Hibernation

 

Hibernation

Winter, seemingly a time of hibernation,

but actually it's a time for rejuvenation.

It's a time of incubation

for most of plant creation

when in collaboration

with the winter season

plant life begins quiet preparation

for a new season of anticipation

continuing generation after generation

as miraculously planned from the beginning of creation.

It's not necessarily a time of relaxation

but an edifying season of fortification

for bulbs and plants begin their restoration

in earth's protected womb where unification

of temperature fluctuation

and frozen precipitation

will end in excitement and joyous exclamation

after a long-awaited-for anticipation.

There'll be a gleeful celebration,

an uncontainable jubilation,

causing one's soul much elation

when with joyful admiration

and heart-felt adoration

this period of silent hibernation

finally gives birth, always bringing inspiration.

A miracle springs forth, an utter fascination.

After this time of hibernation

there'll be a two-fold flirtation

for flowering bulbs and plants attract humans

and bees happily begin pollination,

an affirmation

that this season

of hibernation

is now in cessation.

After the flowers put on their show, you'll note a multiplication

of springtime bulbs or flowering plants increasing their population.

In the plant world it's called naturalization,

a reproduction, a propagation.

Upon investigation

you'll find an accumulation

coming to the realization

that it's time for a division.

So after listening to the weather station,

to ensure a period of no precipitation,

you'll prepare another location

for the over-population

of bulbs or plants needing division -

or maybe you'll share with relation

and gardening friends whose inclination, or perhaps fixation,

is to make accommodation for your accumulation.

After digging in preparation

you'll be ready for hibernation -

a much needed vacation -

for the gardening vocation

causes unwanted activation

of aches and pains in concentration.

But oh, the joy, the elation, the appreciation

of colorful flowers after winter's hibernation.

Earth's rebirth - rejuvenation -

giving God glorification!

* * * * *

Everyone's so excited for spring

to finally, at last, begin.

There's an excitement in the air

as days turn sunny and fair,

then bees return

when flowers bloom.

Each year we see rebirth take place in the earthly realm,

there is also rebirth in the spiritual kingdom.

Rebirth or spiritual birth as in salvation,

Jesus forgiving our sins offering redemption.

A free gift when Jesus paid the way

upon Calvary's cross on Good Friday.

Jesus redeemed us – He paid the way.

Sin's penalty was satisfied that day.

Yes, it was for us Jesus died

on that cross with His arms open wide.

Arms outstretched in everlasting love

as if enveloping us with a hug.

And it was for us Jesus arose again

ensuring everlasting life would begin

the day we confess in our heart

then rebirth will give us a new start.

Each spring brings rebirth or earth's revitalization.

Spiritual rebirth is conversion bringing salvation.

I will send you rain in its season,

and the ground will yield its crops

and the trees of the field their fruit.

Leviticus 26:4

The Lord will open the heavens,

the storehouse of his bounty,

to send rain on your land in season

and to bless all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 28:12

Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime;

it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds.

He gives showers of rain to men,

and plants of the field to everyone.

Zechariah 10:1

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,

miracles that cannot be counted.

He bestows rain on the earth;

he sends water upon the countryside.

Job 5:9-10

He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness

and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

in whom we have redemption,

the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:14

When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,

but because of his mercy.

He saved us through the washing or rebirth

and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

whom he poured out on us generously

through Jesus Christ our Savior,

so that, having been justified by his grace,

we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7

Photo taken in early morning's blue light.

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Visitors

 

Visitors

There are visitors in our town.

They are usually welcome when found.

Most of them are round

and wear white gowns.

They are quiet visitors, without sound.

Some of them might be referred to as clowns.

Others are one-of-a-kind formed mounds,

perhaps a dragon or even a hound.

You, too, can welcome a visitor to your town

if you live where snow is often found on the ground.

Bundle up in a warm jacket, mittens, scarf, and boots brown.

A pair of water-proof gloves is even better, it's found.

To welcome a visitor, start by making a snowball round

then let your imagination go to town.

I know your visitor is bound

to create smiles all around.

It's only when it's cold they hang around.

When it's warm they quietly skip out of town,

though not an outlaw being hunted down.

