FOREVER HEARTS

 

For Bobby and  Kim

A smile,

A kind word,

Soon becomes a hug and kiss.

Rain and sun . . .

Love planted by the Mighty Gardener

Grows into such beauty.

Forever comes so quickly

To the one who is left behind.

But no, sweet one!

It lasts for eternity.

Broken hearts become stronger

For being such giving hearts . . .

For ”Giving Hearts”know no limits!

By Martha L Shaw – ©2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE WORLD?

The Ballad of Unity

Dedicated to Mother Emanual A.M.E. Church

Charleston SC

When I stand alone

I cannot hear the music

but when instead I hold your hand

the lyrical voices of freedom, hope, love and peace

make my heart soar!

By Martha L Shaw – ©  6–18-2015 Words and Image

 

 

Other writings you may like:

• Another testimony
• Relationship & encouragement
• Hope

EVERLASTING LOVE

Happy Birthday, Mama! Are you celebrating with Nana, Grammy, Grampy, and Daddy? Is my older brother David there too? I miss the fun we had making your birthday special and behaving like kids together, but you are not really gone. You are always with me and are a part of everything that is me . . . especially my heart!

 

MY HEART DROPPED

Losing you 2 years ago today made my heart drop, but knowing your pain is gone and you rest at His feet helped me heal.  You and He are with me in my heart always.

The Missing You Never Stops . . .

. . . but you are part of me, Mom, so I still find joy.

Mom with Nana, great grandma, and me.

The Wake

The house is in stillness

laying in wait for the chaos

Yet to come.

I sip,

I breathe,

I wait.

I hear you sing.

I feel your gentle embrace.

I know your love.

By Martha L Shaw – © 3-20-14

Thank You All

The Newest Angel

To Fr Charlie

who lives on in our hearts

My day began with clouds

Because I miss you

But when I closed my eyes

There you were in my heart.

I opened my eyes

To discover the sun

Shining a bit more brightly

Than it has before.

I believe it is because

You now reign

Above.

By Martha L Shaw – © 1-10-2015

Mama

Dedicated to my dear Mother, Barbara Shaw,

who died just a few months ago

after many years of poor health and dementia.

Dedicated, as well, to caregivers everywhere.

They say the eyes are

Mirrors of the soul,

And I really do believe

That this is true.

.

For, when I look into yours,

Though sometimes conflict

And pain look back,

Jesus looks back at me as well.

.

I see Him holding you so close,

Loving you so much,

And I hope that my eyes

Reflect Him back to you.

.

By Martha L Shaw – Copyright 12-30-2014

With Great Love – Remembering Daddy

Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love   – Mother Teresa –

 

Think about our lives on a typical day.  We don’t change the world.  We don’t solve the economic crisis or find a way to world peace, or to cure the common cold.  Yet, some do small things with great love as the quote suggests.  My late father was one of them.  Daddy died a few years back on 9-26 and tomorrow marks the anniversary once more.  Daddy never finished school, yet he learned more than most of us by caring to do small things well.  He was my hero and not just mine but the hero of most whom he ever met. 

Daddy called everyone “Pal” and truly felt everyone was his friend.  If anyone was in trouble he’d offer a hand or a word of encouragement.  I can recall his going outside and Mom wondering where he’d gone off to.  Sometimes, he’d go into the woods and find something to transplant to make the yard look good when Mom looked out the window.  Other times he’d hear someone working on a car and grab a few tools and go see if he could help get it started.  He was good at that.  Didn’t go to fancy schools to learn, but simply bought old cars and learned how they worked and with little money for fancy things or high-priced shops to fix things, he just learned how to do it.  He shared what he learned. 

He could fix a leaky roof or kitchen sink.  He could put a doll’s leg back on when it broke off.  He could make a cut on my knee better and dry my tears.  He knew just when to pat my shoulder or give a sudden hug.  He didn’t know fancy words.  He didn’t need them.  Not long before his final illness, he and Mom had a “big” anniversary and I made them tee shirts with pictures on them from their wedding day all those decades before.  I took them out to dinner at a favorite local place.  You know the sort, where everyone knows everyone else?  He got up and walked all over the place even into the kitchen so he could show everyone “the shirt my daughter made me.” He pointed to the picture on the front, too.  He had Parkinson’s and didn’t move about easily as a rule, but that night he managed.  Everyone shared his joy. 

At the end he was bed ridden and in the days before he passed, he couldn’t really talk.  He couldn’t really do anything anymore.  He could barely move at all, yet as Mom and I stood at his bedside, he saw us and did his best to make he weak facial muscles, stiff from the disease, form a smile.  I saw Mom’s hand on the side of his bed and noticed him focus on her hand.  I saw a look on his face and watched him with great effort slowly nudge that right hand a fraction of an inch at a time and it took quite some time for him to move his hand a few small inches to where her hand lay.  He finally made it across the distance and clasped her hand.  Twenty minutes to move 3 or 4 inches.   ” . . .  small things with great love.”

I love you Daddy!