Be Prepared For Hugs and Kisses...

I borrowed this photo from a previous Valentine's Day post HERE 😅💞

My 'Valentine' is hoping to be home by Sunday

after spending a few days in frigid Fargo, N.D. due to

waiting on a part to repair his truck.

💝

On the Homefront I am trying to decide

what to cook for hopefully

A Valentine and Family Day dinner on Sunday evening...

Be prepared for breath soft-stolen

For your heart to skip a beat

When That Very Special Someone

Sweetly sweeps you off your feet

Be prepared for hugs and kisses

For feeling rich as a king

Love between Mister and Missus

Is a very precious thing

Be prepared for laughter's joy-ride

While love dreams of dreams come true

But, lest we forget love's flipside

Be prepared for sorrow too

Because love's darling duration

No matter how long or brief

Cannot, in its culmination 

Escape its guerdon of grief

Be prepared for lots of learning

'I do' flings ajar a door

Through which there is no returning

To the way love was before

Now, begins a new love story

'We' rather than 'me' or 'my'

Be prepared to say 'I'm sorry'

Lest love's sacred fires die

Love, when loosed, can be a bully

When tempers spark verbal blows

Be prepared to forgive fully

For the sacred sake of vows

Then, to be more humbly grateful

To God, whose love never ends

But helps us be true and faithful

And the very best of friends 

Be prepared for constant changes

Nothing stays the same, my dear

All we hold, Time's Hand estranges

For fresh frames of Now and Here

While the heart weathers the thunder

Of what nevermore will be

Be prepared to weep with wonder

At love's echo-gallery  

Be prepared to help each other

Not frowning, but with a smile

Pity those who cannot bother

To suffer a second mile

Wanting only box of candy

Roses, compliments galore  

Be prepared to come in handy

In the middle of 'your chore' 

Be prepared to be confounded

 By love's bittersweet reward

Leaving utterance astounded

Save to whisper 'Thank-you, Lord

Be prepared for hugs and kisses

No matter how young or old

Love between Mister and Missus

Is a pleasure to behold 

So, do not withhold love's graces

Love is a treasure most rare

Not to display in showcases

But to prove with work and prayer

Be prepared for sun and shower

And, no matter come what may

Be prepared, for farewell's hour

With each hello of new day

© Janet Martin 

Be prepared to help each other 😂😁💖

(just for fun, sometimes)

Love (or the lack thereof)

The two little boys I care for on Wednesdays beamed with pleasure

the other morning as they came, bearing hearts for Miss Janet!

(there's a beautiful parable in the heart that was torn

much to Lad's disappointment, but then tenderly mended by his loving mother)

(We have much to learn from the pure, unprejudiced love of children, don't we?!!)

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Love,      or the

    lack thereof,     my dear, makes 

all the difference....   Love crowns

 the common task with cheer and gladdens

 diligence. The lack thereof rues thorns, unenthralled by

  the rose. It frets life's mercy-brimming morns that love alone bestows.

Love whets a holy song for living's simple things, and never keeps score

of the wrongs that being human brings, but is patient and kind; not proud

 greedy or rude. Love freely gives and does not mind the priceless cost

 accrued. But finds the favoured key to peace and happiness. Love

 fills the likes of you and me with humble gratefulness for what

will never fail, though tried by sorrow's rod. True love

withstands the gripping gale because love comes

 from God, who first loved us, thus joy

for all of life depends on Love;

 love or sad lack

thereof makes

all the diff-

-eren

ce

© Janet Martin 

💘💘💘💘💘

Traditional form...

Love, or the lack thereof, my dear, makes all the difference

Love crowns the common task with cheer and gladdens diligence.

The lack thereof rues thorns, unenthralled by the rose.

It frets life's mercy-brimming morns that love alone bestows.

Love whets a holy song for living's simple things,

and never keeps score of the wrongs that being human brings,

but is patient and kind; not proud, greedy or rude.

Love freely gives and does not mind the priceless cost accrued.

But finds the favoured key to peace and happiness.

Love fills the likes of you and me with humble gratefulness

for what will never fail, though tried by sorrow's rod.

True love withstands grief's gripping gale because love comes from God,

who first loved us, thus joy for all of life depends

on Love; love or sad lack thereof makes all the difference

💗

Cruci-form

Love, or the

lack thereof,

my dear...

makes all the

difference

Love crowns

the common

task with

cheer and

gladdens

diligence. The lack thereof rues thorns, unenthralled by the rose. It frets

life's mercy-brimming morns that love alone bestows. Love whets a holy song

for living's simple things, and never keeps score of the wrongs that being

human brings, but is patient and kind; not proud, greedy or rude. Love

freely gives and

does not mind

the priceless

cost accrued.

But finds the

favoured key

to peace and

happiness.

Love fills the

likes of you

and me with

humble gratefulness

for what will

never fail,

though tried

by sorrow's rod.

True love with-

stands grief's

gripping gale

because love

comes from God,

who first loved us, thus joy for all of life depends

on Love; love or sad lack thereof makes all the difference

💝💝💝

John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give to you, 

that you love one another; 

as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, 

if you have love for one another.”

