Of Sweet, Sweet Motherhood

We are all mourning with them, as the gruesome details begin 

to unfold from the Tragedy in Nova Scotia, 

among the victims are mothers 

and fathers!
Nova Scotians feel a bit like extended family because that's where our son-in-law
grew up and his family lives!

Dear tired and precious mommy,

Hug your babies, no matter how old they are!

Makes motherhood feel like a pretty precious charge!

Today, amidst Covid-19 restrictions a local family

is laying their sweet mother to rest without friends and family around them!

Tell me please, why can we line up for blocks outside a Costco but

family members are not allowed to stand six-feet apart at a graveside?!

Only ten people are permitted to attend the burial-service.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Audrey Gingrich as well

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

Jesus~ 

John 14:18 

The needs that never cease; Her title decks no marbled hall

Where without love, fulfillment would be a battle, hard-fought

Lord, reawaken Her to more than chores; love’s highest call

Depends upon Her faithful giving-everything-she’s-got

With no standing ovation for the meals that she prepares

With no grand celebration as she tends to childish cares

While innocence depends upon Her love to show the way

And search out truth (lest God forbid) small soul be led astray

Then stoke within her heart of hearts the fire that needs no wood

But reignites and fans the sacred flame of motherhood

The charge that drains the buxom bloom is not a carefree Thing

Where innocence is soon a very human-natured test

The joy that spills in laughter keens Her deepest suffering

And often leaves Her feeling more exhausted than sweet-blessed

Where no one stands to cheer Her on in this amazing race

No trophy for the thousandth time she wipes a nose or face

But, by the grace of God, she finds contentment in the role

Of nurturer and guardian of both body and soul

As she surrenders other splendors for A Greater Good

And shoulders, like a soldier, the mandate of motherhood

Mothers never retire; there is no release from love

That drives Her to Her knees; that authors laughter, tears and prayers

Her hallmark of success, a tender track-record to prove

In spite of trips and stumbles just how utterly she cares

Where none of us are guaranteed to witness Today’s end

Making the needs that never cease an honor to attend

And suddenly the mother that was wearied by the task

Is stunned by Mercy’s Author granting more than she could ask

As beneath humble wings she gathers close Her precious brood

And thanks God for another day of sweet, sweet Motherhood

© Janet Martin

 Personal note: My mother is slowly but surely recovering from Covid-19.

she is 77 years old so she realizes her energy may take a while to return to normal!

Thank-you so much for the loving thoughts and prayers.

Continued prayers appreciated!

Dad is still in good health. PTL!

How Are We Praying?

"Prayer is the most.important thing you will ever do."
and

"Prayer is the most important event in our life!"

two quotes from Charles Stanley's message below

Rejoice at all times.

Pray without ceasing.

Give thanks in every circumstance, 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

1 Thess.5:16-18 

Lest bitterness takes root and from it sprouts a deadly tare

Then lest it lessens strength while it compounds a weight of care

Teach me to rev'rence Thee, Oh Lord, for prayer is not a kite

To frantic'lly fling heavenward when things aren't working right

Lord, help me first to recognize Your divine holiness

Lest, not so much by word as deed I reject free access

Because the throne of grace is not some wishing-well-like thing

To toss down penny-wishes to a puppet on a string

…for prayer is not a quick-fix-it demand or pious nod

Prayer is faith’s humble reckoning and beckoning to God

So lest, I’m like a child prepared to snatch treats from a jar

My first request to You, oh God, is, teach me who You are

© Janet Martin

Today's devotion...

Anchor Midst Confusion

Sure are a lot of opinions flying about these days 

enough to 'ferhoodle'/bemuddle the best of minds

if we are ignorant or indifferent to what God says!

a brief flare of sunshine before clouds and rain

maintained the weather forecaster's credibility😊

For the word of God is living and powerful, 

and sharper than any two-edged sword, 

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, 

and of joints and marrow, 

and is a discerner of the thoughts 

and intents of the heart.

Heb.4:12

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
 through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises,
so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,
 now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Peter 1:3-4

Then bid we of lowly estate embraced by Love Supreme

Take up the holy cross of faith with reverent esteem

Though round about, ah, we would doubt, if sight was our guide

And we would fail without A Faultless Compass to preside

Where God so gave the world his Word for both elder and youth

So more than opinion will ground and root us in the Truth

The logic of the mind is tainted by what it perceives

If man’s knowledge is unacquainted with God, it deceives

Pity prideful misunderstanding of love without flaw

Where man’s erring comprehension cannot grasp its Perfect Law

Oh, Holy, holy, holy, God anoints the earth with rain

As lowly, lowly, lowly mankind drinks and drinks again

His cup of mercy overflows, nursing this dying breed

Love’s nail-and thorn-scarred grace bestows the flower to the seed

Where need is mankind’s common ground no matter who or where

And no one is too fit or fine without His Word and prayer

Where sun and rain maintains the garden, field and orchard slope

And Fellowship with God maintains the faith that maintains hope

…then bid we of lowly estate embraced by Love Supreme

 Do nothing for empty conceit but most humbly esteem

The value of each other as Love’s most entrusted Charge

Before we reach the Shore where Soul disembarks from its barge

Where God so loved the world He gave His word to show the way

And anchor us ‘midst the confusion of what people say

© Janet Martin

 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,

 but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Phil.2:3

Do not be wise in your own eyes; 

fear the LORD and shun evil.

Prov.3:7

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart 

and with all your soul

 and with all your strength 

and with all your mind'; 

and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Luke 10:27

The Tender Risk

 This morning I had in my inbox a poem written by my niece

for a history assignment;

a strong piece of writing in Reverse Poem and well done!

It tempted me to attempt this form I had long forgotten.

In much shorter version.

 (also forgot how challenging it is;

the trick to keep one line flowing

into the next...)

So much to celebrate… and grieve

With what we suffer to achieve

And weave love’s longing, bittersweet

As hunger and fullness compete

To penetrate with piercing ploy

The climax of sorrow with joy

To fragmentalize and finesse

The highs and lows of happiness

Where what we have and hold is but

Slow loss that waits to sheer and gut

The heart that dares to trust enough

To take the tender risk to love

Again

© Janet Martin

Again

To take the tender risk to love

The heart that dares to trust enough

Slow loss that waits to sheer and gut

Where what we have and hold is but

The highs and lows of Happiness

To fragmentalize and finesse

The climax of sorrow with joy

To penetrate with piercing ploy

As hunger and fullness compete

And weave love’s longing bittersweet

With what we suffer to achieve

So much to celebrate… and grieve

© Janet Martin

 Even in laughter the heart may ache, 

and rejoicing may end in grief.

Poverbs 14:13

A Blessing For The Heroes/Warriors of Covid-19

 (note: Although the poet wrote 

'don't despair if you must face them all alone'

I think it meant when we have no other person at our side.

Because with God we never face anything alone!)

 
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, 

who always leads us triumphantly 

as captives in Christ and through us 

spreads everywhere the fragrance 

of the knowledge of Him.

God bless you as we pray our way through days we will not miss

(Except in ways we never gave enough kind praise, till this)

God bless you as we make the best of what is not the worst

(Unless we turn our backs on Him, in bitterness immersed)

God bless you as we learn to trust more than we had before

And come to know in spite of woe His grace is always more

God bless you in the second miles nobody keeps count of

Proving on knees, highways, halls, aisles, the greatest of these, Love

God bless you as we weather, all together, day by day

The trouble that, while it is passing, teaches us to pray
God bless you as we weather all together, push and shove,
The trouble that, while it is testing, teaches us to love

© Janet Martin