For Oh, So Many Ways We Didn’t Dream (That Love Would Be)

Happy Valentine's Day!!💘

But, as I type this greeting

my heart aches for those who, from our vantagepoint

seem to have their love stories cut short far too soon!

It reminds me to humbly treasure the measure of Today 

and all its opportunities to 'love one another'!

John 13:34
A new commandment I give you:

 Love one another. 

As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.

And so worth every prick of thorn to marvel at the rose...

Love is full of surprises, no matter what age we reach

Always so many new lessons it seems, still left to teach

For Love is a like a tutor, often testing you and me

With oh, so many ways we didn’t dream that love would be

No respecter of rank or race, or ‘reason-right’ retort

Love is patient and kind; all other replies fall far short

Thus, we learn to adjust the dust-scaffold of darling dreams

Because we are all subject to the laws that love esteems

Love is a lifelong (not a once-and-done) ladder we climb

As faithfulness fulfills its calling one step at a time

No easy-out, no masquerade, no detour to the prize

Love vexes Best of Dreamers with Lessons in Compromise

‘I’m sorry, dear, your favorite jeans are laundered but still wet’

‘Honey, why do you toss the keys, who-knows-where, then forget’

And why are we so stubborn in love’s sudden tug-of-wars

Instead of letting love be strong enough to settle scores

There is no finer splendor than love, weathered by its toll

Love, such a tender mender of the wounds of heart and soul

And so worth every effort dressed in plain workaday clothes

And so worth every prick of thorn to marvel at the rose

And so worth every task, that, without love would drive us mad

And so worth every up and down that we have ever had

And so worth every sacrifice, to safeguard vows we made

And recognize the precious bloom of ‘Now’ that soon will fade

Love crowns the commonplace with words like ‘friend’ and ‘family’

It treasures every day rife with fresh opportunity

It does not envy, does not boast, it is not proud or rude

And often reaps an awed reward of humble gratitude

Where, in the aftermath of stumbles we begin to learn

(In the light of God’s mercy,) love is not something we earn

But, because of its Author, love befits us faithfully

For oh, so many ways we didn’t dream that love would be

© Janet Martin

The Vows Scene in the movie

Woman of the  Year

Holds great reminders for all of us

loving/living out our own journeys of 

'for better or worse till death doth part'

Are you wearing red?

Asked Jim when he called this morning...

No. I replied, but I'm wearing fuzzy pink pjs with hearts on them

if that counts for something😂😂😍💗

(You know the ones I mean, ladies, right?!

Completely comfy but not much in the line of attractiveness??)

As we chatted about life's Glorious Ordinary,

plus a few extra ups and downs

today's poem gathered steam!!

As youth sheds its green and then middle-age, its gold

something far more precious

than first meets the eye, 

begins to unfold...

I will try to unearth something red to wear for

a very special dinner tonight,

 (no matter what is served at our kitchen table )

because Jim, most often gone on Valentine's Day,

 is planning to be home tonight!

1 Cor.13

 (My Favourite Love Poem)

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, 

I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, 

and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, 

and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, 

but have not love, I am nothing. 

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, 

and though I give my body [a]to be burned, 

but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; 

love does not envy; 

love does not parade itself, 

is not [b]puffed up; 

5 does not behave rudely, 

does not seek its own, 

is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; 

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 

7 bears all things, 

believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things.

8 Love never fails. 

But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; 

whether there are tongues, they will cease; 

whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 

10 But when that which is [d]perfect has come,

 then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child,

 I spoke as a child, 

I understood as a child, 

thought as a child; 

but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, 

but then face to face. 

Now I know in part, 

but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; 

but the greatest of these 

is love.

Morning (or Afternoon) Minuet

I needed to head out before I got this morning's post up...

Better late than never😅💗

I 'adopted' a bit of Anne of Green Gables' logic this morning

as I headed outdoors for my morning 'commune' with

my Heavenly Father...

In Ontario we are accustomed to white landscapes in February

making this year's gray-blue-bronze panoramas seem sort of surreal! 