💕💕💕

Because God is love,

love helps us accomplish the seemingly impossible!

He helps us love the unlovable, 

forgive the unforgiveable

and be merciful and compassionate

 to the undeserving

just like God does for every one of us!

While we were still sinners, He died for us!

So there are no justifiable 'buts' to defend

bitterness, hatred, spite and unforgiveness.

Because of love's sacred 'buts' like these below

we are able to love one another!

💞💞💞

Rom.5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.

💖

Eph.2:4-7

But God, who is rich in mercy,

because of His great love with which He loved us,

5even when we were dead in trespasses,

made us alive together with Christ

(by grace you have been saved),

6and raised us up together,

and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

7that in the ages to come He might show

the exceeding riches of His grace

in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

💝

Matt 5:43-46

3“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor

and hate your enemy.’ 44[o]But I say to you, love your enemies,

bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,

and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;

for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good,

and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?

Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

💟

John 1:12-13

But to all who did receive Him,

to those who believed in His name,

He gave the right to become children of God—

children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man,

but born of God.

💗

Titus 3:5

He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done,

but according to His mercy,

through the washing of new birth

and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

💓

1 Peter 3:9

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult,

but with blessing, because to this you were called

so that you may inherit a blessing.

For Oh, So Many Ways We Didn’t Dream (That Love Would Be)

Happy Valentine's Day!!💘

But, as I type this greeting

my heart aches for those who, from our vantagepoint

seem to have their love stories cut short far too soon!

It reminds me to humbly treasure the measure of Today 

and all its opportunities to 'love one another'!

John 13:34
A new commandment I give you:

 Love one another. 

As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.

And so worth every prick of thorn to marvel at the rose...

Love is full of surprises, no matter what age we reach

Always so many new lessons it seems, still left to teach

For Love is a like a tutor, often testing you and me

With oh, so many ways we didn’t dream that love would be

No respecter of rank or race, or ‘reason-right’ retort

Love is patient and kind; all other replies fall far short

Thus, we learn to adjust the dust-scaffold of darling dreams

Because we are all subject to the laws that love esteems

Love is a lifelong (not a once-and-done) ladder we climb

As faithfulness fulfills its calling one step at a time

No easy-out, no masquerade, no detour to the prize

Love vexes Best of Dreamers with Lessons in Compromise

‘I’m sorry, dear, your favorite jeans are laundered but still wet’

‘Honey, why do you toss the keys, who-knows-where, then forget’

And why are we so stubborn in love’s sudden tug-of-wars

Instead of letting love be strong enough to settle scores

There is no finer splendor than love, weathered by its toll

Love, such a tender mender of the wounds of heart and soul

And so worth every effort dressed in plain workaday clothes

And so worth every prick of thorn to marvel at the rose

And so worth every task, that, without love would drive us mad

And so worth every up and down that we have ever had

And so worth every sacrifice, to safeguard vows we made

And recognize the precious bloom of ‘Now’ that soon will fade

Love crowns the commonplace with words like ‘friend’ and ‘family’

It treasures every day rife with fresh opportunity

It does not envy, does not boast, it is not proud or rude

And often reaps an awed reward of humble gratitude

Where, in the aftermath of stumbles we begin to learn

(In the light of God’s mercy,) love is not something we earn

But, because of its Author, love befits us faithfully

For oh, so many ways we didn’t dream that love would be

© Janet Martin

The Vows Scene in the movie

Woman of the  Year

Holds great reminders for all of us

loving/living out our own journeys of 

'for better or worse till death doth part'

Are you wearing red?

Asked Jim when he called this morning...

No. I replied, but I'm wearing fuzzy pink pjs with hearts on them

if that counts for something😂😂😍💗

(You know the ones I mean, ladies, right?!

Completely comfy but not much in the line of attractiveness??)

As we chatted about life's Glorious Ordinary,

plus a few extra ups and downs

today's poem gathered steam!!

As youth sheds its green and then middle-age, its gold

something far more precious

than first meets the eye, 

begins to unfold...

I will try to unearth something red to wear for

a very special dinner tonight,

 (no matter what is served at our kitchen table )

because Jim, most often gone on Valentine's Day,

 is planning to be home tonight!

1 Cor.13

 (My Favourite Love Poem)

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, 

I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, 

and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, 

and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, 

but have not love, I am nothing. 

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, 

and though I give my body [a]to be burned, 

but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; 

love does not envy; 

love does not parade itself, 

is not [b]puffed up; 

5 does not behave rudely, 

does not seek its own, 

is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; 

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 

7 bears all things, 

believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things.

8 Love never fails. 

But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; 

whether there are tongues, they will cease; 

whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 

10 But when that which is [d]perfect has come,

 then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child,

 I spoke as a child, 

I understood as a child, 

thought as a child; 

but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, 

but then face to face. 

Now I know in part, 

but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; 

but the greatest of these 

is love.

A 'Sweet Love' Song

  Happy Day-After-Valentine's Day

This poem was started on Monday

then, although I got up at six and went to bed at almost midnight

I did not get an opportunity to finish it on Valentine's Day

(as planned/hoped for on Monday!)

