The Least of These.....

Mommy, would you like a drink?
She held a glass of water
As I gazed into the face
Of my precious daughter
Turquoise eyes and cheek so fair
Lips that smiled and golden hair
But dearer still than this, I think
Was her love which brought the drink

I wondered as I took the cup
How many glasses I held up
As I went about my way
Did I ever pause to say
‘Excuse me would you like a ‘drink’?
Or did I even stop to think
About another travelers load
As I met him on life’s road?

Lord, give me eyes to see the need
Of others here; let not my greed
Consume and blind me to the hand
Which reaches out for help to stand
But let me reach to lift them up
Offering to them a ‘cup’
Lord, in everything I do
Let me do it unto You

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Janet Martin

For inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these
You have done it unto Me. Matt.25:40

If hearts can melt then mine did tonight.
I looked up to see my daughter holding out a
drink.....she thought I looked hot and thirsty!
Yes, I believe there are angels among us....

Security Blanket

Wrap me Lord, in the warmth of Your goodness
Cover me with Your amazing grace
Hold me close while the battle rages
Draw me into the light of Your face
Carry me Lord, when my feet grow weary
Let Your forgiveness wash over me
When the road is long and the sky is dreary
Your blessed assurance abides with me
Strengthen me Lord, if my own strength falters
Lift me up as on eagle’s wings
Hear me Lord as I bow at Your altar
Yielding to You my everything

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Janet Martin

I was going to post this one on my frontporchpoetry blog
when suddenly I seemed prompted to put it on this porch:)

It's Nice.....

It’s nice to have a hand to hold
When the world is cruel and cold
It’s nice to know the warmth we feel
Is something simple, yet so real
I’m thankful for your love so true
It’s nice to be in love with you

Seasons come and seasons go
Some with sun and some with snow
But through it all one thing remains
The hand I hold has stayed the same
It’s nice to feel your gentle fingers
And the tender thrill that lingers

It’s nice to have a hand to touch
When no one else cares very much
You and I are two yet one
Never really all alone
It’s nice to know when we’re apart
Love wraps its fingers ‘round our heart

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Janet Martin

Why......

Why can I think of a million things
To tell you, when you’re not with me
But as soon as I see you I’m tongue-tied
And I stumble over my own feet
You look so very beautiful
I want to tell you so
But my words come out in a jumble
So that I don’t even know
What in the world I am trying to say…
But you say you like me anyway….Why?

Why do my fingers turn into thumbs?
My dancing, a clumsy stumble
I’m sure that I read somewhere
That God gives grace to the humble
Well, I’m not graceful, as you can see
Though I’ve tasted my share of humility
All I really want to do is love you
But all the things I really want to say
Are lodged somewhere deep down inside me
Yet you’re so kind and love me anyway…Why?

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Janet Martin

Hold Back The Minutes

A long time ago on a thousand stages

I’ve been envisioning, dreading this day

I’ve filled and tossed a thousand more pages

As I contemplated what I’d like to say

But now grand words fail me as I start to cry

And I don’t know how I can tell you good-bye

Time is a merciless clock that keeps ticking

Urging us on in a ceaseless parade

Yet I would not give back one single moment

As I recall all the memories we’ve made

Forgive me, my dear, for the tear in my eye

But I do not know how to tell you good-bye

I’ll hold you close in this hour of parting

There are no words for a moment as this

If I should perchance feel the tears starting

It’s only because of the good times I’ll miss

Hold back the minutes, I’ll try not to cry

For I do not know how to tell you good-bye

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Janet Martin

Now I Lay Me.....

Now I lay me down my sorrows on this carpet ‘neath the moon
Night is far too grand a stage on which to play a morbid tune
There is nothing I can do today to undo what is done
So I’ll simply drink the potion poured from heavens velvet throne
While the willow and the clover and the brook beneath the pine
Hum a melody of mercy strummed by nature’s hand so fine
And the breezes laugh beside me running fingers through my hair
As the whisper of God’s glory breathes upon the misty air

Now I lay me down my worries, all my failure and regret
On a bed of dust and daisies where a thousand suns have set
For I cannot bear to dance tonight with sorrow on my brow
As the arms of mercy hold me tight and whisper to me now
And I rest my head upon the shoulder of His tender love
Wrapping me, as night grows colder in a blanket from above
Where I close my eyes and listen to a peaceful serenade
On a floor where dewdrops glisten in a ball-room heaven made

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Janet Martin

Stained-glass Windows

I see a thousand colors gleaming
In a pattern well designed
As I see the sunset streaming
Through the windows in my mind
It’s a landscape flush with memories
Like a long, silent highway
Stretching far into the distance
Past my present fields of grey……..

It’s a meadow in the valley
And I see you standing there
Silhouette against the colors
Of my window in the air
I reach out to touch your shoulder
But the window will not break
I can only hold you closer
In a fond reverent heart-ache

Oh, you heartless stained glass windows
Tears will never wash you clean
Searching in the muted shadows
For a day that once had been
And there is no curtain broad enough
To draw across this pain
As you grace the dark horizon line
I close my eyes in vain….

For these grandest stained-glass windows
Like the great and yawning sky
Are the walls in a cathedral
Sprawled across my memory
Where time renders richest color
Pouring through each tinted pane
In the grandest stained-glass window
That my eyes have ever seen

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Janet Martin

There's something about running
under heaven's stained-glass windows...
when everything is still
...that is so hard to beat!

Mr. Moody April

I must confess your moodiness
Is sometimes hard to take
Your ups and downs, your smiles and frowns
Warm sun and cold snowflake
Yesterday you came to play
With chatter sweet and yellow
Today your gold is pale and cold
You temperamental fellow

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Janet Martin