Category Archives: Valentines

Antique Rocker

15 Sunday Feb 2015

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Occasionally, I write some poetry. In honour of Valentine’s Day, Flag Day and Family Day weekend here in Ontario, I offer this story/poem/lullaby.

Antique Rocker

We found it in the derelict farmhouse –

the abandoned house –

not really a house now.

For many years this home-of-the-pioneers had been used as a barn.

There in the lean-to kitchen it sat.

The ornately carved pressed back chair

looked so out of place,

yet somehow at home

in the grime and dust.

There through the decades it sat –

weathered into

its chicken coop surroundings –

A treasure sitting in barnyard filth.

Curious,

I lifted it up

Out of the mire

Out of the manure.

Then, I saw this was no chair.

From the muck and straw

emerged the rockers.

Here was an antique, pressed back rocker!

Now redeemed

It sits in my house –

In my home –

Washed clean,

Renewed,

A treasure.

Rocker 2015-02-13 On this antique rocker

My son was nursed.

His tears were wiped.

His cry was soothed.

Here he heard the Redeemer’s lullaby

Just like a hundred years ago.

Just like a hundred years ago.

Scan_20130801_142512 Rock me gently now,

My antique rocker.

As I drift off to sleep

Rock me gently.

Let me hear the Redeemer’s Lullaby.

Rock me gently now,

Just like a hundred years ago.

Just like a hundred years ago.

Rock me gently now.

From the seat of sweet redemption

Let me sing redemption’s song.

Let me sing redemption’s song –

the Redeemer’s Lullaby –

Just like two thousand years ago.

Just like two thousand years ago.

Because you pulled me from the mire,

Let me sing redemption’s song.

Let me sing redemption’s song –

the Redeemer’s Lullaby –

Ten thousand years from now.

Ten thousand years from now. . .

As I drift off. . .

Rock me gently,

Antique Rocker.

Surprised by a Valentine at Christmas

14 Friday Feb 2014

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This is a one-day, St. Valentines Day departure from my usual psalms posting.

About two weeks before Christmas I got a valentine from an admirer—a thirteen-year-old girl. I was delighted. You might even say I was tickled pink about it. Now as you may have guessed, since it was delivered before Christmas this was not planned as a valentine. It was actually a language arts assignment about her favourite poem done for her grade eight teacher. But in her assignment, Esther (not her real name) expressed her love for me. I think her words say it best:

Last year when I was in grade seven my homeroom teacher was Mr. Kitz. I loved him as a teacher; he was funny, smart and loved to tell us stories like none of my other teachers did. He was one of the only teachers who could actually keep our class quiet and entertained us while teaching. He also is a Christian like me. He said he went to my church a long time ago; I felt so happy to be in his class.

This sixty-one-year-old retired teacher was thrilled to be shown a little love. I was quite amazed that I left such a positive impression on Esther, especially since she was only in my class for six weeks. To be completely truthful I had forgotten her name. But she remembered me.

Isn’t that what we all want? We all want to be remembered; we want to be shown a little love. We want to be surprised by a little love.

Of course love comes most often to those who show love. In the rush of life and our hunger to receive love, we can forget to give it–to show it to others, whether we consider them deserving or not.

Last Friday, I paid a surprise visit to Esther’s class. I told the class a story or two and then I thanked Esther for her kind words. She was unaware that her assignment had been forwarded to me by her homeroom teacher. Needless to say, she was tickled pink. I could see that by her smile and her dancing eyes. I remembered her. I surprised her with a little love.

May the love of God be shed abroad in your heart today.

Your Turn: Who can you surprise with a little love today, tomorrow or six weeks from now?