2018

May this new year bless you

Gentle Time

When God created all things good,
Something special He understood
We would need for pain to languish,
Softening life’s chance loss or anguish.

With tender heart and word sublime,
He spoke into existence Time.

One moment’s word or deed is done;
An irrevocable web is spun.
Tossed about while tragedy batters,
A delicate life breaks and shatters.

But Time can mend the life that’s broken
With patient remedies softly spoken.

Stabbing pain invades the flesh
Till thoughts and agonies enmesh.
No strength to bear; it’s past enduring.
Oh for relief that comes with curing.

Time brings tranquility’s soothing ray.
Fair Hope disarms what passes away

Death robs a life ~ it cares not how.
Yes, bitterly we all must bow
As precious ones are snatched from sight.
Goodbye? Relent, oppressive plight!

Time whispers then, “I conquer all!
Be reunited when trumpets call.”

Someday our God will vanquish fears.
There’ll be no death, no pain, no tears.
He’ll change His children ~ all mortals we ~
To peaceful immortality.

With nothing left save the sublime,
He’ll then dissolve what we call Time.

Katheryn Maddox Haddad

Wishing all of you a blessed

2018

The Wings of Time

What was that which just flew by
On wings of a whisper and a sigh ~
The form was vague, the hues o’er cast ~
In to the arms of eager past?

Now ’tis still, it’s ceased to flee,
And I am amazed at what I see.
Hard to perceive when viewed so near ~
Yesterday, last week, entire year.

Wait!  Not yet!  Do not depart!
Didn’t it just recently start?
How can it be?  It’s out of hand.
Nothing worked out like I had planned.

No mountain I see, nor great temple.
The year I built was plain and simple.
But I reflect with kinder view ~
The form its shape, the colors their hue.

At the time I just could not see
The value frustrations could be to me.
What God and I each had in mind
Often differed.  What did I find?

I touched a life and wiped a tear,
I held a child and calmed a fear.
A word of love was passed along,
A happy time was framed with song.

So now ’tis passed, as I’ve reflected,
Wasn’t so bad.  And I’ve erected
Amidst a world of ebb and flow
A loving, shimmering, fleeting rainbow.

Katheryn Maddox Haddad

Today was the first day since November 1 (2 months) that I have stopped and tried to relax. 

I have been pulling all-nighters at least once a week and would have more if I’d had the strength.  The rest of the time I worked usually to 2:30 AM.  All that to get my 18 new children’s books out in time for Christmas.  Eight are A Child’s Bible Kids and ten are A Child’s Bible Heroes.  My ad said they teach values.

Today, I went to a ladies Bible class, then grocery shopping (my refrigerator was pretty empty), then came home, sat out on my front porch in a wicker chair (it was 75 today), and read.

 

The scripture for today, December 10 (12/10), is Job 12:10 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”

Let’s talk a moment about teenagers. Many adults joke that their teen is 16 going on 60. Let’s look at the situation this way. They may have bodies that have grown to that of an adult. But minds grow much slower, and teens must give their minds a chance to catch up!

As adults, it is our responsibility to help their minds catch up. Know enough about the Bible that you can apply scriptures to their activities and interests and friends. You may wish to make a list of your teenager’s activities, interests, and friends, and then list a scripture next to each. Proverbs is an excellent book to start with. Then when the occasion arises, be ready (even if you have to sneak into the other room a minute to consult your list) to instill some wisdom.

This way, it is not you speaking, but God speaking. God said, “My word will not return to me void” (Isaiah 55:11). And God is older and wiser than all of us.