The music of a new day starts to play upon the air

Earth emerges from beneath the soft surge of morning-tide

Where something like a greeting hymn and something like a prayer

Erases slumber’s eulogy from waking countryside

Hope’s precedence persuades us to face forward and look up

Where splendor of mercies renewed compels shadows to dim

And bids us by the grace of God, once more to hoist faith’s cup

And trust Him for whatever spills to overflow its brim

Then sing to Him, whose love anoints/appoints each virgin steppingstone 

And bow before the one whose perfect will, will lead the way

And worship He who shepherds us through valleys of Unknown 

And trust the Hand that orchestrates each moment of each day

The music of a new day crescendos and fills the sky 

A little like a lilting celestial serenade

Or like a welkin minuet that kindles love's reply

With raised voices, to rejoice in this day the Lord has made 

© Janet Martin

Psalm 5:3

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; 

In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.

Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of Your strength 

and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning.

 For You are my fortress, 

my refuge in times of trouble.

I Will Wait For You

Lamentations 3:22-23

English Standard Version

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]

his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Dear Henry Van Dyke (and a few other rare old writers/poets)

Books that touch me/move me as often and deeply as the one below

are far and few between!

Thank-you Henry!

You are my friend though you were gone long before I was born

And we have never met, save in words penned in days of yorn

You move me still, where once your quill traversed a barren page

To leave behind kind fellowship for folk of future age

To touch us in those places time cannot affect, it seems

No matter how it chases generations through its schemes/dreams

I love you, though to tell you is a joy deferred and weighed

In a balance that tips toward a door none can evade

Till then I'll taste thy turn of phrase with slow and sheer amour

To think that ink can keep alive what death cannot devour

To touch us with affections Time cannot thwart by its toll

As you arouse reflections in rivers poured from your soul

You make me smile and weep and laugh and sigh in sweet surprise

You steal my breath; earth moves beneath its motionless disguise

Oh, how I wish that I could shake the hand that shaped the thought

That gently cheers an afternoon, soon otherwise forgot

You touch me as if we were just a fireside apart

Sharing a glimpse of heaven as we commune, heart to heart

© Janet Martin

Below are a few examples why I love this writer so much!

But Thanks Be To God (From We, Beneficiaries of Love's Great Sacrifice)

Romans 6:15-23NIV

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!

16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves,

you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death,

or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin,

you have come to obey from your heart

the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.

18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations.

Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness,

so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.

21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?

Those things result in death!

22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God,

the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Don't you love how a familiar passage of scripture

can impact us anew with profound wonder?!!

Such is the case, as the above passage inspired today's Thanksgiving Hymn

Love transforms perspective ...

...until nothing is ordinary 

... and everything is sacred!

‘But great thanks be to God’ from we, once sorry slaves to sin

From we who benefit from He who paid the debt we owed

From we, washed clean and purged of guilt’s vile residue within

From we once without hope and God, till He, his grace bestowed

‘But glad thanks be to God’ from we, now slaves to righteousness

From we who have believed and obey, not through force, but love

From we who are awed heirs of God’s unfailing promises

Where sin no longer reigns that we obey its lusts thereof

‘But meek thanks be to God’ from we who are saved from sin’s wage

By love’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

The Hand, once pierced with nails will part death’s sea where demons rage

And lead us through on dry ground to faith’s infinite reward

‘But sweet thanks be to God’ who spares us from hell’s dreadful rue

Because He did not spare Himself to suffer pardon’s price

But purchased our redemption as sin’s curse He overthrew

So we could reap the benefit of Love’s Great Sacrifice

© Janet Martin

When we believe in God we obey, perhaps, through 

a sense of pious obligation.

But oh! when we love God we, as v. 17 describes it;

'we come to obey from our hearts

the pattern of teaching that has claimed our allegiance!'

(because )

v. 18. 'we have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness'

May this be our prayer, that we would ever yearn to love our Saviour more!

More Love to Thee

Be The Good

Today I had the pleasure of working with good friends at a church event.

The inspiration for today's poem, however, started a few days ago...

Here's to being 'the good' we like to find/meet!

The other day as I sat on the deck I overheard

an experienced electrician patiently coaching an apprentice.

The apprentice was impatient to know how he can get to making

much more (dollars) an hour than he was currently being paid.

And I smiled to hear Experience's answer

"it takes time before you can make that kind of money.

You need to put in a lot of electrical hours to get there"

Good advice to someone who will hopefully take it to heart

and become the good help that seems hard to find these days

but who rely on good coaches/teachers!

