Tuesday's slice of bread

A weekly post premised on this: Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord (Prov. 16:20)

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Location: Florence, Kentucky, United States

married to my best friend, writer, teacher, avid reader, occasional poet, volunteer

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Some of my memories of my Dad, part one

Some of my memories of my Dad, part one
"Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you have heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.  And this is the promise that he made to us--eternal life" (1 John 2:24-25 (ESV)
Dad loved the Lord and His word, his family, music, history, golf, travel, politics (somewhat); Dad loved to read and encouraged us in that love.
When we moved to the farm south of St. Paul in the fall of 1956, it's a good thing that Dad was only 35 (if I did my math right) as it was the beginning of many short nights and long days for him.  I seem to recall that he would often rise at 4 a.m. to do chores before cleaning up to drive in to the city.  After that, he would have more chores--both animal and filed--before going to bed whenever.  And church took up a fair amount of the family's time.
It seems that Dad was always serving as a deacon or some other position at one church or another.  His principles of privacy made him a perfect fit in such cases.  The same could be said for the years he worked for Vin Weber as a congressional aide.
I remember going to St. Paul to Rayette and being so impressed by all that chemical stuff, stinky though it was.  Dad wore a white coat--a very big deal!  I remember getting a chemistry set for Christmas one year.  I loved it.
I remember Dad going on trips occasionally as an expert witness when someone sued because her hair fell out or turned orange or something.  I have treasured what he brought back from one of those trips--a bracelet I keep in our safe deposit box, not because of it's market value but heart value.
I keep Dad's few letters to me there, too.
Dad was always one to encourage us to try whatever we wanted to try.  I am sure that is what was behind involvement in 4-H and our taking those piano lessons.  He was always there to aid in raising and training the calves we had in 4-H.  And I remember that he was willing to purchase a horse for us, which we didn't ride as much as we might have.
My sister probably rode it more than I did.  Likewise with the bicycle we had.
I regret not going home more after I left for college.  I know that I missed out on a lot.  There were trips to various conferences, for example, that I was not able to participate in.

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

After a sudden death

After a Sudden Death
It isn't the first week--that's full
Of not believing followed closely by
Plans and meals and cards and calls--
It may not even be the week after that,
But one day,
The silence is striking
After the calls, the cards, the meals,
Different plans need to be made from
Any made before and
A different sorrow comes,
A mourning personal,
A grieving not like,
A new way to be found,
A reality only God can
Strengthen you in an for
And
He is able
Always able

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Post Giftmas

Post Giftmas
After the cards and gifts are opened and oohs and ahhs are heard,
What remains for us but to listen to the Word?
Wrappings torn and bows discarded, strewn about the tissue
What remains the issue?
The point of all the trees and trimming
Of all the songs and hymning
Is Immanuel: God with us
God
With
Us
Incarnate
Eternally
To be adored and
To be obeyed
Not only that baby in the manger laid
But the man on the cross and in the tomb and raised
Ascended and
Someday
Returning
"Oh come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord"

Gold and Frankincense and Myrrh

Gold and Frankincense and Myrrh
God and frankincense and myrrh--
Gift from the Gentile men to her--
Must have baffled Mary's mind
For such strange gifts and men to find
Her with Joseph and the Child
After months of travel wild,
Coming as they did to worship the infant King,
Coming on the eastern wing,
Coming, worshipping, offerings leaving,
Warning Mary of future grieving.
God and frankincense and myrrh--
Meant for the Child, entrusted to her--
How odd it must have seemed
As the gifts intense scents and gleamed
As more practical gifts were not brought
These were those which these had thought
Appropriate for a king's birth,
And so they were, for King of heaven and of earth.