Our Dad...

Last night we celebrated dear Dad's 85th birthday!

Thank-you to so many who have sent him a birthday card!

Both mom and dad are enjoying them

 and being kindly blessed by each one!

(note: we are having a card shower for dad!)

After last night's cards are counted mom said she thinks 

they will have received 85 cards! Thank-you again!

One day dad brought in 14 envelopes from the mailbox 

and he remarked to mom 'that it's never been like this before!'

(Dad is in the middle stage of dementia;

some moments/days comprehension is clearer than others)

Our dad lived out a legacy of faith and hope and love

Our dad led by example knowing words are not enough

Our dad, a man of principle, truth and integrity

Makes us so glad he is our dad and we his family

Our dad allowed his footsteps to be ordered by the Lord

He fellowshipped with God in prayer, and taught us from His Word

He worked with zeal and energy until time took its toll

He raised a family of ten, tending body and soul 

Our dad is dearly, deeply loved; the older that we grow

We cherish ever more the love he seldom spoke, but showed

And thank the Lord more often for the values he instilled

By serving conscientiously each role that he fulfilled 

We are so thankful for you, dad, and for dear mother too

Once you worked hard to care for us, now we want to help you

And count it a great privilege and blessing to return

The love that teaches us we are never too old to learn 

God bless you mom and dad, and fill you with His joy and peace

Knowing, whatever lies ahead His mercies never cease

His grace sufficient for each day, whatever cares assail

He cares for us with love and promises that never fail

Love, your daughter

Janet

and the whole Martin clan

Ps.37:23-26

The steps of a good man are [d]ordered by the Lord,

And He delights in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;

For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old;

Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,

Nor his descendants begging bread.

26 He is [e]ever merciful, and lends;

And his descendants are blessed.

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.

Update!!The surgery went well!

thank-you everyone, for praying

and continued prayers for health, strength and healing!

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.

Praise God For You, Dearest of Dads

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; 

so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: 

and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord:

and he delighteth in his way.

Ps.37:3,4 & 23

Today is the birthday of a man who

I love and respect/admire beyond words!

Happy 84th Birthday, Dad

Praise God, when you were young you gave your life to Him then sought

To walk in paths of righteousness, by His Word led and taught

A lamp unto your feet, a light to shine upon a way

You could not see but knew the Truth will never lead astray

Praise God for the good man whose steps are ordered by the Lord

Who knows, without God's armour he will fall prey to the world 

Who loves the tender Shepherd and the Saviour of the soul

And seeks to honour Him as he presses toward faith's Goal

Praise God for dads who teach their children to obey and trust

The kind Heavenly Father who remembers 'we are dust' 

And like Him, they are patient too, when live-and-learning' errs

And all that he can do is keep them in his earnest prayers

Praise God for you, dearest of dads, and beloved, more and more

As your children grow older and more humbly thankful for

The example you gave us that no money can afford 

Of the steps of a good man that are ordered by the Lord

Janet Martin

For Each Precious Dad...A Thank-you Prayer

Happy Father's Day!

(and prayers for God to comfort those who are mourning the loss of 'dad' this year)

 My Dad

My children's Dad

My grandchildren's Dad

Thank-you God, for each of them!

Our Father who art in Heaven

You gave us dads here below

To be an earthly reflection

Of the love that You bestow

Dads, so steady, kind and giving

Strength on which his family banks

Working hard to earn a living

Often without praise or thanks

Our Father who art in Heaven

Bless each precious dad today

Make Your face to shine upon them

As they trust you and obey

Grant them strength, wisdom and patience

Let Your Word direct their thought

Cheer these unsuspecting students

As by a child, they are taught

Our Father who art in Heaven

Comfort those who mourn ‘dear dad’

Pour Your unfailing love on them

As they miss who once they had

Then, help us to love and honour

‘Dearest Daddy’ while we may

So we thank You, Heavenly Father

For each precious dad today

© Janet Martin

Num.6:24-26

“The Lord bless you

    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”

A Blessing for Dads

Happy Father's Day...

I am grateful for the many sacrifices Jim makes

for the benefit of us, his family!

Thank-you 💖

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, 

bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

I am so thankful to God for my dad who loved the Lord

and instilled the spark of God's love in us when we were but a little child,

and nurtured it, sometimes by great frustration of the child

into something we can look back on, in maturity

and marvel at his wisdom!! 

