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

Of Helps and Hands

 We should never hesitate to reach or ask; 

sometimes the assistance we need can in turn be assistance we give!

But first we should ask God to guide! 

The photo below was taken exactly a month ago so,
in spite of the reluctance to warm up something to celebrate: we don't need mittens anymore!

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, 
who gives generously to all without finding fault, 
and it will be given to you.
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, 
because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea,
 blown and tossed by the wind.  

 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

James 1:5-7

Sometimes I need a hand

Sometimes I reach, then find

The hand I thought I needed

Held by one who needed mine

Sometimes the help I want

While waiting on the Lord

Becomes the hand held to someone

Who seems to need it more

Sometimes what I perceive

As need, (but for myself)

Becomes the help that I receive

By helping someone else

© Janet Martin

An' I Love You Mom and Dad' Poem

Happy Father's Day

to all our beloved dads!

Thank-you doesn't seem a big enough word to cover all it means!

 I dropped a mother's/father's day card off at my parent's yesterday, because Mother's Day came and went and I never got a card delivered so I added the word 'mother' beside 'father' in the card for Father's Day..and got a birthday card a week late from them and it was totally fine; on both ends no hard feelings for late greetings because love understands how life can go
Below is the poem I put in their card.

I Love You, Mom and Dad

Today is just another day, in some ways, I suppose

Yet, grants a chance to say the words we don’t speak near enough

Sometimes the things we think that our loved one already knows

Sounds nice to be repeated for the simple sake of love

I think it bears repeating after all the prayers you’ve prayed

To let you know, dear mom and dad, that I pray for you too

I thank God for the solid foundation your faith has laid

And ask Him to sustain you in all that life/God asks of you

The love of godly parents is a precious, priceless gift

And though today is just another day in many ways

It grants a chance to say the words that give the heart a lift

I love you both and ask the Lord to bless you all your days

© Janet Martin

Lest We Search Earth's Plain In Vain

 This poem is a collection of Truths I must often remind myself about

esp. on an 'off' day! 

 

Until we claim God’s promises as Love's Ultimate plan

Until we crave and cling to His Word like a dying man

Until we keep it in our hearts to be our hope and guide

And realize ‘it was for me’ Jesus suffered and died

Until we open up His Book with more than Duty’s rod

Then we will search earth’s plain in vain to find the peace of God

Until we sing his praises from the bottom of our hearts

Until His grace amazes us to thought’s uttermost parts

Until we see the agony he bore on our behalf

As something more than religion’s Platonic Autograph

Until it drenches our souls the way rain drenches sod

Then we will search earth’s plain in vain to find the love of God

Until we bear the yoke He gives with kind humility

Content, no matter what life is, ‘because He lives in me’

Until we learn to turn anxiety and fear to trust

Until we value more than this brief score of dust to dust

Until His mercy, new each morning makes hope’s hearts applaud

Then we will search earth’s plain in vain to find the joy of God

© Janet Martin

Psalm 145:3

 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

Romans 11:33
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

Job 9:10
He does great and unfathomable things, wonders without number.

Job 11:7
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

Psalm 86:10
For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.
Psalm 95:3
For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.
Psalm 96:4
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 135:5
For I know that the LORD is great; our Lord is above all gods.
Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.
Psalm 150:2
Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him for His excellent greatness.
Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will never grow faint or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.

Fear or Trust?

 

"Wow!" I remarked to Victoria as I saw the 'cold that just won't quit' this morning

and turned the furnace back farther as it rumbled to life in mid-June...

"I don't know what we will do if orchards, fields and gardens fail! 

We always count on them to refill empty bins, freezers and jars!"

The garden shivers and struggles to grow...

(but, the seeds are in which is more than some can say)

Those days we pause to contemplate

The ‘what if’ that is not so great

Beyond the scope we commandeer

Then we must choose twixt trust or fear

The future is a fragile fringe

Upon which hope and heartache hinge

Its ‘wait and see’ wafts like star-dust

All we can do is fear or trust

We owe God everything we have

He owes us nothing; for He gave

The best He had to save the lost

Man’s greatest gain His greatest cost

So, though we do not know what waits

Beyond heart-harboured garden gates

The best we can achieve, my dear

Is to let trust out-muster fear

And offer up to He who grants

Far more than favors wrought by chance

(Lest with our fat cheeks stuffed with food

We forget to pray like we should)

…a heart that hungers to embrace

The Author of mercy and grace

And appeal to Love’s gracious ear

That He would help us trust, not fear

© Janet Martin

 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; 

 let me never be ashamed: 

deliver me in thy righteousness.

Psalm 31:1 KJV


 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, "You are my God."
Psalm 31:14 NIV

 Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.