Faith, Family, Friendship

Yesterday I attended a funeral for one of my mother's two best friends.

When I called the hospital to check on Mrs. C, I ended up speaking with her daughter instead.

"I am heartbroken that I couldn't attend Mrs. F's funeral," she said.

Although I knew what she meant, I also knew that if Mrs. F were alive, she would agree that Pauline was exactly where she needed to be.

Our mothers came from a generation that knew what Faith, Family and Friendship meant. They had met at a Toronto hospital where two were RNs and the third was an RNA. At 6, I didn't know that I would be 45 before I said goodbye to either of them but that's what happened.

Mrs. F was formidable. A woman who raised her three girls without complaint then went on to contribute to the rearing of her daughter's daughters by providing them with shelter, money, energy and endless support. Although I occasionally remember her wishing that one daughter or another would make a different choice, she was always very  much in tune with who they were as people. She didn't hid their faults, she accepted them and looked for ways to lead them down meaningful pathways.

People are not friends anymore they way that they were friends. I haven't met

 

THIRTEEN

This newly-minted teen is blessed with the surety that she holds all the keys to the universe and the stubbornness to try them all in the lock rather than believe anyone who tells her which one opens a particular lock. She is becoming adept at questioning the boundaries before pushing up against them to see if they will hold. Her mouth is still more likely to smile than disrespect. Her eyes more familiar with creasing in laughter than filling with tears; they sparkle with a newly developing sense of self and twinkle with a secret future. Not yet tested or broken, her heart beats to the rhythm of her violin, her flute, or her voice. She is exactly what we hoped she would be wrapped up in all the surprises we didn’t expect. 

Happy Birthday Athena,

your laughter remains the most beautiful music you offer this world.

Day by Day

One by one (sometimes by two)

my leaves change 

and 

so do you

not all at once 

as often prayed

but day 

by day 

by day 

by day

by God my God and God alone

who sits upon His heavenly throne

one by one my leaves will fall

until I’ve lost them one and all

I’ll stand naked in the wind

and catch the snow when it begins

look! already you can see

my leaves preparing to leave me

it’s August yet the signs are there

the change of life is in the air

the nights no longer hold the heat

seasons are set on looped-repeat

give no thought dear have no care

enjoy my foliage while it’s there

just like I”m changing, 

so are you

by God my God makes you anew

my leaves, your sins He takes away

day by 

day by 

day by 

day

like me you’ll stand there in the wind

stripped bare admit it! You have sinned!

you’ll bow your limbs against the cold

onto your knee you’ll bend and fold

like me you’ll yield your will to His

there is no other way than this

until you’re more like Him than not

’til nakedness is all you’ve got

then he’ll clothe you as He does

with grace and faith and hope and love

then the fruits will start to bud

from underneath the dirt and crud

not all at once but one by one

that’s how our Saviour’s work is done.

- Vera Patterson

Mama’s Children

Bleary-eyed Mama peels 

creased cheek from 

tear-soaked pillow

simultaneously shushing the child 

inside and outside herself until 

one of them is satiated by the breast

she empties

into its eager mouth 

all the while

wishing there was

someone 

from whom she could

make lusty demands 

Because

like baby 

Mama needs someone 

she can

trust

to nourish her.

Mama traces circles gently

on her baby’s

back

until bubbles of

air come up

and out

all the while

wishing there was 

someone

to coax the painful things

secretly hidden

deep within

her

into the open so the

discomfort she lives

with can be

released.

Mama shifts her baby

kissing

the tender head

wishing there was

someone

she could reveal all the soft

vulnerable places of herself

to

knowing that someone would

love her more for knowing

Mama needs extra care in

the places

 where she isn’t finished

yet.

Mama opens the diaper

wrinkling her nose

at the smell

yet wishing there was

someone

who acknowledged 

but didn’t turn away

or shame her for

the less pleasant parts

of her

that need

to be wiped clean, aired out, 

changed.

and like Mama

that someone would have to 

do it again and again

until she

grows.

Mama wraps her baby 

tightly

wishing there was

someone

with whom she could

feel warm,

secure, loved

and

that someone

would keep her safe

Because

like baby Mama feels

scared and alone

sometimes.

