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

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.