Showing posts with label refugees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label refugees. Show all posts

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Crook of Joy


Making muffins...simple joy!


Sometimes, out of the blue, a wave of sympathy rolls through me 
as I wave at grandchildren leaving,
 or as son comes home for visit and fridge-forage, 
or as the word 'home' slips from my lips without second thought, 
until suddenly I am smitten with utter grief 
for the millions of refugees who had to flee their home-sweet-homes...

Sometimes then, the Simple Sacred steals my breath
with a fresh and humble thankfulness
for the beauty of our beloved crook of joy...home!
Yes, with all of love's foibles and flaws, home, sweet home!!

Enjoying the final bowl full of 
plush, pink peony-pom-poms for this year!



Where child and garden flourishes in fleet simplicity
Where more than supper nourishes its precious company
Where comforts are not fancy but are priceless, nonetheless
And nothing on earth quite compares to its fair happiness

Where flower bouquets bring beauty to duty’s dear mundane
Where nobody outgrows the open arms of its domain
Where heartaches are confided, where we learn to give and take
Where tasks are oft divided but then, so is tea and cake

Where wonderful aromas waft through open kitchen door
And suddenly our burdens weigh less than they had before
Where the brunt of life's blessings overflows our tender hearts
With thankfulness for home sweet home and all that it imparts

Where prayers and cares soft-mingle in medleys of smiles and tears
Where summer always flies too fast into Past’s cast of years
Where patience is a virtue of great benefit and cheer
To safeguard joy and peace while youngsters learn to persevere

Where we are always welcome to forage the cookie jar
Or fridge or pantry no matter how older-now we are
Where no matter the weather or how far away we roam
No place on earth is better than the berth of home-sweet-home

Oh Lord, we grieve for those whose homes they had to swiftly flee
And leave behind rooms filled with mementos of family
How oft we mourn the war-torn town and countryside bereft
Of happiness of home sweet home and only rubble left

Then, we with meeker labor, repent of some selfish ploy
And become humbly gladder for our home-sweet crook of joy
Where there is nothing commonplace about its grace of chores
Or laughter round its tables or mothers waving from doors


© Janet Martin

So what's today's 'grace of chores'? 
Weeding!
The rain makes everything grow!





Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, 
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

(distracting baby with a coffee-tin drum
because he wanted to mix muffins too!!)😂💗



Sunday, September 20, 2015

The Way to A Good Day, Always

Some people will ask - you have only a small bag?” the interviewers asks.

“Yes.”

“And you bring your dog?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I love my dog!”

Check out this link and scroll down to find the video-clip of Aslan, 17, from Damascus, with his dog Rose.



There will always be days that are better than others
But even the worst wear kind loveliness too
If we have love and someone to love us
Because it is love that carries us through

Glad days and sad days and all around bad days
Put them together and what do we see?
Love is the beauty in everything, always
So then let us love and let all the rest be

© Janet Martin


 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; 1 John 4:7
 

Friday, September 4, 2015

Do Something





Do something; time’s free moments run through our fingertips
Today is like a threshing-floor through which its measure slips
Pray when The Hand that grants our portion of life’s love-learn-laugh
Sifts the harvest of our lives He will find more than chaff

Do something, while the morning sun climbs into the noon sky
While there is still today, do something more than serving ‘I’
Before the dust has settled on another nevermore
Do something that will ring the bells of joy on heaven’s shore

Do something; God knows the intentions of a human heart
And He expects no less than this; that we would do our part
No deed or gift will be too small if rendered in His name
And no excuse will satisfy God if we decline Him

© Janet Martin

 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?


where she provides links to answer our questions of how, what, where
we can help in the refugee crisis.
Let’s be real. Two things that cross miles readily
Are our dollars and our prayers!





Thursday, September 3, 2015

But What Can We Really Do To Help?




But what can we really do that would help, asked Jim when we were talking about the crisis a few minutes ago…
I don’t know, I said, 
but what if we all looked into the mirrors and asked ourselves…

What can I do to help?
What if,
After our eyes were opened
Our ears heard their cries
And we would open
Our doors,
Wallets,
Arms,
Spare-bed-rooms,
Jars of food,
What if we stretched out our dining-room tables
And cried
‘Come, eat’
What if we did with less
So they could have more?
What if we became uncomfortable
To bring them comfort?
Instead of reaching for our phones
What if we all reached out?
Instead of saying ‘I wish’
What if we said ‘I will’

What if we were serious when we ask
‘But what can I do’
And we would pray as if their lives
Depended upon it?



© Janet Martin

This article by Deidra Riggs at High Calling is very helpful in helping us who are asking 'how can I help?'

Laugh, Little Aylan, Laugh

Ann expresses what I am sure is most of our hearts today...
and we  pour out our hearts in prayers and tears!


Dear Aylan,
Ignored in your life,
Immortalized in your death

All down the streets of gold
Laugh at the feet of Jesus
Where you will never grow old
Oh, let your laughter sparkle
Oh, let your brown eyes dance
Oh, let your chin tilt up as God
Wipes your tears with His hands

Laugh, little Aylan, laugh
Let heaven's sheer, pure joy
Heal each sob of horror and hunger
Fear and sorrow, little boy
Sit at the banquet table
Run over celestial hills
Play forever with your brother
Where no teardrop spills

Laugh, little Aylan, laugh
For you will weep no more
Safe in the arms of Jesus 
Far from death's cold, friendless shore
Now you are loved like we should have
...We stare at a photograph
Shouldering sorrow, guilt and shame
Laugh, little Aylan, laugh 

Janet Martin

In memory of every little child who never knew laughter...

How can we look at our children and not want to help the hundreds of thousands of those still among us like Aylan?!






Tuesday, May 19, 2015

An Opportunity To Be Part of A Miracle! Love.





If we don't help them, who will?!

If we were given
More than we deserve
Then we were given
To give and serve

If we hold more
Than we can hold
Then we can give
Fold over fold

If we serve want
Instead of need
God bears witness
To our greed

If we preach love
Then turn away
When God asks us ‘why?’
What will we say?


© Janet Martin


If you READ THIS without a 'God-nudge' to give then look at, touch your loved ones and read it again!
If we don't help them, who will?!


  ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  excerpt from Matt. 25:31-46