A photo from a month ago of my grandson and his daddy...

my love and prayers are with young dads esp. who are seeking to

raise children to grow into godly men and women, in an ungodly world.

What a tremendous, sacred calling, dear young fathers, you have!

I pray God's Word is a lamp to your feet

and a light to your path!

Without it we stray and become wise in our own eyes 🙏

God bless the dad who is undeterred

In training a child through the lens/Light of God’s Word

God bless the dad whose ultimate goal

Is nurturing child in both body and soul

…who teaches his children to love and revere

Our Father in Heaven, who loves us so dear

God, bless the dad who hallows Your name

And teaches his children to do the same

And, bless the dad who, when the going gets tough

Still trusts in Your promises to be enough

Who instructs his children with more than mere talk

But, sets by example, the way they should walk

…who faithfully labors and faithfully prays

And shoulders the yoke of his call, by God’s grace

© Janet Martin

I love this excerpt from the book Little Rivers

by Henry Van Dyke

I'm sorry I can't share the whole chapter!

I'm dusting off an oldie this morning, as well;

a poem my son and some of his friends read for a Father's day church service 

around 16 years ago!

Some dads are really, really cool, and some are really smart,

Some dads barely went to school but still have big soft hearts,

Some dads stand up straight and tall and look all sober-like

As if they’ve never thrown a ball or raced on their old bike,

Some dads like to tease and wink and some dads laugh a lot,

I guess, I suppose, it depends, I think, on how many bills they’ve got,

‘Cause dad says, as long as the bills keep a-comin’,

He’ll have to get up an’ keep on a-workin’,

And God bless the dad that keeps on a-hummin’

Even when the bills keep a-comin’

Some dads make lots of money and some, I’ve heard, are broke,

Some say things like sweetheart and honey and some dads never joke,

Some dads work from dawn ‘til dark with little time to play,

Some take their children to the park and some just go away,

Some dads work so very hard so mother can stay home,

Some dads are so very tired, when at last they come,

But, God bless the dad, who at the end of his day

Still gets down on his knees to pray,

And God bless the faithful dad who

Teaches his little ones to pray too

Some dads are really big and tough, while some are short and thin,

Some dads are kinda’ rough and some are gentlemen,

Some dad’s hair is curly and some dad’s hair is gray,

Some don’t really worry ‘cause their hair has gone away,

Some dads drive pick-ups shiny and new, some say any wheels will do,

'As long as it takes me to work and such, and the insurance on it isn’t too much,'

Some dads whistle and some dads sing,

At home some dads feel as rich as a king,

But for one thing I sure am glad,

God knew how much we’d need some dads

Some dads read God’s word every night, some never read at all,

Some dads teach us wrong from right to guide us lest we fall,

And some dads are a little like God, I suppose,

‘Cause through trial and error this dad knows

Though hearts be broken and sometimes need mending,

A father’s love is never-ending,

And God bless the dad whose love never fails,

When the going gets bad, love still prevails,

Thus, for one thing I sure am glad, 

God knew how much we’d need some dads,

Some dads’ sure leave big shoes to fill 

but the One who guides them will be there still,

Someday, when someone says they’re glad 

God knew how much we’d need some dads

Janet Martin

This Little Bit of Time We Have...

Last Sunday we celebrated today's milestone,

Dad's 80th birthday!

Happy 80th Birthday, Dad

To us, much or somewhat younger, 80 years seems like a long time,

but it's a blip on time's screen, isn't it?!

Before refreshments we had an opportunity to share memories and words of appreciation.

Lots of laughter and a few tears too.

 

The verse below stands out as one my dad strove to live by, 

(and a few mentioned their thankfulness for his kind and wholesome habit of speech.)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,

but only what is helpful for building others up

according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Eph.4:29

The memories re-impressed on me

the little bit of Time we have in light of eternity

no matter how long/short life is!

