Because We Pass This Way ...But Once

Because We Pass This Way… But Once

I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Etienne de Grellet

Quaker Missionary

Because we pass this way but once

And know only that which we learn

And learn only that which we earn

Through ephemeral experience

…because we never finish learning

We learn to appreciate

With kinder eyes and slower gait

This one-way path of no-returning

Because we are equipped with need

We need each other to lean on

Where each day, like a stepping-stone

Suffers the spawn of word and deed

Because we cannot retrace days

With more than wish or gratitude

We should practice an attitude

Of awe for mercy’s faithful ways

© Janet Martin

Running a little low on awe?!

Get acquainted with a child...

Speaking of leaning on each other...or being 'knit together'...a beautiful post here!

Because Obedience Is Better

Because obedience is better than sacrifice

It behooves us, does it not

To become deeply acquainted

With the commandments from God

Because of sin’s inherent seed

Man’s nature conflicts with God’s law

It is impossible to heed

His ‘Thou shalt’ without holy awe

Sometimes we try to justify

Our apathy with pious ruse

The love of God pours from on high

And offers grace but not excuse

Because obedience is better than sacrifice

We should with humble diligence

Acquaint this soul-fraught edifice

With Hope’s righteous requirements

© Janet Martin

 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

1 Sam. 15:22

More food-for-thought here @ today's 1-min. bible love note

Much To-do

Last week's whitewashed walkway

is stripped to its floor-boards

rousing thought-scapes of wild-flowered fence-lines

 and blue-bowered hills...

So much to see where time runs free

While we are taxed to death by it

Before the door from Nevermore

To Evermore secures its flit

Where awesome in-between runs rife

With joy and strife, life’s scrim a hymn

Of newborn days where age-old ways

Cannot time’s trays of wonder dim

So much to do where time runs new

Through blue of breath-by-breath farewell

Still, we should pause a bit because

Life’s oohs and a-ahs are like a bell

That tolls in holes where footsteps lie

‘Neath skies, as rise and set of sun

Vexes, with velvet undertow

Daydreams and to-do lists half-done

So much to learn; time tips its urn

As burden and blessing ally

To teach so much about the touch

Replenishing our wishing eye

With green of May after the gray

Of winter wakens spring's return

Where time runs free with much to see and

Much to do and much to learn

© Janet Martin

In Case We Forget...

…who whets the west with setting sun

Then lets it back to day begun

Who forges gorgeous heaven-hues

From nothing more than airbrushed blues

Who glisters winter’s dormant bow’rs

And tempers mercy’s rod with flow’rs

Who woos from woodland, vesper-hymn

And renews weary worlds with spring

Who wills the way whereby we live

And fills the tray whereby we give

Who plants this place with joy and woe

And grants His grace whereby we go

Lest we forget such loving care

We should greet each new day with prayer

© Janet Martin

Once Upon a Tree

Once upon a tree a lad climbed up to see the world

Once upon a tree an apple grew from bud unfurled
  Once upon a green-leaf tree its tune turned gold and fell
 Where winter, like a lonesome minstrel strums its citadel

Once upon a tree wee birdie learned to sing and fly
 Once upon a tree a swing, a wind-song lullaby

Once upon a tree, a pantry filled with nuts and such

Nature’s wildlife castles clothed and stripped beneath her touch

Once upon a tree redemption’s misery ran red

Once upon a tree salvation’s sacrifice was bled

Once upon a tree a king laid down his life and then

Became, for all humanity the Way into heaven

© Janet Martin