A Mom-to-Daughter Birthday Poem

 Hi Melissa and God bless you on this day, your Birthday!

Twenty-four years ago Emily became a sister 

and I was delighted beyond words to be the mom of another daughter.

The delight and humble pride of motherhood has never wavered, no matter the 'what'!

So thankful for you, Melissa, and what you add to the fabric-work of our family and home!

Sometimes it would be easy to slip into ‘missing you’

In spite of knowing heartstrings/prayers stretch as far as they need to

The joy that daughters bring to mothers tends to evade speech

And when I try to spell it, it seems words are out of reach

Sometimes the clock eats up a year with shocking fluency

And sometimes mothers can’t help but recall life’s used-to-be

But this is not for nothing; it reminds us to embrace

The here and now before it joins the cast of yesterdays

Sometimes words seems so little to tell of love without end

The ‘love-you-as-a-daughter-but-even-more-as-a-friend’

And sometimes ‘thank-you God’ seems quite a mighty, teeny praise

When I think of all it enfolds in age-old three-word phrase

The heart is like an art-gallery filled with pictures, prized

A mother learns that hold and letting go is synchronized

So every now and then when one would least expect it so

She snares a simple here-and-now and adds it to the show

Sometimes her love spills into stars that land upon her cheek

And when she tries to tell you why it seems she cannot speak

Except to fumble with words old as time yet ever new

Where there is nothing in the world like mother’s  ‘I love you’

© Janet Martin

My mom often 'gave' me this verse...
I now understand more fully why!
It applies to us all, no matter what stage/age of life we are in!

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding; 
 In all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.
Prov.3:5-6