..."the reason I like working with you" I heard the apprentice continue, 

as his Teacher invited him to ride up in the boom for a lesson,  

"is because at the other place I just did the same thing over and over."

Be the good help that is so hard to find

Be the good coach that keeps learning in mind

Be the good fellowman, patient and kind

Be the good salt of the earth

Be the good we wish there would be more of;

A good example of mercy and love

Be the good nature when push comes to shove

Fill common hours with worth

Be the good treasure we measure in friends

Be the good neighbor that willingly lends

Be a good steward with whatever life sends

Be the good we all applaud

The good that makes bad days better to bear

Be the good listener some sorrow to share

Be the good soldier that shoulders love’s care

All for the glory of God

© Janet Martin

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink 

 whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

Fond Yonder-World of 'Soon'

Yesterday afternoon on our south-facing deck in a cozy crook of sunshine

 I wiggled my toes (and blew my nose, due to sudden head cold) 

profoundly taken by an immense Sense of Impending Soon!

Celestial rivers meandered overhead...

Perhaps, due in part because

it's been a less-than-normal snowy winter so far,

stoking thoughts with bucolic scenes of 'Soon'

In a fond, yonder-world of ‘Soon’

Unravels summer’s afternoon

Uncurls a river, silver-bent

Unfurls earth’s mirth of winter spent

Unwinds a lane, wildflower-fringed

Beyond a gaping gate unhinged

Leading through lilac hedge and tress

To front row seats to happiness

To loiter where daffodils sway

To climb the young, green hills of May

To leap like lambs, with joy because

The world rings/sings with Winter That Was

...where pockets jingle, full of June

In a fond, yonder-world of ‘soon’

Where brooks chuckle, content to glide

Without hype, through the countryside

To welcome we who once were wishin’

For yellow dusk, perfect for fishin’

For zephyr-soft caress to brush

Our pallid cheek with sun-kissed flush

And to be humbled by a prize

Of bursting buds beneath blue skies

And to be sweetly glad because

Twilight is later than it was

…where the fond, yonder-world of ‘Soon’

That cheered a dull, chill afternoon

Has rent the veil that held at bay

Laughter of barefoot child at play

And countless little pleasantries

Bidding us take an hour’s ease

To revel ‘neath the influence

Of bloom-imbibed exuberance

Enchanted by a brimming world

Of nature’s orchestras unfurled

In melodies and colours of

A Composer whose name is Love

…who stirs in us a yearning croon

For a fond, yonder-world of ‘Soon’

Where pastures green and waters still

Unmarred by grief and pain will spill

Where farewell’s tear will never dim

The eye, no solemn parting hymn

Will sever ties that briefly bound

Us to a time, four-season-crowned

With here and there a glimpse for we

Who dream of how Heaven will be

Then faith does not lose heart because

Soon this will be the world that was

© Janet Martin

With here and there a glimpse for we

Who dream of how Heaven will be...

Heaven-

Rev.21:4

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. 

There will be no more death 

or mourning 

or crying 

or pain,

 for the old order of things 

has passed away.”

This Life Is Full of Lovely Things (in a much-amiss world)

To sun-rise starved Southern Ontarion-ers this morning's stunner

was like a sweet elixir to the soul!

Beneath a rush of blushing wings

A fresh start is unfurled...

This life is filled with lovely things

The fresh start that each new day brings

As dawn unfolds translucent wings

Where God prolongs Time’s grace

Child’s laughter to set hearts aglow

Gardens asleep beneath the snow

Waiting for spring to steal the show

As bud-looms burst with lace

This life is filled with countless joys

Mischievous pups and little boys

The beauty each season deploys

To leave us humbly awed

With handiwork by God designed

Then etched, splashed, pearled, swirled and entwined

Like surprises we thrill to find

On sky and sea and sod

This life is filled with wondrous ways

God wills and grants to gladden days

And turn would-be lament to praise

And weight of want to love

Where learning’s tattered lesson-book

Is brightened by bird-song, a brook

And God-ness, everywhere we look

(If we look long enough)

…where life is full of you and me

And Today’s opportunity

A hand to hold, a friend to be

A tender word to cheer

Each other on, through ups and downs

To be part of the art that crowns

The heart and face with smiles, as frowns

That would-be, disappear

This life, filled with mercies renewed

As morning rends night’s tent, star-strewed

Kindles courage with gratitude

In a much-amiss world

Where life is full of lovely things

To counter cares it surely brings

Beneath dawn's rush of blushing wings

A fresh start is unfurled

© Janet Martin

It was impossible to capture the full scale of the magnitude of the sunrise with

a camera lens. Its colors ran north and south without bound!