This little bit of Time we have 

before Soul’s husk falls to the grave

Compels us to fine-tune want’s quest 

and strive to give each day our best

For it will not be long until 

the shoes we leave behind to fill

Will be worn by feet still so small, 

while we go on to That Last Call

Then, with this bit of time life grants 

we do not want to leave to chance

The calling and election of 

what soon is stripped of mortal glove

But pray each day, God will equip 

us with tools for good stewardship

His Word directs and edifies 

to feed the soul that never dies

His grace forgives, His love sustains 

us through whatever time remains

He helps us do the best we can 

to love Him first, then fellowman

So, someday when this race is run, 

we’ll hear hope’s glorious crown ‘well done!’

Where, when time’s veil is rent, we’ll see 

intangible eternity

© Janet Martin

On behalf of the whole family I also shared this poem My Dad

 written a few months ago but saved to share with him till this celebration.

 We also sang one of his favourite songs; 

Bringing Home our Sheaves by

Elizabeth A. Allen  and Henry S. Rupp

My Dad

Happy Father's Day!

Dad in his woodworking-shop...

His love for God and family and fellowman shines through

His unspoken humility and reverent point of view

His sense of humour quick yet kind, not off-colour or mean

Where God’s Word feeds and fills his mind to keep his conscience keen

Father of ten and yet again, it seems like so much more

Blessed by beloved grand-children and great-grandchildren galore

Hard-working and hard-praying, his hallmark of workworn hands

Committed to obeying His Father in Heav’ns commands

His words worth listening to because his speech is not idle

But in sincerity and truth he draws from wisdom’s well

With honour to the One who makes his love and laughter glad

Each one of his ten children are so proud to call him Dad

The older that he gets the older turns his darling brood

And we begin to cherish him with deeper gratitude

For his faithful example; so we work hard and we pray

For our dear dad (and mom), God's keeping, each and every day

For generations yet to come, with shepherd's staff and rod

He seeks first the kingdom that leads to, not from Holy God

He teaches us to keep in mind the footsteps that we spawn

Where precious souls follow behind long after we are gone

 

© Janet Martin

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you;

25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

26 The Lord [a]lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.” ’

Psalms 127:3-5 - 

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.

 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.

 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. 

They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Daddies Of Laddies and Little Girls....

  Is that one the bull, daddy?

This poem started 'percolating' yesterday morning
when I went to a neighboring farm for eggs.

 It appeared they were sold out when Farmer came out of the house
(with a little lad tightly at his heels)
offering to take my egg bowl and fill it from the barn...

...then I stopped by a local roadside stand to pick up some fresh baking

and another dad and his son were splitting wood together...

(the above roadside stand is open for the summer at 7123 Wellington Cty. Rd. 12

Friday and Sat. from 7:30a.m. till 8:00 p.m)

...then in the evening I caught of few precious shots of

Son-in-law explaining many 'why daddy'  things to his son 

such as 'the purpose of the bull is to make cows have baby calves'

how, daddy?...?...?

Happy Father's Day and thank-you to all dads

whatever stage of 'dadding' you are in ...

Oh, what a gift to have a dad who shows the kind of love

We tenderly envision from our Father up above

The dad of lad or little girl has quite a sacred role

Breadwinner for the body and the shepherd for the soul

Those small fellows that follow on the heels of daddies dear

Will soon reflect dear daddy by what laddies see and hear

God bless the dad who gives his all to try diligently

To be the kind of man he hopes his son turns out to be

…and be the kind of man he hopes in some sweet-dreaded ‘glim’

Will sweep his daughter of her feet because he is like him

God bless the dad of lad or little girl and gently guide

And grant them strength and wisdom for all that dads must provide

© Janet Martin

If Your Son Was A Chip Off The Old Block

If your son was a chip off the old block

And followed the footsteps you laid

Would we know, would it show that he loved God

By laws he revered and obeyed

Would we see him reach for his Bible?

To look to his Father above

For life’s daily guidance and counsel

Would we see God’s light in his love

If your son was a chip off the old block

Inheriting more than your name

Would it make you humbly thankful?

Or sorrowfully fill you with shame

Would he be a man among men, sir?

Or ever remain just a boy

Would he, in his speech and his manner

Fulfill a father’s pride and joy

Would he be master of his vices

As he mirrors more than your face

Would he, by his words and his choices

Make this world a better place?

And, if as time passed, folk would mention

How much he is just like his dad

If your son was a chip off the old block

Would this make you happy or sad?

© Janet Martin

 
Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

Proverbs 23:24
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

Prov.10:1
A wise son maketh a glad father: