Life is a Garden Party

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

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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