Showing posts with label cherish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cherish. Show all posts

Friday, January 27, 2023

Learning to Cherish



Do you also tend to feel a sense of frustration/astonishment 
as you read in Exodus, how God freed the children of Israel from
their bondage and oppression in Egypt in ways that they beheld His mighty power,
Then how, though they had a visual reminder of His presence 
in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, (Ex.13:21)


How, though God parted the Red Sea so they passed through on dry ground, 
before the waters swallowed up the Egyptian army pursuing them.
and yet, how quickly their praise turned to murmuring
 when they were hungry and thirsty,
when present unpleasantness drew their attention and worship
 from He who had proven faithful over and over...
Oh!!! suddenly this sounds very familiar! 
forgive me, Lord!!

Moses' reprimand to the children of Israel is the same for you and me...
Because if we believe we too have been freed 
from bondage and oppression in the wilderness of Sin!


(I jotted half of this poem yesterday from a totally different train of thought
before finishing it this morning after today's scripture reading from Exodus!)

We take it as it comes; Blossoms and butterflies
Wishes that don’t come true and some that do to our surprise
We cannot seize what was or leap beyond today
So, we cherish what is because there is no other way

We take it as it is; of new not yet turned old
Of old that once was younger and of gray that once was gold
We cannot stay the hands that mark the march of time
So, we cherish duty’s demands and beauty’s season-chime

We take it as it goes; the high road and the low
Where only God, who grants it knows what life waits to bestow
To teach us how to trust and love Him all our days
To cherish His goodness to us and live a life of praise

To He who does not faint or weary of our cry
May we withhold thankless complaint and vanity of 'why' 
But cherish that which flows from Mercy's patient nod/rod
What comes, what is, what goes unfurls the soul's return to God


© Janet Martin

...in the morning we shall see the glory of the Lord!
Ex.16:7

Isa. 40:28
Have you not known? 
Have you not heard?
 The everlasting God, the LORD, 
The Creator of the ends of the earth, 
Neither faints nor is weary. 
His understanding is unsearchable.




Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Life's Crown Jewel


This poem-title was a bit difficult to settle on;
Love's Workday-Wow
Carousel of Great Escape
The Way of Day-to-Day
Precious Commonplace
Crown Jewel of the Precious Commonplace
and Life's Crown Jewel
Is that the sign of a mediocre poem/poet?😅
Not sure, but the topic and heart of this poem is anything but!
It is written to remind us to love well and cherish dearly
 our loved ones today, right here, right now!

Yesterday, a family in this community lost a 20 yr. old son in a tragic accident.
In 2018 they lost a 24. yr. old son in another horrific accident.
Our hearts break for this family's loss and constant sorrow...

As a mother of adult children I am still dumbfounded by how fast those
sometimes seemingly tedious years flew by!
As a gramma I am seeing time accelerates
rather than slows, 
so to all of us wherever in love's lessons we are;
cherish!

This was supper a year ago...


no matter how hard I look at the picture I can't taste it!
We can only taste what is on offer today.
Cherish.

The way of day-to-day unfurls the rise and fall of years
A carousel of seasons twirls around and disappears
As moments slip through our embrace like jewels from a trove
That would quite oft feel commonplace but for one treasure; love

This life we live, of ups and downs, without love would be drear
A narrative of smiles and frowns devoid of joy or cheer
But with sweet love, the Here and Now, though heaped with much to learn
Surprises us; love’s workday-wow finds God at every turn

Dear mother, in the thick of training up a little child
Time cuts its target to the quick; where wick of youth burns wild
Then do not wish to haste the rise and fall of shadows cast
But cherish well the darling prize that flies from arms too fast

God, help us see beyond the cape and shape of task and such
A Carousel of Great Escape whirls beneath common touch
Then help us rediscover love ere seasons slip away
To startle us with echoes of little children at play

…where Way of Day-to-Day unfurls a world of yesteryears
Where little boy’s and little girl’s sweet childhood disappears
As moments slip through our embrace like jewels from a trove
Making precious, the commonplace with life's crown jewel; love

© Janet Martin

The reason I use the verse below repeatedly
is because it bears repeating!
(we are such a forgetful breed)

This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24