A child born
with dreams sewn into her soul fabric,
baby of the nest in the peace before war
not knowing her days ahead
had been fashioned
by The Great I Am.

A girl come of age
prosperity’s peacetime booming plenty
city bus reaching small-town growing
for a penny, catch a ride on city bus-lines
to Catholic school classrooms,
building dreams, singing “Let the Girl Dance”
on afternoon rides home
traveling new roads away
from ancient paths
not knowing that her Father
knew of her sitting down and rising up

A young woman courted
to jitterbug steps,
twisting to catch a falling star,
Marlboro smoke in her eyes,
betting on two-of-a-kind dealings
where ancient paths got lost
in overgrown distractions of motor car wheels
spinning faster down new roads paved
in new-fangled ways, in pursuit
of a love-me-forever dance.
not knowing that her Father
knew her thoughts from afar

A young woman becomes a wife
moon glowing on the street
where homemaking for two
one making rent; one making dinner
sewing what the budget couldn’t buy,
Chantilly lace on the laundry line
flapping in the summer sun
when belonging to each other
was magic
not knowing that the Father words,
tastier than honey, fill the soul
in ways food cannot

A mother born
sewing dreams for wearing and good-night tuckings
brawny boy growing and little girl games                
circus car and train engine mid-night birthday bakings
scalloping frilly Barbie-doll cakes
holding hands in morning school walkings
listening to school stories in afternoon talkings
Not knowing
God’s dreams cannot be appliqued away
though the world will try to pull out
the stitch of them

an unexpected divorcée
in an era when free love turned
to walk-away love, ripping out marriage seams.
wondering what to do with dreams
in an everyday ordinary turned upside down.
what to do but cut out a heart’s hopes
to patch them onto little boy and little girl growing
Not knowing He caught every tear in His bottle
knowing the true reason behind each, caring
with a protective Father’s love.

A Way Maker
A woman who understood the language of lace
working all day, sewing into the night
taking in, letting out, hemming
other people’s problems.
a single mother born in the peace wedged between
a Great Depression and a War,
raised by a mother who knew how to turn
flour sacks into beautiful dresses.
re-purposed dreams opened
provisions’ doors pride would have closed.
Not knowing even there His hand led her
and His right hand held her.

Humility’s Beauty
taught her children to work,
finding after-school and summer-time jobs
for cutting work-teeth and mastering invaluable lessons.
Because she showed up every day,
the boy and the girl learned
to show up every day,
even on birthdays, uncomfortable days,
I-don’t-want-to days.
Not knowing all along God had been making ways where
there were no ways because the dream maker threads
and weaves his God-designed dreams

Receiver of Angels
Anxious moments, lungs tightening,
unable to breath, she stepped onto help’s road,
empty until despair opened her eyes
to angel ways coaching her how
to breath in Lord Jesus Christ,
exhaling, have mercy on me
inhaling, exhaling deep breaths
of faith, keeping her eyes
on living faith before her,
knowledge awakened
that she is seen by the one who
keeps in a bottle every tear
from every cry,
that He came to save her, too.
Finally Knowing
He and His angels had been beside Her
all along.

A life-time of Not-Knowings
stealing a lifetime of peace
a lifetime of rest
a lifetime not knowing
she did not have to rely on sheer determination
A life-time of Not-Knowings
Not knowing
her name was engraved on the palm of his hands
fearing, dismayed she was alone
Not knowing
he was there to uphold her with his righteous
right hand, that he would be her strength
Not knowing  He wanted her to cast her cares upon him,
Not knowing she was His precious creation
Not knowing she didn’t have to worry because He would take care of her
Not knowing all she needed to do was trust Him
Not knowing only Jesus could save her
Not knowing He would build her house
A life-time of Not-Knowings
stealing a lifetime of peace in His presence
a lifetime of rest in the shadow of His wing
a lifetime of a love-relation, just the two,
A Creator and his beloved creation
a Redeemer Kinsman and His bride
A Father and his beloved daughter
Not knowing
Not knowing. . . until she knew. . .

Come back next week for the Story Behind the Poem.

Remember Me Monday: #154 Link-up

“I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings,
    all the things God has done that need praising,
All the generous bounties of God,
    his great goodness to the family of Israel—
Compassion lavished,
.    love extravagant.”
~ Isaiah 63:7, The Message

In the Old Testament, God repeatedly, quietly and loudly, tells his children, “You have forgotten me!”  (Jeremiah 3:32, Ezekiel 22:12, to name a few). It’s a heart cry from a father to a child who has forgotten all the love, all the saving, helping, little and big blessings – and it leaves me stunned when I realize our Father, the creator of the universe, who knows things I cannot begin to fathom, who authors storylines that leave me amazed, delights in all of us so much, He cries out, “Remember Me.”

While every day is a Remember God Day, I am inviting you to join me on Monday mornings to come by and remember what God has done for you, for your family. Maybe God sent a cardinal darting out in front of you, as if to tell you, “I’m here,” or broke a child’s fever after you laid it all down at His feet in a 2 a.m. bedside vigil. Maybe He stood with you in the wait of a prayer sent out, or brought someone you loved to Christ. Maybe He healed your broken heart, gave your courage, or you gave Him your dreams as a love offering only to have Him give them back in an unimaginable way. Maybe God helped you survive to bedtime after a crazy Monday, or forgive yourself for missing it with your kiddos –– Whatever it is, let’s Remember Him. . . in a “Remember Me Monday” love letter.

“My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
Of your salvation all the day long,
Though I know not its measure.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord”
~ Psalm 71:15-16.

Let us delight in Him by telling the  stories of what He’s done!  If you wrote a blog post remembering what He’s done for you, join the linky. If you didn’t but still want to praise Him for what He’s done – write it in the comment section. Then visit a comment before or after yours! One of the beautiful things about the blogging community is the relationships it builds!

Rules?  Write long or short, a list or a story, include photos or not. Just Remember Him and what He has done, and let the gratitude of your heart guide you. Let’s make Monday so Rejoice, that the goodness of God spills into the rest of the week! (Link opens Mondays at 6 a.m.)

Places I’m Linking at This Week:
  Instaencouragements, Legacy Link-Up, 
Let’s Have Coffee Wednesday 
Recharge Wednesday, Scripture & a Snapshot
Grace&Truth, Sweet Tea & Friends
The Good, The Random, The Fun