Gone, But Not Forgotten

Today we will attend a funeral where death has parted husband and wife

(gone, but not forgotten)

then we will attend a wedding where starry-eyed Young Man and Woman will

commit their lives to each other till death doth part. 

May we live with the consciousness of the Shadow of Death

and honour life's Giver with every breath.

 for we never know when we or someone we love will be gone...

Gone beyond the blue horizon

Gone beyond the strait called time

No more guessing or surmising

Death unveils the last Great Climb

Gone while we remain to wonder

What yet waits for you and me

When the gates part over yonder

To begin eternity

Gone where there is no returning

To prepare to meet the Lord

When the end of this life’s journey

Rends the veil to the reward

Changed from mortal to immortal

In the twinkling of an eye

Gone from earth to that Great Portal

Where the soul will never die

© Janet Martin

 Let your light so shine before men,
 that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matt.5:16

Oh, Doesn't Fall Just...(a Thankfulness Poem)

It's Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada... 

Oh, doesn’t fall just turn you inside out with happiness

So much to love and tuck into kind prayers of thankfulness

Where colours of the world crescendo; nature’s orchestra

Slows earth’s impatient audience and fills our hearts with awe

Oh, doesn’t fall just make you wanna dance a dosey-doe

Take that wind-ruffian by the arm as round and round we go

While leaf-shaped notes spiral in a canticle, crimson-tossed

As we drink in the elixir of sunshine steeped in frost

Oh, doesn’t fall just thrill and enthrall you with its appeal

A beautiful withdrawal from sea-song’s silver and teal

Where what once authored quiet dread, in a riot of bliss

Bequeaths a sentimental satisfaction for what is

Oh, doesn’t fall just fill you with oceans of gratitude

The seed has freed its fortune and the flower is subdued

The earth and its fullness thereof hath wielded labour’s rod

And humbled us with harvest as we pay homage to God

Oh, doesn’t fall just stir in you a soulful metronome

Where death’s clock-tower tolls and makes more holy, home-sweet-home

Though we might take the long way just to hear the crunch of leaves

And maybe hum the old-time hymn of Bringing in the Sheaves

Oh, doesn’t fall just wake in you a weight of imminence

The russet frond, frost-brittle now that fringed the pond and fence

The eventide is earlier with sky wide deep’ning blue

Where farewell is a word we never fully get used to

Oh, doesn’t fall just make you feel a little like a king

Crowned with summer-gold memories that only love can bring

And doesn’t fall just always strike you to the very core

Because we always have so much to be so thankful for

© Janet Martin

Concerning Thankfulness...

Our very fragile happiness

Depends, it seems, on thankfulness

Where very certain trouble tries us

With its sundry shapes and sizes

Our very unsure circumstance

May change its music middle-dance

Where Very Sure God never changes

In spite of what time estranges

Our very tender ties that bind

Soon leave each present prize behind

Where very little moments meter

A lifetime of bitter-sweeter

Our very vulnerable mold

Is filled with very gifted Hold

From Very Gracious God who blesses

Very humble thankfulness-es

© Janet Martin

 In every thing give thanks: 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thess. 5:18

For The Love of Laughter...

Of all the blessings we recall

That strew fond echoes after

I think the very best of all

Are those that ring with laughter

© Janet Martin

I really appreciated this gift of laughter tonight

 at the expense of hubby's frustration as he talk-texted to me...

I had asked him if wants a thanksgiving dinner at noon or for supper on Sunday

and he was trying to tell me it depends where he needs to drive to on Sunday night to load pigs early  the next morning...either to Kincardine or Ingersoll...

That talk-text translator was having a little trouble understanding😂

Keep Your Eyes On Jesus...

Isn't this true for us too as it was for Peter...
if we keep our eyes on Jesus he will help us 'walk on water'
 but if we look around and focus on the dark waves
we will sink in fear!

When grief wreaks havoc in our form

And dreams in shambles lie

Pray that we hear within the storm

“Take courage, it is I”

When hope is tempest-tossed about

Where faith and fear-lords vie

Pray that we hear beyond all doubt

“Take courage, it is I”

When Love draws loved ones out of reach

And leaves us wond’ring why

Pray that we hear a Voice beseech

“Take courage, it is I”  

And when we that last strait must brave

Where death’s dark mysteries lie

Pray that we hear across the wave

“Take courage, it is I”

© Janet Martin

 But Jesus immediately said to them:

 "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Matt.14:27