How Do I Love Thee, (Once upon Sweet Childhood's Girl or Boy)

(a rather sentimental undoing of a mother's heart

as she contemplates a mother's love for grown children 💝)

Birthdays have a way of doing that...

Happy 24th birthday, Matt!

How do I love thee, once upon sweet childhood’s girl or boy?

I love thee with a brutal grief and with a daring joy

I love thee like a gentle lamb yet with a lion’s roar

It seems like every day I love you like never before

How do I love thee? In a tender tumult borne within

My dear, you cannot guess the world unfurled beneath my skin

Or how a mother holds her babies close in spite of years

How love is like a medley of hugs, tugs, cheers, fears and tears

How do I love thee? With compassion’s firm and fierce regard

Because I know though love is sweet, love is grueling and hard

A holy weathering that cannot be estranged by miles

A prayer-worn tethering through sorrow-storms and sunshine-smiles

How do I love thee? like a dancer still learning the steps

A hold and letting go that Season-change cannot eclipse

With sympathy and hope and honor all rolled into one

I love thee like only a mother loves daughter or son

How do I love thee? with oft stumble-humbled gratitude

With by-the-grace-of-God whose kindness keeps courage renewed

With error-riddled aftermath and laughter’s grand release

With awe, while God is teaching me what makes a masterpiece 

From mom aka

© Janet Martin

Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.