Showing posts with label new birth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new birth. Show all posts

Monday, October 20, 2014

Mama's Morning Glories

How can I give thanks for the things You have done for me . . . 

- Andrae Crouch









The soft Autumn light filtered shadows across the leaves and I saw them there. 

The fragile morning glories, nestled in the fading October sunlight, crisp and cheerful, holding onto the last of their life. 

Morning glories . . .

They always hold a special place in my heart, and their appearance brings a spot of joy to my day and an aura of remembrance. 

We still have a few stray flowers in our yard, their lovely blue faces peeking out of their hiding place under the window box. 

My Mama's morning glories.


When I was a little girl, I remember them all-abundant on the white trellis, their azure-glory framed against the softer blue of the sky behind them. 

There, and climbing the fence that hemmed in our yard. 

My Mama planted them when she became a Christian, just a few years before I was born, when joy and peace first flooded our home like a clear day of sunshine after the rain. 

She planted morning glories . . .

To give evidence of the beauty that she now saw all around her - because they reminded her of Jesus and the new life that He had given. 

I remember being outside when I was a little girl, looking at those morning glories and my Mama's perennials all around; she tended them with such care and grace...

I remember the sunlight bathing the day with soft splendor and my Mama's joy, and her voice sweetly singing - maybe "His Eye is on the Sparrow," or Andrae Crouch's "My Tribute." 

And every spring, they would pop out of the ground anew, the resurrection of their little faces making us forget the long dreariness of Winter. 

Those lovely morning glories . . . 


A reminder of grace... a reminder of joy... 

And the sweetness of new life. 





You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Yes They Are All Ours, Missional Call, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Messy Marriage, My Teacher's Name is Mama, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Count My Blessings, Beauty Observed, Christian Mommy Blogger, Serenity You, Renewed Daily, Sunday Stillness, The Beauty in His Grip, Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Baby Joy

Remembering our son Elisha Job's birth a year ago on June 9th, 2014 . . .

A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

John 16:21




After the rush of the good news . . .


The days of waiting, heavy--


Heavy with child, heavy with wonder, heavy with anticipation and fears and hope and trust.






And the last days, so full of joy and expectancy, so full--

Until the hour comes, the bubble bursts, the swollen stomach contracts to release its tiny passenger into the world, and the womb empties itself in blood and sweat and pain--






And then joy.


The woman forgets her long months of aching muscles, tired back, swollen feet.


She holds a precious baby in her arms and sings the lullabies of the Savior to its heart, and she rejoices.


Rejoices as the baby sleeps against her warm skin, drinking in the delightful newness and freshness of the newborn, soft and clean and real.





She laughs and the long months are forgotten. The time of waiting.


Her hour completed, she holds her reward, and breathes the melody of love.





You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on EarthInspire Me MondayThe Modest MomWhat Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate MondaysSo Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every SeasonA Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony TuesdayTell His StoryA Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention WednesdaysMessy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology ThursdaysChildren Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking ThursdayEvery Day JesusCount My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul SurvivalGood Morning MondaysThe Weekend BrewBlessing Counters Link PartyThe HomeAcre HopMommy Moments Link UpGrace and Truth LinkupFaith Filled FridaySaturday Soiree Blog PartyTell It To Me TuesdaysSHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog HopMotivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-UpA Little R&R WednesdaysTGI Saturdays Blog HopTotally Terrific Tuesday

Friday, March 8, 2013

Reflection: A Poem

I wrote this when a beloved brother-friend came to salvation in Jesus and in whose life the Son of Light made all things new ...

The beauty of his amber eyes-

         His face

     Alive in light

The Son of Glory rising in the East

              Behind

The mortal clouds—

      The moon

          Now humbly creeps away

                 The day

In every touch and whisper

    Slips

  Into the open sky-

His eyes

   Like amber

            So alive

The sparks of truth and grace

               Proceed forth from the Son

      The living, breathing One

Who steps into a life and makes it new

    The hammer

             That had fallen hard

                   Upon His hands

                His feet—

The hammer

     That had caused Him pain

             And anguish

          Is no more

And life restored

     Lifts up her hands in victory

Free!

   Free am I—

        Through Him

The Man

     The Son of Man, of God,

          The Glory of the Father

Who is the Risen Light

       So bright

     And we are a reflection of that grace-

They see it,

      Do they see it

            In our amber eyes

Ablaze

      Awake

             And full of grace and glory---