Echo-Escapades (in the making)

Birthdays have a way of taking us on trips down memory-lane

a pleasure-pain escapade, bittersweet and happy-sad

It makes us stare harder at what fills our frames
Before Time collects its insistent claims

 Victoria sipping tea and drinking in a delicious rainy morning...

 ...before leaving for work

Who can hold back what is waiting to be

Time burgeons like a broad, bud-giddy tree

Moments melt like raindrops strumming the land

Nature surrenders and drinks from God’s hand

Who can return what has slipped through dusk’s door

Dark flannel curtains fall soft, shore to shore

Snuffing with star-studded, mind-boggling deep

All but the echoes that chuckle and weep

Who can secure what is destined to pass

Cherish the verdure that fades like the grass

Treasure each momentous sparkle of air

Savour the brunt of grace with thankful prayer

Who can afford to touch coldly, the cast

Soon turned to markers of permanent past

Seems we are always caught mid-memories

Learning to balance on Time’s Mist-trapeze

Who is immune to the touch of the hand

Tuning the taker to trickles of sand

Grooming even the most brave balladeers

For tender tangos with fond yester-years

© Janet Martin

Sisters...

When What We Have Is Taken...

 Whatever the scale of the losses we suffer

 may it be the means to opening our eyes/faith to what/Who remains!

When what we had is taken it may make us feel bereft

Or cause us to awaken to how much we still have left

Matters of fact seem harsh sometimes in worlds subject to change

We grapple with what dawn unwinds and twilight will estrange

When what we had is taken we begin to realize

That until faith is shaken who can tell its honest size

Shall we accept only the good from Whom all blessings flow

If so, I am afraid we would forget how much we owe

…to He who gave His best to save us from eternal Worst

And sent His Son to brave the cross to rescue souls, death-cursed

Ah, faith is not for feeble-minded fortune-hunting clods

It tests we, prone to flawed, sight-blinded love of lesser gods

Each good and perfect gift is from above, its mercies spill

From He who does not shift or change, like shadows on the hill

Where we, never forsaken sometimes let our love grow dim

Till what we have is taken to awaken us to Him

© Janet Martin

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;

 for once he has been approved, 

he will receive the crown of life which 

the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12 

 Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17 

Panic-stricken or Peace-secured

 We choose panic or peace through Who/who we believe...

Fear peers through the Unknown

Dread flaunts a giant foe

Faith fixes feet on steppingstones

Of grace whereby we go

Fear finds so many ways

To foster dark despair

Faith takes God at His Word and prays

And casts on Him life’s cares

Fear drains our laughter dry

And thrives on misery

Faith does not demand reasons why

But trusts Love’s sovereignty

Fear weakens and destroys

It makes thought rash, uncouth

Faith strengthens because hope’s pure joy

Is anchored in the Truth

Fear is a heartless fiend

Feasting on trembling prey

Faith finds a secure foothold in

The Hand that leads the way

© Janet Martin

Fear; a deadly epidemic
Exposing man's deepest flaw
Faith; assuring and authentic
Fills the heart with peace and awe

 There is no fear in love. 

But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. 

The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

 Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, 

drunkenness and the anxieties of life, 

and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.   

For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.  

 Be always on the watch, and pray...

Luke 21:34-36 

 Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

So do not fear, for I am with you; 

do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you and help you; 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isa.41:10

Until The Ink Runs Dry...

 Happy 19th Birthday, Victoria!

...leaving for work...

...with fresh-baked treats for her co-workers!

Trying To Find Words…

(for that which there seem no words for)

It’s hard to find the perfect lines

To ‘Daughter, let me count the ways’

A poem never quite defines

In full, what a mother’s heart says

Love is a lovely thing indeed

But often veils the breathless art

Of tides that tumble and recede

Across the shorelines of the heart

The ebb and flow of dawn to dusk

Steals mother’s little girls away

Her empty arms are full of love

Her heart with words she cannot say

Of tender hope and happiness

For you, so lovely, sweet and kind

Of humble pride and thankfulness

So intricately intertwined

So, though words falter on her tongue

It does not keep her prayers at bay

To love the Lord while you are young

To seek His wisdom and His way

To trust in Him with all Your heart

To learn how to follow His lead

Where faith is the most vital part

If we wish to truly succeed

It’s hard to tame love into lines

Or name unnumbered reasons why

But I will try unnumbered times

Until the ink of life runs dry

Happy 19^th Birthday, Victoria,

Love Mom

Hard to believe our 'baby of the family' is 19!!

Because of a late work-shift today we did the birthday dinner on Saturday.

What flavour of cake?

Lemon Layer Cake 

but alas! I forgot about candles. 

This did not please Grand-sonny at all!

A birthday cake without candles simply could not be 

so we rooted through drawers until we found 19 assorted tea-lights and votives.

(not pretty but THAT was beside the point😁)

 ...and now, the truth about why the candles were so important😀

 We are not sure who blew out most of them.😘

(sure wish this shot hadn't blurred!)

On Sunday we visited Melissa so she could share in the celebration too!

Victoria, we all love you!
Keep shining!