Life is a Garden Party

Friday, November 11, 2016

Raking

Raking

Raked yesterday.
Rain late today
makes for more raking another day.
Actually for several more days
for more leafs fall everyday
to be raked one sunny day.

This morning there was a freeze.
Plop, plop, plop, plop, plop more leaves
join the pile of fallen leaves
of golds, rusts, and browns which please.
Listen: the skyward honking V's
of south-going geese tends to please.

Something we can count on
every spring and autumn
are the geese honking - heard overhead, then gone
as they wing their way to greener pastures - so long.
Talking about colors, do notice the sky is the bluest blue
this time of the year (orange opposite blue on the color wheel) it's true.

It feels good to stretch when raking these fallen leaves
though the pile is disturbed if there's a breeze.
This afternoon's breeze
is just a tease
as one rolls up their sleeves.
A-choo!!! is often sneezed.

Before you know it the afternoon is over
for daylight savings time on the calendar
makes nighttime come earlier
and fortunately bedtime earlier
for many gardeners go to bed earlier
as they can't wait to get up earlier.

Not just because raking waits
but because it seemingly takes
much longer to do less when awake -
every gardener seems to contemplate.
So early they rise every morning so they're not late
for much work awaits for them beyond the garden gate.

* * * * *

After much raking
comes Thanksgiving -
a time to recount our blessings
with thankful hearts we're celebrating.

A time to give thanks to the Lord,
for Whom without we cannot afford,
for His faithfulness to us each day.
"Thank you, Lord," we should often pray.

For God's unconditional love to us
despite our lack of faith and waning trust
for His love never, ever wavers.
That's why He sent us a Savior.

For His grace that enables
when it seems we're unable
to remain strong
in the face of wrong.

For God's comfort in trials,
troubles, and physical ails
while learning that God can use our troubles
to encourage someone that God is able.

For His forgiveness
when we confess
we've chosen wrong
and made the wrong turn.

For God's patience with us time after time
for God knows we often have fearful minds
yet waits for us to come to the end of our self
then finally call on Him for needed help.

For His continual mercy though undeserved,
knowing there's nothing we can do to deserve
which teaches us to be merciful to others
as God reminds us to “bear with one another.”

For God's compassion
new every morning
ensuring us we are loved
and teaching us how to love.

For these and so many more,
Dear Lord, we are thankful for
our abundant blessings
new every morning.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5

Because of his great love for us,
God who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ
even when we were dead in transgressions -
it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:4

My grace is sufficient for you.
II Corinthians 12:9

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion
and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort
we ourselves have received from God.
II Corinthians 1:3-4

You are a forgiving God,
gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger
and abounding in love.
Nehemiah 9:17

He is patient with you,
not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance.
II Peter 3:9

Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin...
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
Micah 7:19

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23


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