in his arms #3

big
people want blessings that are
quantifiable...
profitable...
&
usually impersonal.

why is this true, Lord?

is it
that mostly we don't want
to be bothered?
to be distracted?
to be handled?
or
is it as simple as the
fact
that we like to be
in control?

little
people LOVE being
handled...
held...
cuddled...

is that why You
pointed them out to us
as living pictures
of heaven?
of grace?

is that why You
insisted
on HOLDING them
as You pronounced GRACE
into their lives?

is our refusal
to stop
long enough for You
to hold us
close...
the main reason we
notice
so few of Your gifts
to us?

(for the back-story...
see Mark 10:13-16)

in His arms #2

big
people see things
differently
from little people.

You knew this, Lord...
so
is that why You stopped us
as we tried
to prevent Your words of
blessing
from being spoken?

big
people think words
are cheap...

little people
know
that words can kill
or
at least make them cry.

big
people curse
life...
&
other people...
&
barriers to their plans...
&
frustrating circumstances.

little people
haven't learned
yet
to curse
although they do know
frustration...
& sadly...
cursing will come easily
to their lips
soon enough.

Lord,
Your words of blessing
exposed
our "protection"
of Your "valuable time"
as the curses
they were.

heaven
loves blessing.

death
despises it.

(for the back-story...
see Mark 10:13-16)

in His arms

turned
away, Lord...
we turned them
away.

You stopped us in our
tracks
telling us that
they
were what heaven's
citizens
most resembled.

then
You held them
in Your arms
blessing
them & their lives.

squirmy
&
already dirty from their morning
travels...
they stopped their
movement
for a moment as
words
too strong for any of us
big people
to remember
much less comprehend
rolled
over their little heads.

then
once again full
of energy
they ran off to play.

heaven
stopped & noticed.
the cosmos-Maker
smiled.

indeed...
it was good!

(for the back-story...
see Mark 10:13-16 & Genesis 1:10 )

little ears #2

they hear very well
those little
ears
hooked
to young minds
quick
to draw conclusions
to flinch
from us
at the sound of our
inner frustrations
boiling over.

we wish
no harm for them
in our irritations
in our momentary displeasures
spoken.

but
they do NOT know
our hearts...
all they know
is
the NOW
they inhabit.

so
we wound deeply
the little ones we
love.
the most.

little ears #1

little ears
hear
our words
our tones of voice
BIG.
&
LOUD.
& LONG.

wounds great
&
embraces strong
both
are fruit of our
words
in little hearts
longing
to grow up.

help us, Lord,
to measure our tones
&
our words
to shape
well
those little hearts
that You give
to our care.

wrestling with God #2 (Mark 9 & Genesis 32)

playing...
acting like we're fighting
is so fun...
why is that, Lord?

little grand-girls
climbing
all over me to
pin
me to the rug...
what
could be better than
this?

memories
of our own little ones
starting this
tradition
fill
& warm me.

all this...
a gift from Your heart,
Lord...

after all,
You
are the very same
YaHWeH
Who met Jacob
by the brook
to "play-fight" all night long
just
so You could
bless him.

what fun for You!

wrestling with God #1 (Mark 9 & Genesis 32)

unlike Jacob...
i am looking
forward
to meeting You,
Lord.

on the wrestling
mat...
in my living room.

i expect You to walk
in
on two sets of
little-girl-legs.
ready.
for action.

i will wrestle
with them
&
You
as long as You
want.

what joy!
&
crazy fun!
is there any that is
greater?

the Presence (Mark 9:37)

here You come,
Lord.
right into our house...
sleeping
in the second bedroom...
then awake
loudly & noisily...
shouting
laughing
&
crying.

is this
truly the Presence
of the Living God?
the YaHWeH of Israel?

when
You walked among us,
You told us,
"to welcome one of these
little ones
is to welcome Me."

i believe You.

pickle grace

he's 5 years old
&
way
too young to lose
his daddy.

where is Your grace
in this,
Lord?

will daddy still need to get
shots?
can i hug his ashes?
can i kiss his ashes?
his questions each & all...

mom
trying to answer
each
with truth
that crushes her heart
even as her words
break into the air.

satisfied
in some 5 year-old way
he asks,

"can i have some more pickles?"

it seems, Lord,
that Your grace is in
the pickles.