LOVE IN A CRYSTAL VASE

When I was a wee one

I always wanted to visit Nana

and bring her flowers.

Seemed to me she never got any.

As I saw things,

she was always alone, too.

I picked beautiful dandylions for her

and she put them in a water glass on her dining table!

I didn’t know it was a water glass

nor did I know the “flowers” were just weeds.

Nana must not have known what they were either

because she kissed me

and said they were beautiful

just like ME!

By Martha L Shaw © 2019

 

 

HE CREATED ALL THINGS WELL

Silver Lake Tewksbury MA by M L Shaw

HE DID NOT CREATE US WITH LABELS

Unlabeled

The happy little dandelion

growing in the field

smiled toward heaven

all the while.

No one ever said

“you’re just a weed”

so he had no doubt

that he was loved.

Perhaps

there is a lesson

here for me?

by Martha L Shaw © 2015

WE ARE BORN WITH OPEN MINDS  AND LOVING HEARTS.

LET’S REMEMBER HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS!

 

DADDY’S LOVE – ABBA’S SERVANT

 

Tapers on the sofa table

Gently lit the room

For it was night.

 

While mother slept,

Father and I enjoyed the gentle candle light

And stories from another time and place.

 

We needed no warmth

From those candles, though.

That came from father’s heart.

 

He knew I’d be waiing.

I knew he’d come.

Sleep didn’t come easily to him.

 

We spent hours together

He shared so many stories

Oa life as a boy,family,the farm…

 

Tales of many generations

Retold in the gently lit room

Well into the night.

 

Tears come as I share this

But not of sadness,

All of joy!

 

As we retired for the night,

I waited for his sounds of sleep

Before taking to my bed.

 

He is gone now,

But my memories still bring

Love, peace, and rest!

 

By Martha L Shaw – © 2017

 

 

 

 

Taking Off The Blindfold

Blindfolded we dance

Sun still shining as we sing

Darkness holds no fear

By Martha L Shaw – © 2015

I was not what you’d call an athlete as a kid but I was active, running and biking and playing games without fear.  I wanted to swing the highest and bike the fastest.  We played games with masks fearlessly and when it was someone else’s turn I laughed as they wandered.  Now as an adult with failing eyesight, darkness comes unexpectedly and scares me.  Familiar hallways seem filled with obstacles waiting to hurt me.  Gone is the girl laughing with her blindfold on.  This fear is not necessary.

²³ Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble;  – Proverbs 3:23

Light . . . Darkness . . . why fear one over the other?  If I am on the path with my Lord, day and night are both alike.  He will not let me fall.    I am His.

FREE YOUR INNER CHILD

When I was a child,

it did not really matter

that the carrot I pulled from the ground to eat

still had soil on it,

nor that I’d wiped the rest on my shirt.

The choice, there was none . . .

Focus on the carrot or on the dirt?

CRUNCH!

By Martha L Shaw – ©  2017

Dear Aunt Astrid!

I had an aunt whom I assumed may have been born an old lady. The little niece recalls a wrinkled nose more  than a smile. I recall giggling after a burp and being told “Not prudent for a young lady.”  Wonder how she knew?  Anyway, I did not know what the word meant, but but but . .  I had heard of prudes and one more thing!

Stand in front of a mirror and say PRUDENT and imagine you’re still a 5 year old.  Tell me!  DOESN’T IT MAKE YOUR FACE LOOK FUNNY?

Lessons From My Child Self

Depending on your faith or denomination, this might not be completely familiar, but ,I was thinking of Mom at church yesterday and recalled her telling me that as a tiny girl she would march around the house holding an upside down broom and pretend to be the crucifer at church.

So, later in the service, as we sung the Doxology and got to the words “praise Him all creatures here below” I remembered myself as a wee one singing the same words with one tiny mistake. I misunderstood and heard them say “preacher” rather than “creature” AND GOT MAD! I decided they were NOT going to tell me only PREACHERS could praise Him. I WAS GOING TO AS WELL!  lol

It should not surprise anyone that both of us have, in our own ways, felt called to forms of ministry from a very young age.

 

 

 

ARE YOU PREPARED?

He’s Almost Here!

Let us adore Him

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There Is ALWAYS Joy For One Who SEEKS IT!

LEAPING FOR JOY

He raked all the leaves

Smiling he raked again

After I dove in.

Dry crackling twigs

Scents of a nearby bonfire

Memories of Dad.

By Matha L Shaw ©2015