However, it was a day full of love,

 first childcare (including heart-puppet-creating and puppet-shows)

some eager helping...

...then going to look after my grandchildren in the evening

so their parents could have an extremely rare night out!

(photo above sent as a Happy Valentine's Day greeting yesterday morning courtesy of their mom)

Jim and I talked a few times yesterday but never about Valentine's Day!

When I got home last night I found this little reminder 

that he remembered, on my side of the bed.

(A bathrobe belt and leather belt heart😆💕😘)

He passed through the house while I was gone, 

for supper, a shower and fresh food and laundry supplies for the road. 

(all packed and ready to go because that's how we've done it for almost 35 years)

It's not fancy, but it works.

It Works-Alabama

 

(we've lived both these songs💕)

When we starting keeping score in marriage we are headed for disaster, right?!

What's the Score? Don Williams

Below, a sacred 'salute' to love!

💝

You teach me how to dance and sing,

To fall, to feast on tears

You preach from pulpits shimmering

With verge of yesteryears

You hold me close and charm me

With the friendship of hello

And with kisses disarm me

While I learn how to let go

You startle me with happiness

Too fragile for ink-font

From heart-shaped aftermath you press

Wisdom mingled with want

You haunt me with a presence

Half stranger, half family

And taunt me with an essence

Of familiarity

You make life worth the living

While accumulating scars

Where lessons of forgiving

Hone heart-shores with salty stars

You help me survive seasons

(not winter-spring-summer-fall)

By losing count of reasons

For the wonder of it all

You make sacred, the laughter

With sorrow for what is not

And drain to ever-after

Sparkles touched but never caught

You keep me humbly greedy

For more of Never Enough

Of learning to be needy

When it comes to you, sweet love

You tune me to the Giver

Of each good and perfect Gift

To Him, glory forever

His love does not wane or shift

But grants to every hour

Mercy; kind, longsuffering

For He is love; his power

Teaches me to dance and sing

© Janet Martin

1 Cor.13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

 But the greatest of these is love.

Let's Not Keep Love A Secret

The worst secret to keep

is our struggles in love!

'Because love is the fight of all fights, all right'!!

And its success depends on you and me

Yesterday's Post, Betrayal, The Chief of Grief

 has hit closer to home in the past year than ever before

Making me wonder perhaps if we should be better acquainted

with Love Himself!

Photo below taken a year ago when life was still 'normal'

(this would be our annual getaway weekend)

I will be the first to admit I/Jim and I could plaster a massive wall with mistakes made,

and mementos of 'failure' BUT we commit to never quit forgiving each other

to keep our marriage vows and remain faithful to the finish!

Maybe all women should be asking this poem of our Lifelong-Love-to-be

Love flows like fire in a pen 

It tugs heartstrings with mute amen 

Where farewell often steals the show 

And love must learn how to let go 

While ever honing the fine art 

Of keeping motive pure in heart 

Love is more than ‘my happiness’ 

Or a costume worn to impress 

Love suffers much and bears in mind 

That to be strong love must be kind 

It does not harbour for itself 

Some idol on a secret shelf 

Love is a weapon and a shield 

A mountain and an open field 

It weathers, tethers and equips 

With iron will, and gentle lips 

And in its sacred ties that bind 

We leave words like ‘my, me’ behind 

Love intertwines with its cohort 

For love is not a solo-sport 

But cleaves to its betrothed ally 

To keep vigil with watchful eye 

For when love lets its guard grow lax 

It invites enemy attacks 

Love seems to be the favoured prey 

Of dreams and lies and cunning sway 

Then our greatest goal should be 

To protect it ferociously 

And defend love’s holy ought 

Lest we fail it, for love does not 

Love is far more than meets the gaze 

Of those who wonder at its ways 

Love is a front-line, prayer-immersed 

The aftermath of ‘others first’ 

It does not covet, does not steal 

It does not trust the dust of ‘feel’ 

Love is a God-begotten tryst 

Without Him, love does not exist 

For God is love, in Him we trust 

All else is hate’s accomplice; lust 

And whether we believe or not 

All who have loved have witnessed God 

Love never fails; lust desecrates 

What havoc Selfish Yes creates 

When it is seduced by the lies 

That masquerade as love’s disguise 

Behooving us to reassess 

Who and what brings True Happiness 

Darling, let’s commit to the fight 

For This is what love is, all right 

White knuckled grit to hold on so 

While we submit to letting go

Of all that does not benefit 

Love’s long and short and whole of it 

Love has no trophy wall or shelf 

It never succeeds by itself 

But exceeds all else, above all 

Though its accolades may seem small 

When weighed with the success Fame hails 

Where love commits, love never fails 

Love, let it be our sole/soul intent 

Let it be the humble cement 

That binds the mason-work of days 

With devoted, trustworthy ways 

So that when death our last breath drains 

The legacy of love remains 

© Janet Martin 

In this community, recently Death has drained so many, suddenly

of Last Breath, leaving behind Love/life's permanent legacy

which is why, in these very troubled times

 I am choosing this simple song by Don Williams to remind us

of what really matters!

We Should Only Have Time For Love