Woven

WOVEN

Mama cardinal with her orange beak

hunting for dried grasses she now seeks

woven together into a nest

where one day brown speckled eggs will rest.

Behind the trumpet vine

is where you can now find

the nest being woven

started early one morn.

She’s a master at designing.

She’s heard singing while she’s weaving.

With grasses her home is knit

as she sings out chit-chit-chit.

She does weave expertly

and waits expectantly

for she knows what’s ahead.

Her husband is bright red.

One egg was laid sometime Thursday.

Another one spotted Friday.

Still another egg seen on Saturday.

Brown speckled in the woven grass and hay.

Mama cardinal sits on the woven nest

while red plumed papa cardinal seems to rest

in the nearby lilac bush.

I can see his feathered tush.

A surprise today – another egg was seen.

Mama now returns where she sits like a queen.

It seems the woven nest is too small

for these four brown-speckled eggs so small.

As she wove the grasses together

her life is being woven for her

for she’ll have four offspring

to raise for two weeks this spring.

I wonder if she’s excited to be a mama?

Does she talk about it with her offspring’s papa?

He’s always someplace nearby

when you look up toward the sky…

sometimes in the budding lilacs, sometimes seen on the fence,

sometimes in the weeping cherry if I happen to glance.

Sometimes I can hear him sing “cheerio-o-o”

as encouragement to his wife he often shows.

Out the back door I now go.

There mama cardinal goes.

Chit-chit-chit can be heard

calling for papa bird.

Here comes red papa

talking to mama.

Cheerio-o-o.

Cheerio-o-o.

Chit-chit-chit

mama chats.

Cheerio-o-o.

papa sings out low.

I can hardly wait to see

the baby cardinals wee.

Just 12 more days it will take

to see their most ugly face.

They’ll be all beak and no feathers.

Only a parent's love could mother

these somewhat ugly mugs

ready for a parent’s hug.

These babies lives are being woven as they are taught to give

when their parents teach them the essentials of how to live -

to wake up early with a glad song in their heart

so humans can begin their day with a fresh start.

* * * * *

In the Old Testament Bible story of old

we read about an upright man named Job.

Satan planned to trick blameless Job

into abandoning his faith, we're told.

You see Job’s life was being woven together

by God who does have a good plan and purpose for

each and every problem in this lifetime we face

for our life is woven together by God’s grace.

The Master Designer has a good plan

for every human – each man and woman.

He knits our life together

with happiness - and troubles.

It’s in troubles we learn to depend

on our God who will be there to fend.

We learn God will be always faithful

as He bestows blessings by the handful.

Not only will we learn patience through our difficulties,

we learn about God’s everlasting love, joy, and peace.

We learn to be kind, good, faithful, gentle and

we learn needed self-control – all God’s good plan.

In the New Testament Jesus told (Simon) Peter

that Satan asked permission to sift him as wheat.

Just as with Job, God had a greater purpose for Peter.

God knew that difficulties would one day hone Peter's faith.

We read about God’s greater purpose in I and II Peter

where Peter encourages us in our trials and troubles.

Peter was given a greater portion of God’s grace

to deal with the many difficulties he would face.

God has a good plan and purpose for us in weaving together

what might be construed as buffeting from Satan, the deceiver.

As with Job and with Peter, God is refining us to come forth as gold

so that we will give God the glory and end up with a testimony bold.

Your life, too, is now being woven

by the Master Designer.

Listen to these words God has spoken

(He’s the polisher and refiner):

God is for you and with you

and will never leave you.

God has a solution for your problems

but first you must give them over to Him.

You are not meant to bear your burdens alone

for burdens will leave you weary and worn.

Learn to view your burdens as unrecognized blessings

for burdens should bring us to God instead of stressing.

And that’s exactly where the blessing lies –

when we seek God first He will surprise

with peace and joy for our life -

a life lived without strife.

What was sent from Satan as stressing

will end up turned into a blessing.

When up against a brick wall,

or when you feel you might fall,

when life seems null,

learn to view all

your disappointments,

and appointments

as God’s weaving -

it will end up pleasing

for God has a good plan and purpose,

one which spoils Satan’s ruse.

Try not to dwell on the here and now.

Look beyond to the end for somehow,

in God's time, He has a purpose for us

that can only be born out of trust.

Our troubles will weave for us

faith believing, which is a must.

Faith is meant to be active,

not ever to be passive.

Faith will grow as we daily trust

in God who has a good plan for us.

Believe and give God glory

for you are writing God's story.

Others will see

your faith and believe.

Your troubles

then have purpose.

God will abundantly bless you

for giving Him glory too.

The fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

But I have prayed for you, Simon,

that your faith may not fail.

And when you have turned back,

strengthen your brothers.

Luke 22:31-32

He knows the way that I take;

when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Job 23:10

Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.

Hebrews 13:5

Cast all your anxiety on him

because he cares for you.

I Peter 5:7

I know the plan I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me

when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Papa Cardinal in the magnolia.

Life Is a Garden Party

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