Of Sweet, Sweet Motherhood

We are all mourning with them, as the gruesome details begin 

to unfold from the Tragedy in Nova Scotia, 

among the victims are mothers 

and fathers!
Nova Scotians feel a bit like extended family because that's where our son-in-law
grew up and his family lives!

Dear tired and precious mommy,

Hug your babies, no matter how old they are!

Makes motherhood feel like a pretty precious charge!

Today, amidst Covid-19 restrictions a local family

is laying their sweet mother to rest without friends and family around them!

Tell me please, why can we line up for blocks outside a Costco but

family members are not allowed to stand six-feet apart at a graveside?!

Only ten people are permitted to attend the burial-service.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Audrey Gingrich as well

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

Jesus~ 

John 14:18 

The needs that never cease; Her title decks no marbled hall

Where without love, fulfillment would be a battle, hard-fought

Lord, reawaken Her to more than chores; love’s highest call

Depends upon Her faithful giving-everything-she’s-got

With no standing ovation for the meals that she prepares

With no grand celebration as she tends to childish cares

While innocence depends upon Her love to show the way

And search out truth (lest God forbid) small soul be led astray

Then stoke within her heart of hearts the fire that needs no wood

But reignites and fans the sacred flame of motherhood

The charge that drains the buxom bloom is not a carefree Thing

Where innocence is soon a very human-natured test

The joy that spills in laughter keens Her deepest suffering

And often leaves Her feeling more exhausted than sweet-blessed

Where no one stands to cheer Her on in this amazing race

No trophy for the thousandth time she wipes a nose or face

But, by the grace of God, she finds contentment in the role

Of nurturer and guardian of both body and soul

As she surrenders other splendors for A Greater Good

And shoulders, like a soldier, the mandate of motherhood

Mothers never retire; there is no release from love

That drives Her to Her knees; that authors laughter, tears and prayers

Her hallmark of success, a tender track-record to prove

In spite of trips and stumbles just how utterly she cares

Where none of us are guaranteed to witness Today’s end

Making the needs that never cease an honor to attend

And suddenly the mother that was wearied by the task

Is stunned by Mercy’s Author granting more than she could ask

As beneath humble wings she gathers close Her precious brood

And thanks God for another day of sweet, sweet Motherhood

© Janet Martin

 Personal note: My mother is slowly but surely recovering from Covid-19.

she is 77 years old so she realizes her energy may take a while to return to normal!

Thank-you so much for the loving thoughts and prayers.

Continued prayers appreciated!

Dad is still in good health. PTL!

What You Cannot Know (through no fault of your own)

'You didn’t know me then', I sometimes say to my now grown children

 when we talk about something I used to do before they were born, 

such as drive to work at 4:00 a.m. on slippery wintery roads.

 All they know me as is mom who looks after a family’s practical needs!

 (my sis texted me this afternoon about these pages above

and more but you'll have to buy or borrow the book for the rest)😀

The Shape of a Year by Jean Hersey

I think because we have the same mother and we both have daughters

we relate to certain parts of this book on a very mutual level! 

One of my top ten favs ever!

My dear, you cannot understand (by no fault of your own)

How much your mother’s heart expands to hold children full-grown

Or how the girl she was is still a part of who she is

(no matter what changes because Time keeps its promises)

The heart you cannot fathom until you are old as she

Will always still be learning how to hold while setting free

Twixt yester’s child and today’s woman, man her love is torn

Where thankfulness and longing spar in whispers heaven-borne

Yes, she’s been disappointed at love’s disappointments, oh

At how the future is nothing like she dreamed long ago

As God so rich in mercy grants breath-stealing more or less

And teaches her to look closer at ‘what is happiness’

I did not understand back then (through no fault of my own)

How oft my mother’s heart landed before her Father’s throne

Or how once upon long ago my mother used to be

A barefoot maiden filled with dreams foot-loose and fancy-free

Before the call and cares of life joined love and motherhood

And still through all the joy and strife she knew that it is good

How all we did not understand is what waited to be

Sweet thrills of surprise at age-old, newfound discovery

…she waits for passion to become astonished at time’s way

No one can seize the pendulum that dictates night and day

But as the heart expands to hold what soon is left behind

The girl she was will remind her to be patient and kind

© Janet Martin

Dear Moms...

