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Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Of Fellow-tree

 

Love sometimes may seem harsh at first, but true love 
does not leave truth or untruth untouched
 just as a doctor would not
leave the patient unwounded to spare them initial pain
thus not ridding them of the deadly growth within... 
or just as an arborist knows
 a healthy tree requires pruning


Because this tree has not been faithfully pruned
and cared for its fruit is misshapen and blight-pocked
(I have never been very educated in apple tree care) 

How diligently love's students should study God's Word,
(love's instruction book) because its author IS Love
Otherwise unawares we may be blind to the truth 
about love
and grace
 and truth...

Luke 6:39
And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind?
 Will they not both fall into the ditch?

1 Sam.15:22
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

True love does not praise and condone displays of disobedience
Nor does it cast a verbal stone, but prays that the sinner repents
For none are righteous, without He who saves us, not by works, but grace
Then, with kindest humility, may love mirror our Saviour’s face

Pity the one who, yet deceived, believes sin’s wage is life, not death
That honest love is brave enough to cut with tenderness and care
Rather than fear they think love gruff, thus leaving deadly cancer there

Love is patient and kind but never winks at gates where vice creeps in
Lest by such lie it aids to blind and bind the sinner to the sin
But love, with careful conscience prays for grace and truth’s duality
To wake the one who disobeys; by the fruit God will know the tree

Love cares about a fellow-tree not bent with harvest sound and good  
And braves the possibility of love being misunderstood
By asking God to fill the cup we lift with kind humility
So love would open up  the eyes, still rebel-blind, to look and see

© Janet Martin



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