Deadline Season?

 This fellow has no deadlines or cares. No wonder we are told to behold the birds of the air...

 

 

Here is a glimpse at deadline details:)

Believe it or not when I got up my sink was empty and counters clean and clear!

It feels like deadline season; to-do lists tap at our brains

And we are torn twixt stress and happiness it seems to bring

But friend, take heart for oh, the part that matters thus remains

There is no deadline for the joy of worshipping the King

It feels sometimes like days are shorter than they used to be

Seasons slips through our bearing like a breeze or blip of song

But oh, then gentle kindness soothes thought’s sentimental spree

The love we feel at Christmas is in season all year long

…so, in the hustle-bustle that comes with planning and prep

Let’s try to keep in mind more than the chore and shopping list

And think of those that wish we’d slow our gotta-go-go step

Lest things that matter most somehow becomes the part we missed

It feels like deadline season; my the twenty-fifth comes fast

As hours melt like snowflakes on a sun-kissed windowpane

And we are caught between the dream and sheen of shadows cast

Where season hinged to season weaves an ether echo-train

The youngest and the oldest need our time rather than stuff

There is no deadline to The Gift that everyone can bring

So let The Reason for the Season fill our hearts with love

And peace, for there is no deadline for worshipping the King

© Janet Martin

 The youngest and the oldest need our time rather than stuff...

...so, as if to challenge me to add substance to these words just now Little Girl asked

"Will you read this book to me?" so we did... 

 "I love Baby Jesus" she said when we finished reading the book

and singing/listening the song below...

 

Come. Let US Adore Him!

   

He came; the angels hailed His birth

The shepherds heard and blind faith led

them to a place of low estate

to gaze upon a manger-bed

...and though they did not understand

The grand details of what-why-who

They trusted God and simply went

To where the angels told them to 

...and when they saw that it was so

They spread the 'glad tidings of joy'

and all that heard it were amazed

as they told of this Baby Boy

...come, let us kneel and 'see' Him too

Let us let blind faith lead the Way

Let's leave our work to gaze into

The holy place where Jesus lay

...then let us spread the gladsome news

lest some as yet have not been told

Jesus, the Saviour of the world

Is the same as in days of old

The Reason for the Season lives

In humble shepherd-hearts of we

Who do not fully understand

But hear the Good News and Believe

Janet Martin

...and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:7-20

Heaped With Wonder

 Does this no-two-ways-about-it verse not heap your heart with wonder?!

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Isa.1:18

 Nature's decorator has been busy creating wonder as well!

Barren sweep is heaped with wonder

Nature’s decorator wins

With a wash of soft white plunder

Earth is festooned for Her King

Barren deep is heaped with gladness

Mercy’s mediator wins

White as snow redemption’s promise

Prepares hearts to meet Their King

Barren hills are filled with worship

Barren will reborn through Him

Like a barren earth replenished

With the beauty of the King 

Sing a song of purest wonder

Like the snow, grace covers sin

Turn your heart into a manger

Humbly holding Christ the King

© Janet Martin

Scar-dust...

I’m so glad I am still at a stage where I can say this is Matt’s room or Victoria’s room…etc.
This is where we do… not ‘used to’!

I watched a movie recently where a woman was showing a visitor through her house,
her voice braving through wistful ‘breaking’ as she said.
'This used to be such and such’s room’ or ‘here we used to…etc'
.

Yet, for all the ‘used to’ of Time’s expended favors 

Daily it offers new ‘to do’ full of un-experienced flavors!

the sixteen-beat line is more awkward to read 
but its the way a few have fallen recently.

If its too long break it into four-beat rhythms to read:) 

Hope you enjoy...

Yes, soon the cracking of a vault that spills life’s little now and here

Will seal its reel of somersaults, cartwheels, scar-dust-star-burst veneer

Inhale, exhale, Future to Past is cast in most subtle demise

Of what slips through us far too fast in common day-to-day disguise

Hello, darling Today, flaunting a tray of treats not tasted yet

You brim with breath-stealing array of moments primed for retrospect

Of truffle-and-kerfuffle, of entrées, some ‘yech’, some ‘seconds, please’

Where we are all like growing children with appetites to appease

Happiness is not something reserved for a rare and select few

It waits to be discovered in a plethora of present hue

So, take a closer look at colors soon snuffed by pink dusk-to-dusk

And taste the fruit in season before all that remains is its husk

Let’s be indulgent; let’s forgive and forget failure and faux pas

We’re all in this together; born to weather Time’s unflinching law

I’d hate to think while we were nursing narcissistic, petty peeves

Too late we look for blooms forsook, lost in the snow and fallen leaves

Sometimes, so foolishly we think that Time is like a patient pal

Ah, it is neither Friend nor Foe; it composes a madrigal

Of hold-let-go and oh its cadence ebbs and flows, bittersweet knell

Where metronome of noon-noon-noon soon swoons in echoes of farewell

The measure of time’s treasure doled in tender toll of tick and tock

No one can hoard; its keepsakes framed in galleries of quiet thought

Don’t cry my dear, the now and Here replenishes font from a fount

That overflows each day with blessing much too manifold to count  

© Janet Martin

Regarding Consequence

Ah, consequence! The aftermath of choice is undeterred

It sets with subtle stones a path, through rendered deed and word

The crux of instantaneous act does not unveil its stake

Desire without discernment leaves chaos in its wake

We, weak and prone to fretting fear sometimes leap first then look

Consequence follows then succeeds primary steps we took

The exterior of circumstance is like a bud or shield

That veils the bloom of Recompense, Response is sure to yield

Thus, we like Solomon of old, when Choice spreads its buffet

Should seek above silver and gold, wisdom for every day

The flesh ignores prudence, indulges then sorely repents

Wisdom implores its students to remember consequence

© Janet Martin

 "Give me wisdom and knowledge" 

~Solomon

2Chron.1:10