Preparing For Christmas...(a tweaked re-post)

 I hope we are all affirming (once more) to make this Christmas Season a celebration of The Reason

"More birthday?" pleaded little just-turned two year old as she held out her hand, hoping for the mixer-beater slathered with Christmas yum!
(she remembered the pink-frosting beaters from her birthday cupcakes:)

 Licking the beater never loses its old-time delight!

Poinsettia for the table

China nativity

Pretty little angel

To grace the Christmas tree

Lights and lovely candles

Cast a gentle glow

Spilling golden circles

Like halos on the snow

Cookies, cakes and puddings

In volumes quite obscene

Large and tiny presents

Wrapped in bright red and green

Songs extol the season

And malls the latest rave

Excuses become reason

As dollars become brave

Stress finds brand new victims

And cheer loses its mirth

All in the preparation

For 'peace, goodwill on earth'

Shopping lists are extended

Beyond the budget’s creed

Holly, jolly merchants

Disguising greed as need

Christmas Eve descending

We brave the cold perhaps

To find within a chapel

A pew, where we collapse

My house sure looks amazing

The food, a work of art

Wouldn’t it be something

If this had been my heart?

Janet Martin

A Thank-you Verse to Each of You...

I don’t know who you are, but thank-you

From time’s precious moment-fray

You choose to use a few minutes

To visit this porch each day

Not for quaff of tea and cookies

Not for handshake’s cheering grip

But for bonds of ink-twirled passion

…for sweet poem-fellowship

Not duty-bound by strict order

You drop by, again, again

Simply to share the meek measure

Of a homespun poet’s pen

...or camera:)

 Either way,

thank-you!

© Janet Martin

I most certainly would set out tea and cookies if I could pass them from here to there!

I got a bag of peak-freans that my 'littles' informed me are "yuck"....
so what to do?

I'm hoping I can pass them off on a Christmas-cookie plate!
(The miracle of white-chocolate drizzle and Christmas-colored sprinkles:)

Hallmark of a Life Well lived

The hallmark of a life well lived

For all that we may strive to be

Is he and she who daily gives

Their best in honest ministry

No quest for fame or fortune, they

With humble and earnest esteem

Commit to give their best each day

No matter how small it may seem

Thus, with purpose they heed life’s call

Knowing love is its own reward;

And that there is no task too small

To serve as honor to its Lord

© Janet Martin

 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Cor. 10:31

Poem-summons

My sister called me yesterday to see if I had ever heard of this poet: Grace Noll Crowell

As I read her bio this morning these words jibed with the soul of this word warrior...

"That quickened and awakened the desire to write poetry again." 

SO many things quicken that desire in me 

but none more than God's glorious handiwork.

A quickened wakening

Deep in the breast

A soul-sweet aching

Laden with request

A surging Urge like

A summons God-wrought

Beckoning word from

Soft stirring of thought

A roar that cannot

Be silenced or heard

Cupped in a vessel

Of hunger and word

Warrior-like wrestles

With whispers and then

Triumph that lauds

Its applause from a pen

Storm of devotion

Breaks barriers of fear

Want is an ocean

The page is a pier

Pacification

As thought is set free

Propitiation

In poetry

© Janet Martin

Whatever Else
by Grace Noll Crowell

Whatever else be lost among the years,
Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing:
Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears,
Let us hold close one day, remembering
Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men.
Let us get back our childlike faith again.