‘Remembrance of a mother‘

I think some of us are tempted to question

the timely events in our lives, why certain things

come about, parents that were given that

weren’t the best.

As a child I had been brought up to just

accept things as they were, hoping they

would get better. But they never seemed

to be resolved.

My mother was a flighty person, moving

in and out of the chaos

and confusion she had woven in her life

and mine.

Then I remember clearly the time when

I was interrupted from a childhood of

acceptance to one of adolescence, when

I could no longer tolerate her behavior.

And anger and resentment began

to fill my heart. I spent much time

wondering why I had been given a mother

like this.

When I began recovery, I remember the

first night, when it was revealed why I had

turned away, and realized the trauma she had

received from abuse in her life. It had just

been carried through to mine also. There was

a reason for her neglect, and thus started

years of working through the issues I had

developed.

I wondered why these things were not revealed

much earlier, and I had been given a chance

of reconciliation before she died!

* * * *

Who is this mother we have laid to rest?

Poor helpless soul who wandered this

earth, not knowing or caring where she

was led.

She took her child along for the journey

who at times did not know where she

would lay her head.

With emotions held in and warned not

to cry, this child hoping she would be loved

if things got better.

Now death has taken this mother, and she

has gone to sleep. No longer tormented

with emotions so deep, sorrow

no longer her’s to keep, removed forever,

to rest In peace.

But remember child, she did not have the

tools to help you to survive. She could not

fulfill her role, you became the mother and

she the child.

Oh, where do I look for a nurturing

mother? Could it be, that God is as much

a mother as He is a Father to me?

And then a clearer picture I saw, as I

wrestled with the why’s and how’s

of the mysteries beset on the journey

of life. Perhaps if I had been given a

mother that I had wished for, I

would not have reached out for

something better!

Encouraged to rest! To set aside these blessed hours!
To come apart and be blest”

A Sabbath evening reflection…

“:A world without a Sabbath would be like a man without
a smile, like a summer without flowers, and like a
manor without a garden, it is the joyous day of the week”

Henry Ward Beecher

As the sun began its circuit on the

eastern horizon, its rays reflected a

*massive structure, doors that

had been locked since COVID 19 were

opened
* * * *


And on this day of prayer of 2022
two years later
we have much to pray for, for our
nation and nations in conflict and war

From morning till night, hour upon hour

for our leaders who fight for our nation

The question is asked,

“Is the Lord among us or not?”

“The God who watches over America

never slumbers or sleeps”

The doors of our churches and cathedrals
are open for all who seek comfort and peace!

These excerpts are taken from my
poem ‘It was six hours of dawn’

*The Washington National Cathedral

There are many things to be grateful for this
Eastertide,
delivered from our pains and sorrows
of the past, our abuse and shame, receiving new life!

Are we the only ones that have lived in
shame, in our abuse, agony and pain?
Why did it happen? Why did we not
stop the cruel acts?
Did the threats intimidate us?
“But we have been abused” we cry
Those that violated our bodies and minds
we took on as our fault, the sins of the perpetrator
has eaten away at our hearts
Our dark secrets haunt us at night our
pillows drenched with tears, having taken the
burden upon ourselves, but it is just too heavy
to bare, trying ever trying to pay the price

There once was a man that experienced
this pain as we, in humiliation and scourging
He hung upon a tree
His robe torn from his body, His loincloth
removed, a spectacle to the world
He identifies with us
Nails driven through the palms of
His hands, one day becoming scars of reminders
of His love for us
Our appetites and passions He bore
tasting the bitter wine spewing it from His mouth
giving power to the addicted that they may be
delivered too
Crying “Father forgive them for they know
not what they do” giving us the desire to forgive
our assassins and demons too
Denying himself bread, tempted of the devil
given to prayer instead
Desolate and forlorn when his followers
fled, He understands when we are left alone
Taking our punishment upon Him, for
all of these things He has given power to God’s
sons and daughters, for there is not a sin that
He has not forgiven!

Selections from my poem
‘The Stripping’

A Sabbath Reflection

In six windows of time He took the world in His hands
separating the sea from land
Drawing back the curtain of black

A freshly made sun in an azure blue sky
and night time purple with evening lights
In six days he created the world
and on the seventh day he rested
inviting His children to rest with Him!

“And so having finished His task…
He blessed the seventh day and declared it holy”
(Genesis 2:2)

Father of lights do you live
In the sky?

Not with your children
In darkness below?

Do you look out your
Window from your
Home on high

At the sun in the
Morning light?

Are you the man in
The moon, shining
Moonbeams on the
Stars at night?

To see how far they
Will fly?

You are so far I
Can’t jump that high!

Or maybe ride on a
Kite but it won’t fly
That high!

If I could, I would see
Where you live

If I get there God
Would you let me in
With my darkness
And sin?

It seems such a long
Way between You and I

Some say You are light
Would You be too bright
To look upon?

I don’t understand what
It really means
But it says You are
Loving and kind!

So I will bid You
Goodnight and thank
You for light, however
It comes!

“Every good and perfect gift is
from above, coming down from
the Father of the heavenly
lights”

James 1:17

A reflection for the day!

The quail are calling and following the sun
scurrying along till day is done! Ever watching
over their nestling’s
wants!

Oh, if only we could be dependent as they on nature’s call!

To consider the lilies as
they grow they toil
not
neither do
they spin!

“Consider the lilies of
the field, how
they grow…”
Book of Matthew

And to all across the world!
A morning reflection

Though your day may be setting in distant
lands and the sun is rising on the opposite shore
time cannot separate our desires for a peaceful
place for all to dwell!
In this day let us remember
we are not forsaken!

With lamps trimmed and burning

Long ago in an ancient land
a village sat on a hill, the sun was
setting and the shadows gathering
And from the windows of a house
light was streaming with laughter and
shouting
Ten young ladies were sewing
their gowns of silk and lace braided
with silver and gold
Each had a lamp trimmed and
burning

There is excitement in the air
for a marriage procession will soon
take place
A bride is waiting for her groom
the night is far spent and weary of
the wait the ten young ladies fell
asleep

At midnight there is heard a cry
“The bridegroom has come to take
home his bride”

Waking abruptly, smoothing their
gowns, plaiting their hair, they all rush
out with lamps trimmed and burning
Five were wise and had plenty of
oil, but five were foolish and had not
enough
Running to the wise, “Give us of
your oil” but the wise replied,
“We have not enough to spare”
“Go to the village and find some there”
The five returned with oil in their
lamps, but the five wise had already
gone into the wedding feast and the
door was shut
The five foolish were left in darkness

The message is given – Watch and pray
with your lamps trimmed and burning
for you know not the hour the Bridegroom
will come to take home His bride!

Images courtesy of ‘freebibleimages.org’

My cup was overflowing
my plate full
sitting at the
cafe nestled by the bay…
When a storm appeared on the horizon the bay becoming
turbulent

my cup becoming empty and my heart shattered…
On a trip to Mexico with my son, we had a favorite cafe where we
dined, looking over the peaceful sea, little did I know of his sudden
death that would leave me with only memories…

There is a story called
‘Breakfast By The Sea’
When fisherman went out
in their boats and that night they caught
nothing. Then they heard a Man’s voice
saying “Cast your nets on the right side
of the boat” …
and their nets were full! When they saw
on shore a fire of coals with fish laid on it, and
bread… a Man’s voice invited them to
“Come and eat breakfast”…and they were full.

Never are our cups too empty to be filled to overflowing once more!