You'll only find the remains of their white gown

found in a discarded mound on the ground,

though a photo will prove they were in town.

A photo will make a memory rebound

when looked at years later and passed around.

Today when you are about town

look for these visitors in white gowns -

snowmen, snow women, dragons,

angels, hounds, clowns...

I know on your face there will be found

a smile that will light up your town.

These welcome visitors spread joy around town.

Happiness enjoyed, though they utter not a sound.

* * * * *

What turns your frown

upside down?

A brown hound?

A new gown?

A clown?

A crown?

Did you know God gives us a crown?

In Psalm 103 it's found.

God places a just-for-you crown

of love and compassion, of renown,

on your life for you to give and pass around

to others that need a smile around town.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.

Proverbs 15:13

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits -

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:2-5

Blessings crown the head of the righteous.

Proverbs 10:6

The Lord takes delight in his people;

he crowns the humble with salvation.

Psalm 149:4

You made man a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

Psalm 8:5

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TRACKS

 

Tracks

Late last night

after midnight

tracks

trekked

through the carpet

of snow, moon lit.

Four feet left tracks,

two right, two left,

which tattle-tailed

with a trail

left behind

in a line.

A line across the road,

then through the snow plowed

following their nose

under the window

where I slept and dozed,

and dreamed, I suppose.

A late-night snack awaited,

they ate their fill then quickly fled

leaving tracks behind

down the sidewalk this time

as hoof prints

left foot prints...

down the driveway

across the roadway

into the woods again

before morning came

perhaps unaware as they sneaked

of tattling left by their feet.

These tracks

were hoof prints

leaving a telltale trail

which silently tattle-tailed.

Unaware, they were found out

after sneaking around and about.

* * * * *

If you tell an untruth,

someday you'll be found out.

If you snitch something,

your conscience will sting.

If you do wrong,

someone it will harm.

If you are a tattletale,

your heart will surly ail.

You'll live in fear of being found out

which steals the joy from inside your heart.

Always choose to do what's right.

Your heart will surely delight.

You may be sure that your sin will find you out.

Numbers 32:23

If you do not do what is right,

sin is crouching at your door;

it desires to have you,

but you must master it.

Genesis 4:7

Do not be deceived:

A man reaps what he sows.

Galatians 6:7

Some of the tattle tale tracks left last night:

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DIAMONDS

 

Diamonds

Silently falling glitter

sparkles as they float nearer

like sequins

or diamonds.

Effervescent,

almost transparent

these white orbs

from heaven poured.

Weightless, one-by-one

they quickly adorn

everything they happen to touch,

though sometimes turning into mush.

Floating, like feathers in one's hand,

like a twinkle from a fairy's wand,

lasting for a second unless

the surface is coldly dressed.

If the surface is frozen

then these diamonds have chosen

to stay for a while.

Some will smile.

Others will frown

for that means towns

are covered with snow

to plow or to blow.

Do be sure to look for

diamonds in the snow are

like glitter that sparkles

and sequins that twinkle.

Jewels from on high

these gems from the sky

adorning the earth

when diamonds drop forth.

* * * * *

Like diamonds in the snow

you are precious, you know.

Like a jewel in a crown glows

your life does adorn and grow

although sometimes life's hard blows

will cause you sorrow and woe.

Those tears you sow

will later grow

into a glow

as you help others who are low

in their own sorrows and woes.

You'll sparkle from head to toe.

So though sorrows that bestow

grief and heartaches of "oh no"

that one often undergoes

have a purpose, although

we'd prefer not to undergo,

in the end there's a glow that grows.

Like the sparkle of a diamond glows

our sorrows are someday meant to show

that God is faithful and will bestow

His beauty on everything below.

A diamond in the rough from head to toe

is being chiseled from sorrows and woes.

The Lord their God will save them on that day

as the flock of his people.

They will sparkle in his land

like jewels in a crown.

How attractive and beautiful they will be!

Zechariah 9:16-17

Choose my instruction instead of silver,

knowledge rather than choice gold,

for wisdom is more precious than rubies,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Proverbs 10:11

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WAITING

 

Waiting

For the beauty of the snow,

piling high in valleys low...

Decorating trees and earth

with a cover of new birth...

