Love's Loss... of Words

 Happy 25th, Victoria! 

Love; the epitome of joy and sorrow

Of holding and letting go.

Breakfast date with dear Dad...

Since Friday night my siblings and I have taken turns staying with dad (and mom)

 because mom was suddenly hospitalized to receive treatment for ITP etc. 

We are thankful she is being released, at least for today because

today my dad is having a surgery to get as much of a tumour removed

as the surgeons safely can, because the tumour is pressing on his brain

and causing swelling. Prayers are deeply valued.

Our family is also mourning with my niece J, 

(mentioned last week) and her family

On Monday J. gave birth to their premature daughter, Eleanor Alice Mae,

who went to be with Jesus before she was born.

Prayers for their peace and comfort also cherished!

Last night we celebrated our beautiful, kind, generous Victoria's birthday a day late,

and I was struck afresh at the precious tug of love's opposing tides

of joy and grief...and how nothing can leave us quite as speechless

as trying to express Love! 

Love leaves us at a loss for words, ink cannot cage in poetry

It overflows and undergirds the heart with awed humility

And fits us for its seconds miles that without love we could not bear

It testifies, with tears and smiles both joy and grief beyond compare

Love never fails, though oft we do, God grants his patient sympathies

And without measure runs life through with whole, new opportunities

To learn through stumble and regret to forgive and forget and then

By the example Jesus set to love one another. Amen

Love is the voice of tender care to cheer us where troubles abound

It is the hand that helps us bear the burdens of love’s holy ground

It is the ear that hears; the heart that weathers both pleasure and pain

And whether near or far apart love’s faithfulness and truth remain

…to fill the holes loss leaves in souls with love still left to give and take

To teach us, where fond farewell tolls, to savour what love’s moments make;

A picture books of memories we made in Bygone’s Now and Here

Reminding us to cherish these moments before they disappear

Love, the greatest wonder of all oft strips our lips of eloquence

While laughter lilts and teardrops fall with love’s exposing/opposing elements

For love both breaks and heals our hearts, both grueling grief and joyful laud

While oft love’s loss of words imparts a vivid, precious glimpse of God

Janet Martin

1 Cor.13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind.

 It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,

 it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.

  Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. 

It bears all things, 

believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things.

Love never fails.