A Little like a Snowfall Haiku

It falls soundlessly

In profound transformation

And then we are old

 

Limbs supple; fruitful

Surrender to time’s wisdom

White crowns youth’s forehead

Back into the earth

Returns all manner of life

A tiny seed stirs

© Janet Martin

White Grace Haiku

In the quiet night
the sky parted her dark lips
exhaling white grace

Deliberate Surrender

Why is it so hard sometimes,

To trust the Hand

that lights the sun,

that paints the earth,

that fills the oceans

And directs the firmaments

That instructs the lightning

and feeds the wild

that stirs the seed

and topples mountains

And cares for me?

© Janet Martin

I watched this little wood-pecker today...

as God provided its needs.

On Suffering

Some are given painful sorrows to bear

Visible burdens of grief

Some carry great crosses deep in their hearts

Where God alone can see

© Janet

 Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.
Samuel Smiles

Of Valleys and Fathers

I have not walked in your valley
Nor you in mine
But it is the same grace and mercy
That brings the sunshine
Your valley may be longer and darker
Mine may be still yet to come
But it is the very same Father
That leads all of His children Home

Janet Martin

Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23

Whispers of Hell

When fiendish winds crackle

And seep through the walls

When anger, resentment

Hang like smoke in the halls

When kindness and patience

Have been snuffed by the flame

Of cold self-indulgence

Indifference and blame
When silence replaces
The echo of laughter
And jealousy graces
The once love-lit rafter

When all that is given

From our gracious Lord

As a foretaste of Heaven

Is crassly ignored

When prayer is neglected

And His Word as well

Then glimpses of Heaven

Become whispers of Hell

© Janet Martin

We all have bad days, but God forbid they out-number the good...

and God forbid we should seek hope without Him~

 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”Joshua 24:15

Behind the Gray...

After almost a week of gray...

 We are ready for this! I felt Mozart's Requiem as the sun broke through! Click the wheel on the mouse on link
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi8vJ_lMxQI&feature=related

And when at last the clouds pass by

There is no violent shudder

Or grand announcement from the sky

To shout that it is over

The shroud that clothes the lofty spire

In dull and leaden silence

With obscure breath from heaven’s choir

Dissolves in glorious brilliance

© Janet Martin

...and so it is with life.

Behind every cloud is the Son.

  LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory in the heavens.Ps. 8:1

Comrades

Slip not your hand in mine to lead

Or with intent to tether

But if you would a comrade be

Then let us walk together

Hold me close, not to restrain

Or as affection’s duty

But may our hearts and hands remain

United in love’s beauty

Slip not your hand in mine to lead

Or with intent to follow

But side by side, together we

Will face life’s mantled hollow

© Janet Martin

Definition of comrade:

1. A companion who shares one's activities or is a fellow member of an organization.
2. A fellow soldier or serviceman.