I began today's poem yesterday morning before Duty prevailed...

I wonder what yesterday's poem would have been??😅

Yesterday afternoon I was treated to this 'bird-song'

from a treetop symphony!

Before I finished 'yesterday's' poem this morning,

the wonderful Psalm below from today's devotion

began Today with utter loveliness!!

Ps. 130

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;

2 Lord, hear my voice!

Let Your ears be attentive

To the voice of my supplications.

3 If You, Lord, should [a]mark iniquities,

O Lord, who could stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with You,

That You may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

And in His word I do hope.

6 My soul waits for the Lord

More than those who watch for the morning—

Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;

For with the Lord there is mercy,

And with Him is abundant redemption.

8 And He shall redeem Israel

From all his iniquities.

Yesterday's poem-kindling...

When Best Intentions Run Awry

This didn't go as planned!

To Grand sonny's 7 yr. old logic it made perfect sense to take a stick

 and whack the snow and ice out of this little china bird-feeder,

completely unaware that Gramma received it for Christmas

 from a family she did childcare for, 

and who thoughtfully picked out this bird and tea lover's gift .

Gramma, (as she came upon the scene of Grandson 

beating the feeder to bits after 'it was broken anyway' 

and before she heard the explanation that caused 

what appeared to be radical unreason!!) 

did not react as patiently as she should have, ahem!!

And then Gramma apologized for her quick and quite annoyed reaction,

and gave him a little 'explanation' on why she treasured it

and on respecting people's things. 😓😅

Grandsonny was very sorry💔💗

It reminded me of how we all sometimes are part of best intention run amuck.

He was simply going to get rid of the ice😂😇

but, no matter how well-intended the objective

 if, when all is said and done

we leave someone wounded/broken or in retrospect realize

our intentions were misguided,

 we owe repentance and apology to whom it is due

however noble our initial intentions were!

The above episode may seem like a pale example,

but the principle  is the same, 

no matter what the details of the issue.

As we mature we realize even compassion can make mistakes.

Sometimes love can get a bit tangled in that fine line 

between sinner and sin!

Oh God, help us all (Whether leader or laity)

 to be humble enough always, to stand corrected!

Would that we be sorry when we should!

God is faithful to help us pick up the pieces,

and move forward by His grace,

for His glory!

Sometimes our best intentions run awry

The good-we-would misses the mark we sought

And every earnest explanation ‘why’

Cannot suffice to fix the wrong it wrought

Sometimes stumbles can test the ‘humblest’ heart

Surprising Self with startling clarity

When Noble Reason errs, (if but in part)

Wreaking havoc from flawed integrity

Fumbles can foster brutal wake-up calls

With jolts intended to open our eyes

Because no one is above pride’s pitfalls

Or too superior to apologize

Then, sometimes all it takes to get along

Rather than justify the cause so much

Is to say ‘I am sorry, I was wrong’

Then let forgiveness work its healing touch

Sometimes our best intentions run askew

The good-we-would leaves shambles in its wake

And every explanation will not do

Other than owning up to love’s mistake

© Janet Martin

Dear Lord, remind us, rather than stooping to sling stones,

to bow humbled hearts before you in prayer for one another!

John 8:2-11

Now [a]early in the morning He came again into the temple, 

and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 

3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery.

 And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him,

 “Teacher, [b]this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.

 5 Now [c]Moses, in the law, commanded us [d]that such should be stoned. 

But what do You [e]say?” 

6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him.

 But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, [f]as though He did not hear.

7 So when they continued asking Him, He [g]raised Himself up and said to them,

 “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 

8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 

9 Then those who heard it, being[h] convicted by their conscience, went out one by one,

 beginning with the oldest even to the last. 

And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 

10 When Jesus had raised Himself up [i]and saw no one but the woman, 

He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers [j]of yours? 

Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; 

go [k]and sin no more.”