Ultimate Goal...Happy 20th Birthday, Matt

Soon time for all its trouble takes

Each share of joy or strife

And from collected echoes makes

The picture of a life

Where rise and fall of day to day

Not one hour repeats

Grace pours into the painter’s tray

Fresh faith-and-valor fetes

Where constant charge of Now and Here

Is like a gift from God

Love’s colours of both smile and tear

Anoints time’s temp’ral sod

…and instills a most solemn Urge

Within the human heart

As subtle-swift, a steadfast surge

Turns moments into art

Were Gallery of Days Gone By

Showcases Learn and Teach

As That and This soon fills the eye

With pictures out of reach

…and what once seemed like ‘nothing much’

Clad in modest veneer

Becomes, beneath bequeathed taste-touch

A legacy, my dear

Then seek with all your heart, the truth

Pursue integrity

Remember in your days of youth

He who made you and me

With humble mind, take daily stock

Of Time’s Ultimate Goal

Where common tick and tock of clock

Soon strips all but the soul

© Janet Martin

Dear Matt,

 So thankful for the gift of you

that heaps the heart with joys

while soft and swift years turn into

What makes men out of boys

Lord, bless and guide and keep this man

Winnowed from boyish zeal

Lord, make him weak enough to stand

and strong enough to kneel

...and as the years unfold their due

 Of Unknown's breadth and length

Lord, help him learn to lean on you

For both wisdom and strength

Matt, so glad for the gift of you

For all that God has planned

I pray that you always cling to

 His kind, Unfailing Hand

Mom~

(also, SO thankful for all your friends, young men of integrity and truth!
 I often pray for you all!)

 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, 

before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say,

 "I find no pleasure in them"--

Eccles.12:1

Isaiah 33:6
And He will be the stability of your times, 

A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; 

The fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Ecclesiastes 10:2
A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, 

but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left.
 

Matt.6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, 

and all these things will be given to you as well.

Ps.119:9
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.