Sweet Precious Wow!

 After a bit of a roller-coaster week we are thrilled to announce the birth of our grand-daughter

on Friday! Both mother and baby are doing well!

Not ready yet to fret about the ways that wait to test and try

Enough for now to simply snuggle, cuddle, kiss and rock-a-bye

Earth is a plateau where both highs and lows alloy and drive us wild

Heaven is never nearer than in the joy of a newborn child  

Not ready yet to think about how soon you’ll sit or walk or talk

Enough for now, sweet precious Wow, to simply snuggle, kiss and rock

© Janet Martin

 Makes me re-appreciate this quote!

All Part Of The Journey

"It's all part of the journey" I remind my daughter as she tries not to fret the arrival of

Sweet Little One not here yet

Now uphill, now downhill

Now tiptoe, now tumble

From green leaf to bramble

Now amble, now fly

New morning, new drama

Like clicks of a camera

Now daughter, now mama

Now grandma, oh my

Now hello, now so long

Now mellow, now too strong

Now glad song, now sad song

Now trembling, now brave

Now heartache, now honey

Now solemn, now funny

All part of the journey

From cradle to grave

Now pushing and shoving

Now patient and loving

Tell me oh my darling

How could we succeed

Without friends to cheer us

Without loved ones near us

Without God to hear us

And grant what we need

© Janet Martin

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Phil.4:19

The Hope Of Man

 Sometimes when discouragement's condemnation threatens to deaden hope,

Sometimes when I say yep when oh, I should have answered 'nope'

Sometimes when I believe the lies of hope's vile enemy

I bow my head and lift my eyes...to Calvary

...to hear once more from days of yore the final declaration

Of "it is finished" as He bore and conquered death's damnation

and nothing and no one can alter Mercy's saving grace

Through Jesus Christ God's only Son whose love/life took our/death's place

The ways of man since Time began

Are not hard to predict

First Eve believed and was deceived

By folly’s rhetoric

Where we in turn must also learn

How disobedience

When we are wise in our own eyes

Yields bitter recompense/consequence

Aha, aha, the Time-tried law

Of lust and pride confirms

How without love our motives prove

We are all filthy worms

And without grace, ah, who could face

Death’s cold and morbid dread

The blood of Christ, love’s sacrifice

For sinner’s ransom shed

 Love’s Master plan, the hope of man

The hope of man assured

Through merit of a Saviour’s love

Upon a cross secured

Love’s uttermost becomes the boast

As Belief rends the tomb

Where ways of man since Time began

Would else lead to hell’s doom

© Janet Martin

A Few Things Learned In Fifty-plus Years

Happy 50th Birthday to my beautiful sister, Lucy

(sharing a few things I've learned in my own 50+)

(photo credit; Brittany Ruppert)

To touch without clutching

To look without wanting

To have without holding

Save deep in the heart

To taste life more slowly

For each breath is holy

Where alone and lonely

Are worlds apart

To be kind and tender

For we share the splendor

And brunt of hope, hunger

And try-try again

Where stumble and fumble

Helps to keep us humble

And laughter full-free is

Life’s best medicine

To bask in the beauty

Of task’s humble duty

For who knows what mis’ry

Its taper may snuff

To try not to borrow

The weight of tomorrow

Today’s joy and sorrow

Are more than enough

To cherish the treasure

Of each moment-measure

Where burden and pleasure

Keep pace, side by side

Where trust tests our self-will

Where faith none can prove til

With fires of trial

Our idyll is tried

To speak with intention

And gentle affection

To earn through correction

The wisdom it brings

To scavenge the coffers

That dawn-to-dusk proffers

For the best this life offers

Is its simple things

To drink coffee often

And where our curves soften

Delight in the cotton

Of baggy night-shirts

To fling flirty answers

Where laundry-line dancers

Are quite the romancers

In flapping denims and skirts

To pray without ceasing

For every season

Has every reason

To call upon God

Where no one is able

To set supper’s table

Save for mercy’s staples

Of seed-sun-rain-sod

To find the word 'grandma'

Fits nicely with 'mama'

Then not mind the drama

Of sprightly white hair

But to start embracing

That old woman facing (well, maybe not you...yet😉😝)

Our puzzled expression

When/if we look in the mirror

To give without ration

For love and compassion

No matter the fashion

Are welcomed by all

To work with devoutness

And honour its commonness

For in the King’s service

No chore is too small

To forgive each other

And love one another

We’re all sister-brother

And creatures of need

Then, to be more gracious

For each life is precious

Whatever our age is

Or country or creed

…and, just to be thankful

For spoon, mouth or handful

For Time is a candle

And life is a gift

Filled with death and yearning

And hearts always learning

The art of returning

To the Giver of it

© Janet Martin

Give thanks to the LORD,
 for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 107:1