Heave Ho, Push, Pull

Sometimes it would seem easier

To crumple weakly and admit

That we fail more than we succeed

It would seem easier to quit

For gain is not an easy fight

We slip and slide, stumble and fall

Still, no matter what odds may seem

To quit is but to lose it all

And so we keep on keeping on

For quitting is to fail in full

One moment at a time, my love

Heave-ho, heave-ho, push-pull, push-pull

© Janet Martin

Sometimes when life hands us a stinging slap to the face,

A quick fist to the gut,

a hard kick behind the knees

it would seem easier to quit trying so hard,

but to become stronger we need to push against the odds,

not by our own strength and power,

but God's. 

He is faithful...

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. Ps. 18:2-3

internet too slow for pics 

Let's Dare To Live

 ...how soon the afternoon donned deeper shades, then disappeared...

Each morning climbs the hill until it becomes afternoon

Then, like the shade that climbs through every fence and gate to lie

Across the yard, the afternoon turns into vesper-tune

And so it goes, from bud to rose to slumber’s lullaby

Then we should pause, because who knows how soon That Gong will toll

And we should purpose in this place of God-anointed Time

To marvel at the way a day, a bud, a year unfolds

Then falls away like petals when the bloom has lost its shine

Let’s let a moment linger longer on our fingertips

That drip-drop from Time’s spigot will run dry. When? Ah, who knows?

Let’s laugh a little more and fill hello with first friendships

Let’s smile, let’s share, let’s dare to live as if This Door might close

Now morning climbs the hill and if God wills, the afternoon

Is waiting like a shroud that every morning dons at last

We cannot hold back moments; soon an hour claims its due

Let’s hope-love-pray before this day turns into Ever Past

© Janet  Martin

Because It Is What It Is And That's That

I searched for a different answer

One more suited to my cause

But it wouldn’t change a smidgeon

Because the truth never does

Truth cannot be teased to please us

Truth will not alter its stance

It remains unchanged in spite of

Finagling or circumstance

Though we may not always like it

And though we may change its name

Underneath our blither-blather

The truth is, truth stays the same

© Janet Martin

Pl-e-e-e-a-s-e! I pleaded with Google…give me something that doesn’t say, Pick them ASAP!!

But every year in a bevy of fresh voices replies roll in to others asking the same question and the response does not flinch! Potato bugs MUST be picked diligently and ASAP! Yech!

It is too dark to see and just feeling for those squishy critters when you can't see is FREAKY!!! I'll finish in the morning before I pick up Melissa for a day at home:-) yay! 

I thought about taking a picture of the scoundrels but refused to give them the honor! Instead, here is a picture I took earlier while weeding...

On Kindness...

Life ought not to be a ‘who cares, swim or sink’ affair

Not an ‘each man for himself’, ‘survival of the fittest’ dare

Life ought to be ‘we are all in this together’ human race

We are all sisters and brothers, all for God, because of grace

© Janet Martin

Here is a personal kindness test he offers at the end of this message:

Am I Kind?

A kind person Gives

A kind person Forgives

A kind person is attractive (made attractive by kindness)

A kind person does not insist on having his/her own way

A kind person delights in delighting others

A kind person has a pleasant disposition

A kind person has concern for others

A kind person loves,

...is gentle,

warm-hearted,

unselfish,

generous,

understanding,

considerate,

thoughtful,

healing,

merciful,

uses kind words,

is helpful,

courteous,

A kind person excuses the mistakes of others,

...is Goodness in action

Kindness is like snow

It beautifies everything it covers! 

 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Eph.4:32

In General...

Life, in general, allows lessons

Some, we never would ask for

But God knows our human-nature

Tendency; how we ignore

Him when things go just like we like it

So now and again He sends

Lessons, seemingly unpleasant

Yielding wisdom in the end

We, in general, best remember

Not those times when life was smooth

But the slips, the scrapes and mishaps

That no one would ever choose

Yet God, kind and wise and holy

Allows us Experience

Lending us life’s bumps and bruises

To shape meek obedience

God, in general, does not tell us

All His wherefores and His whys

What seems to us like misfortunes

Oft are blessings in disguise

So instead of blaming Him for

That which we cannot full see

We, in general should be thankful

Learning love’s humility

© Janet Martin

I wondered what the guy behind me in his new BIG, shiny truck thought as he followed the old, beat-up mini-van out after we both dropped our boys off at their summer farm job.

…but I never did want this bumper fixed;

It is a reminder of a morning when my wrong attitude caused a reckless and impatient backing up (in an empty church-parking lot!!) beside a garbage bin…and I hit it!

 "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin;

 yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."…Exodus 34:6-7