Poetry Wednesday

Happy Birthday to my oldest son, Davis, who turns 17 today. Seventeen years ago I held all 9 1/2 pounds of this bundle , my boy, and I was completely overwhelmed at the thought that I was a mother. I remember saying to my husband as I held Davis, "I am afraid to love someone this much, it will hurt too much." Seventeen years and four children later, it has hurt but it has also been wonderful. I have loved so inadequately most of the time. I am so thankful for God's perfect love for me and my children. I wanted to find a poem that would say what I wanted to express to Davis today, but all the poems about sons reduced me to sappy tears and I had to resist the urge to run to him and beg him never to grow up and leave home! So I chose the poem below, because I want Davis (and his mama and siblings) to always follow love, even though it can be scary and hard, but it is so worth it. Happy Birthday Davis, I love you!

On Love
By Kahlil Gibran

When love beckons to you, follow him,

Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him,

Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,

Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.

Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,

So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.

He threshes you to make you naked.

He sifts you to free you from your husks.

He grinds you to whiteness.He kneads you until you are pliant;

And then he assigns you to his sacred fire,

that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart,

and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,

Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,

Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God."

And think not you can direct the course of love,

for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself

But if you love and must needs have desires,

let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of love;

And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;

To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;To return home at eventide with gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

You can read other poems here.

Falling on my knees.....

O holy night the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees

O hear the angels' voices

O night divine O night when Christ was born



I sat yesterday morning in church sandwiched between my two boys, half listening to the music and thinking about what I needed to do when I got home. A woman stood up to sing "O Holy Night" and I was struck by the beauty of the song. In particular the line "fall on your knees" struck me. I thought, when was the we last time I fell on my knees in adoration of my Saviour? When was the last time I really was in awe of what He did and continues to do? It is not like I am not intentional or don't think about these things. I pray, read, ponder and am grateful. I think it is that some things are so familiar that we get used to them. How can I ever get used to God taking on flesh and conquering death? Yet, I do.... so today my gratitude list is about all the things in my life that are familiar, that I see daily and take for granted at times. May we prepare to be a womb for our Savior and may we fall down at his manger this week in gratitude for all he has done.......

81. I am grateful that I have been loved

82. I am grateful that I can sit in Church without fear, unlike many people in this world.


We read stories like these every morning and are grateful.


83. I am thankful that I have never had to see my children go hungry, or worry where the food will come from like so many other mothers


84. I am grateful that I can educate my children at home and for those who have gone before me so I could do this.


85. I am grateful to be warm, to have a roof over my head, as many people are without a home.


86. I am grateful for words, for books that are everywhere in this house. I am able to read and soak up what they have to offer.


87. I am grateful that the Lord has taken all my selfish "I will nevers" (homeschool, go on the mission field, adopt, etc.) and gently changed my heart and blessed me beyond what I could ever imagine by His grace.


88. I am grateful for the beauty that surrounds us daily, the birds, trees, sky, all proclaiming His glory.


89. I am grateful that I am a mother and a wife.


90. Most of all I am grateful that "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us"

(John 1:14)


May you all have a wondeful Christmas!

Poetry Wednesday

I had my poem picked out over the weekend, I heard this lovely little poem at a Christmas concert. I had planned to have our family do our annual tradition of cutting down the tree, decorating and eating homemade cinnamon rolls. God had other plans for my weekend and I had to put my plans away and serve and give to someone else. (which I did very begrudgingly at first ) The Lord knows what I need for my salvation. So no picture of our Christmas tree to accompany this post. I love this poem because it shows the wonder of children and Christmas. Enjoy and read other poems here

little tree

by: E. E. Cummings

ITTLE tree

little silent Christmas tree

you are so little

you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest

and were you very sorry to come away?

see I will comfort you

because you smell so sweetly

I will kiss your cool bark

and hug you safe and tight

just as your mother would,

only don't be afraid

look the spangles

that sleep all the year in a dark box

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms

and I'll give them all to you to hold

every finger shall have its ring

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you're quite dressed

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see

and how they'll stare!

oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands

and looking up at our beautiful tree

we'll dance and sing

"Noel Noel"

Gratitude

No matter how hard I try to keep life simple and quiet during this season, life seems to get busier and busier. This past weekend I had great plans for what I wanted to do with my family but God had other plans. I spent my morning prayer time complaining/ whining a bit about it all. I realized again, that all is grace and how important gratitude is. Not just when things go as planned but especially when they do not. I know He holds it all in His hands. Here are the things I am grateful for this week....

71. For days that don't go as planned (my usual response it not always one of gratitude)

72. for morning quiet (Help me Lord to be thankful for the noise that will come when all are awake)

73. for the wonder of children when it snows (help me Lord to see the beauty of wonder and not the mess of snow boots)

74. for early morning and late night talks with my teenagers (help me Lord not to inwardly grumble at the sleep I am missing)

75. for a house full of music (help me Lord to appreciate this for someday all these musicians will grow up and move on)

76. For two children born during this season (thank you Lord for giving me this opportunity to relate more to Mary as I think about the birth of my children this time of year)

77. for the piles of books, papers, laundry for this means there is life in this house (forgive me for all the times I complain about the clutter)

78. for the right encouragement at just the right time (For the Lord's ways are perfect)

79. for the wonder and miracle of the incarnation (forgive me Lord for all the times I think I need to make this season magical when You are the season and every season)

80. for a husband who loves me and makes me laugh every single day....

The picture is of Ella, who turns 4 on January 1. I love this picture because her face is full of wonder...( and I think she is beautiful)

Poetry Wednesday

I have always loved this poem, the beauty of the words, the image they paint in my mind. I read it every year to my children. It always brings tears ( I am a little sentimental!)

You can read other poems here

In the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

Christina Rossetti

photo: a favorite hike near Lake Michigan

Poetry Wednesday

Here is my poetry contribution, because I find peace in the beauty of the outdoors.....and I probably worry too much.....

The Peace of Wild Things

by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Have a peaceful Wednesday and look at other poetry here.