Mama moves slow

through the house 

silent

mentally calculating

when baby will need her next

until

the child she pushed aside

inside begins to

whimper.

Mama falls 

on the dry pillow

and allows the child to 

wet it again.

- Vera Patterson

STOKED

My feet have strayed 

from hallowed ground

the flames are closing

all around

I need you Lord

yes I believe

that I have sinned

I was deceived

I wanted something

not of you

as often we

mere mortals do

I run around

I scream and shout

But find there is just

no way out

I seek Your face

and You appear

to whisper sweetly

in my ear

Hold My hand child

though you strayed

I’m with you now

I am the way

In the fire

You are here

You walk so close

You draw me near

You tug my hand

say Walk on child

neither flame

nor heat is wild

You’re in control

of what it burns

eternal life is

Your concern

You are the refuge

from the heat

in this furnace

where we meet

You are the refuge

from the flame

there is no need

to search in vain

You are the one

Who’ll see me through

if I just keep

my eyes on You

I will not fail

to persevere

draw closer Lord

and I’ll not fear

You are the refuge

that I seek

Because my heart and 

flesh are weak

In these flames

I start to sweat

my story

isn’t over yet

My God, My Lord

He overcame

so build a fire

stoke the flame

fasten the chains 

of sin and shame

The Glory?

It is His, you’ll see

Because His love

has set me free

Again.

- Vera Patterson

 

Growth

The biggest bird I’ve ever seen

filled the sky and then my screen

formed of air and formed of mist

for but a moment to exist

suspended there with widespread wings

embracing me and everything

embracing all that it could reach

a lesson here for me to teach

for but a moment... yes that’s true

just a blink for me, for you

time is ticking soon it ends

we lose our patience, lose our friends

we lose our things we lose our light

the day gives way unto the night

we lose our joy, we lose our love

we lose our faith in God above

we lose the laughter, lose our grip

we lose our footing then we slip

we lose our childhood then our youth

we lose sight of what’s the truth

we lose time, we lose the day

we lose our chance, we lose our way

we lose the peace we fought to gain

we lose our mind we go insane

we lose our strength we lose our sight

we lose our cool and start to fight

we lose our dream, we lose our hope

lose all ability to cope

we lose our kids we lose our car

we lose all sense of who we are

we lose our parents, lose some weight

we lose our hair our eyes go faint

we lose so much it’s hard to know

how losing things can help us grow

and yet it does or so it seems

we grow some insight to our needs

we grow some balls, we grow a spine

grow out of saying “No, it’s fine”

we grow some wings, we grow some sense

we drop the need for all pretence

we grow some wisdom, grow some light

grow used to shadows in the night

we grow in touch with all we are

we grow used to battle scars

we grow weak or we grow strong

grow used to sometimes being wrong

we grow up, we grow old

we grow meek, we grow bold

we grow a voice that’s all our own

we stop expecting blood from stone

we grow patience we grow wealth

then understand that time is stealth

we grow sick we grow weary

we look around and we grow teary

we grow wistful for the time

before our age started to climb

for but a moment to exist

formed of air and formed of mist

filled the sky and then my screen

the biggest bird I’ve ever seen.

- Vera Patterson

 Prepared

From the sky and from the air

he watches me but I’m not scared.

My Father also watches on

as does His ever precious Son.

Eyes on me! He commands

I am the Shepherd and the Lamb

I am the way, the truth, the life

the evil one will bring you strife.

Know he’s there, be not afraid

it is for Me you have been made.

One life, one sky, One to be feared

one voice to raise, one God revered.

Your only hope, the Holy One

I’ll grant you life when life is done.

This one can only watch and tempt

In Me your soul can rest, repent

Eyes on me! He commands

I am the Shepherd and the Lamb

I will find you in the storm

from my hand you’ll not be torn.

I’ll wait for you with love and grace

resist the ways he tests your faith.

Turn to me, take my hand, 

heed my words, keep my commands.

The devil wants to steal your gaze

with eyes on Me you’ll not be fazed.

Just like these clouds that soon will pass

the life he offers will not last.

Look past my child, I wait above

to shower you with hope and love

Ignore this one who watches on

he’ll steal your soul and you’ll be gone

From the sky and from the air

he watches me but I’m prepared.

- Vera Patterson