Dear moms,

I hope we all have someone we can pour out to when we need it!

Moral mom-support is HUGE no matter how old our 'kiddos' are...(so I am learning!)

A few years ago for Mother's Day all the women in our congregation

 received a little pebble with a heart painted on it. 

It was to be a visual reminder that God loves us. 

Somehow recently that pebble disappeared from the window-ledge by my kitchen-sink...

maybe someone didn't know it was a teeny pebble with a BIG purpose!

Last week one of the youngsters I babysat made this for me

which will now take its place 'cause its vital for moms to remember

 God loves us and we can 'cry/lean/pray' on His shoulder any time! 

We all have days where we feel like the world’s worst mother; don’t give up

This is the flipside of sweet times that fill and overflow joy’s cup

We all have moments when we cry ‘I don’t know how to do this, God’

He helps us not to spoil the child by withholding the ‘training rod’

We all have nights when we feel like our being is frayed through and through

For it comes down to this my dear; while they learn we are learning too

And sometimes it is hard to tell who is the teacher, who the child

In the mish-mash of chores and a crash course in parenting run wild

We all have times when we would quit if that was somehow possible

But mom is mom forever to each darling little miracle

Where the only one-size-fits all advice that any mom might say

Is’ take it one prayer at a time’; a child is not raised in a day

© Janet Martin

How Oft a Mother's Heart Is Torn...

A few weeks ago at the supper table Matt asked me
 if I've thought of it that soon the last day of school-bus will be here!
I asked him (just kidding) if he hasn't been reading my poetry lately?!!
 ...its sentimental flavor due in part to this morning's Event!

 Today's 'last' is recognizable, unlike so many!
Last school-bus pick-up morning!

 Suddenly an ocean of emotion washes over me...
kinda like the first morning our firstborn climbed aboard the bus for kindergarten!

... as through a blur of tears years

 the era of school-bus mornings...

 ...disappears!

How oft a mother’s heart is torn in mournful celebration

As soft time’s tender art is borne from brush to contemplation

Swift, suave, the rush of days runs rife, gathering moment-measure

From common camouflage of love and life… to echo-treasure  

There is no time to miss the kiss that cools so soon, my darling

Ah, look, where darkness clenched its fist it uncurls in new morning

Where hearts and arms and eyes agape with firestorms of feeling

Can sense its recompense take shape before the grand revealing

Who knew that joy in all its glory veils such sacred sorrow

Or how the boy and girl leaps far too fast into tomorrow

Or as the air sparkles with stars of sweet and childish laughter

It swirls and pearls like paint dripped from jars molding ever-after

There is no time to stand and peer too long where one door closes

The hurt that love can engineer is worth its loss of roses

For always on the thorny stem that hoists the fading hours

Pulses a budded diadem, soft-bursting with new flowers

© Janet Martin

Daughters...

 Happy Birthday, Emily💓!

God bless you, dear daughter, as you begin raising one of your own

and discovering the joy for yourself...

There aren't enough pages to tell the whole of what daughters are but here's a peek!

This poem goes for all three of our beautiful daughters
but inspired today on the Birthday of our firstborn;
 the one who introduced me to a whole new world of wonder!
Can't wait to walk with you through your own journey of discovery💗

I can't BELIEVE it's 27 years since it began!

They’ll give you wrinkles laugh-lines

They’ll turn your head hoary

They’ll teach you lessons

You once thought you knew

They'll make years fly by

As love writes a story

Of bittersweet blessings
 Our mothers learned too 

They’ll make you weary

And make life worth living

They’ll make you prayerful

And careful and brave

They’ll make you teary

While stunned with thanksgiving

They'll make you grateful

To give all you have
 

They’ll make you feel older

And younger than ever

They'll try you then break you 

With laughter unfurled

So while you can, hold her

And hug her, dear mother

For daughters will make you

The best friends in the world

© Janet Martin