Happy Mother’s Day – remembering firsts and lasts

Let Me Hold You Longer

Let Me Hold You Longer
a poem by Karen Kingsbury

Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts;
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts.

First day home from the hospital

The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips
The last time that I lifted you and held you on my hip,
The last night when you woke up crying,
Needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket
Wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me still small enough to hold
The last time when you said you’d marry me when you grew old.

Precious simple moments and bright flashes from your past
Would I have held on longer if I’d known they were your last?
Our last adventure to the park, your final midday nap
The last time when you wore your favorite faded baseball cap.

Your last few hours of kindergarten, last days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League, last colored picture made.
I never said goodbye to all your yesterdays long past
So what about tomorrow? Will I recognize your lasts?

The last time that you catch a frog in that old backyard pond
The last that you ran barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn
Silly, scattered moments and bright flashes from your past
I keep on taking pictures, never quite sure of your last.

The last time that I comb your hair or stop a pillow fight,
The last time that I tuck you in and pray with you at night.
The last time when we cuddled with a book just me and you,
The last time you jump in our bed and sleep between us two.

The last piano lesson, the last vacation to the lake
Your last few weeks of middle school, last soccer goal you make.
I look ahead and dream of days that haven’t come to pass
But as I do I sometimes miss today’s sweet precious lasts.

The last time that I help you with a math or spelling test
The last time when I shout that “Yes! Your room is still a mess!”
The last time that you need me for a ride from here to there
The last time that you spend the night with your old tattered bear.

My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass
I want to hold on longer, want to recognize your lasts.
The last thing that you need my help with, details of a dance,
And the last time that you asked me for advice about romance.

The last time that you talked to me about your hopes and dreams
The last time that you wear a jersey for your high school team.
I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed seasons as they pass
If I could freeze the hands of time, I’d hold onto your lasts.

For come some bright fall morning, you’ll be going far away
College life will beckon in a brilliant sort of way
One last hug, one last goodbye, one quick and hurried kiss,
One last time to understand just how much you’ll be missed.

I’ll watch you leave and think how fast our time together passed
So let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last.

 

“He Has Risen, As He Said”

“Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath {for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.  So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him;  but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.  But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.  And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.  For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of Him shall be ^[p]broken.”  And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” John 19:31-37 NASB

 ^”After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.  Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred ^[pounds weight.  So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.  Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.  Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.” John 19:38-42 NASB

“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.  But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”

Matthew 27, 28

Betrayed by one of His own

Beaten

Mocked

Crown of thorns

Scarlet robe

Spit on

The nails

Three hours of darkness – the wrath of God

Forsaken

Earth quaked

Veil rent

“It is finished”

Tomb procured

Body prepared

Sepulchre sealed

Stone rolled

Guards in place

The earth quaked

Angel declared

“He is not here, He is risen”

 

“Truly, this man was the Son of God”

The Death of Jesus

 

“…when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Mark 15:33,34 ESV

 

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” – John 19:28-30 NASB

“And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” -                   Mark 15:37-39 ESV

 

 

Happy New Year 2013

Lord Jesus, thank You for 2012.  It’s been a year of blessings – memories to cherish, trials and victories through You. May we walk close to You and thank You every day of our lives.

 

9/11/01 – Remember that Tuesday morning…

11 years ago today – another Tuesday – that Tuesday morning that looked much like this Tuesday morning – sun shining, blue skies, fluffy clouds and airplanes…

I will never forget that day – that day that changed so much for so many…please don’t ever forget what happened that Tuesday morning 11 years ago.

That Tuesday morning...the day that suicide hijackers crashed two jets, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, full of fuel, into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in NYC and another jet, American Airlines Boeing 757, Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia and a fourth jet, United Airlines 93, crashed in Pennsylvania.

They say that 2,993 people, including the hijackers, died in the attacks that Tuesday morning. Since then, many of the first responders an volunteers have died from cancers and other illnesses believed to be associated with breathing in the dust and debris that filled the air that Tuesday morning….and many are sick and dying even now.

Eleven years after that Tuesday morning, people of the world are still feeling the effects of that tragic day…we must never forget. I pray for those who lost loved ones that Tuesday morning and for all of those affected by the terrorist attacks - God Bless all of the families of those who lost their lives that day.

 

Good point…so true!

How often do we do just that? pick and choose our favorite words of scripture….I think many of us do just that, I know I have done it, color me guilty! I am humbled and challenged by this simple “statement” to read, listen to, meditate on all of God’s Word and not just the verses that make me feel good.

“The Good Wife’s Guide: Embracing Your Role as a Help Meet” is written by Darlene Schacht – her blog is called “Time-Warp Wife – Empowering Wives to Joyfully Serve” check it out, it is a great place to visit when you sit down for a coffee break or your afternoon tea. There is so much to read on her blog – you might need more than just a few minutes. You can also “like”  ”The Good Wife’s Guide…” on Facebook – here and her “Time-Warp Wife” page on FB here.

 

Ministry Highlight – Jabez Blanket Ministry International

Jabez Blanket Ministry International – Backpacks of Hope

I have blogged about this ministry in the past – here – I just want to bring more attention to this ministry and the efforts of so many who have made it a successful ministry to orphans worldwide – of course giving the Glory to God!

This poem is such a well articulated summary of what this ministry does and what they are about – I felt it needed to be shared. ** I did NOT write this - I give full credit to Sharon James, Co-founder of Jabez Blanket Ministry International “Backpacks of Hope” **