must fill?
As I grew from child to girl
And reaching womanhood
I learned this world can’t satisfy
All it brings is hurt.

All the accomplishments I have made
My GPA, honors, scores
Have brought nothing but mere men’s applause
At times not even that.

I learned that I must turn my eyes
To gaze upon His face
To see the beauty in His eyes
And to worship at His feet.

I must strive to serve Him only
Not some earthly goal
My life must focus on His purpose
And flee my selfish aims.