Wednesday, May 2, 2018

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"--

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.
 
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.











2 comments:

  1. Beautiful! "Lord, make him weak enough to stand
    and strong enough to kneel"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank-you Trish;) a prayer for all of us, I guess, huh?

      Delete

I hope you enjoyed your pause on this porch and thank-you for your visit!