Yes, there is beauty in the snow

but there comes a time, you know,

when it seems "enough already!"

as for spring we're more than ready.

Enough of the below zero temperatures.

Enough of being frozen to the core.

Enough of shoveling.

Enough of sniffling.

We're tired of sunless mornings.

We're tired of long, dark evenings.

We're tried of the wait for warmer weather.

We're tired of the wait to feel better.

We can't wait to put away our boots, scarfs, and mittens.

We can't wait to be rid of this weather that sickens.

We can't wait for spring.

We can't wait to garden.

We're quite antsy

which is funny

for we couldn't wait for winter either.

Our minds quite often are halter-skelter.

Though come February

we can't see snow's beauty.

We are weary of this weather.

We seem to think spring is better.

We forget weather is temporary,

although it sometimes makes us contrary.

When winter does give way to spring

we forget there's more work to begin.

Then there'll be something else to complain about.

It's a wonder we don't wear a permanent pout.

Are we ever content?

Or do we just vent?

Enjoy the beauty of the snow

for it's temporary, you know.

In a few weeks the birds will again sing

when they announce it's here – finally: spring!

* * * * *

Bottom line, though,

snow is a gift for

its an insulator

to the plants below.

Without the freezing snow

many bulbs wouldn't show

their brilliant beauty each coming spring

for bulbs need this time for hibernating.

Yes, beauty is found in the snow's offering.

Take a moment to watch it quietly falling.

See it covering the trees,

that is, until there's a breeze.

On sunny days it melts

then puddles come out

to water the earth

wherein lies new birth.

Next month it may be gone

then you'll have to wait long

for snow to return again.

You might find you'll be welcoming!

So enjoy it today.

Make today a play day

for snow is a gift, a present,

then gone when spring is present.

He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,'...

so that all men he has made may know his work,

he stops every man from his labor.

The animals take cover;

they remain in their dens.

The tempest comes out from its chamber,

the cold from the driving winds.

The breath of God produces ice,

and the broad waters become frozen.

Job 37:6-10

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower

and bread for the eater.

Isaiah 55:10

Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime;

it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds.

He gives showers of rain to men,

and plants of the field to everyone.

Zechariah 10:1

Winter has barely begun here in the northeast.

We're already pining for spring to begin.

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

 

Frosting

In the dark of the night

comes something bright and white

covering up everything

like a layer of white frosting.

It’s like a wedding cake maker

worked late, but not as a baker,

as a pure, white frosting icer

making everything look nicer.

Her palette of fluffy white

decorates with much delight

as she pipes

with white.

She has fun with the frosting

as everything she’s topping.

It’s like she doesn’t know when to stop

for everything is white on top.

She knows when morning

finally comes

someone will delight in her sweet treat

by exclaiming her work is neat.

Her work beautified the earth

while bringing with it mirth

to young and old,

she’s often told.

Though her sweet treat doesn’t last long

she’ll be back again before long

with her special one-of-a-kind, pure white frosting

when you look out the window and see it snowing.

Take time to check out her masterpiece,

that covers with a quiet peace,

as she piped from her pastry bag

decorating with zig-zags.

* * * * *

Here’s my recipe for buttercream frosting:

9 cups x-sugar

2 cups shortening

½ cup butter

~1 cup milk

splash vanilla

Beat 7 minutes with heavy-duty mixer.

You’ll find frosting sweetens life

but not every day of your life,

for it’s not heart healthy

neither waistline healthy.

Frosting is a sweet treat

to once-in-a-while eat

when you celebrate

a special event.

You’ll find another sweet treat

is when encouraging words greet.

Encouraging words lift up

when you find you’re in a slump.

Encouraging words are recalled time-after-time

when hope is needed to renew one’s troubled mind.

Everyone could use an encouraging word,

perhaps written in a note or spoken heard.

Become an encourager today.

Help spread around the sunshine’s bright rays.

Everyone needs encouragement.

I know you’re in agreement.

How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:103

Let your conversation be always full of grace...

Colossians 4:6

You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted;

you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.

Psalm 10:17

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself

and God our Father,

who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,

encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

II Thessalonians 2:16-17

That you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Romans 1:12

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,

because you have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

Philemon 1:7

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