Spit up in my hair? The day the Lord gave me strength to laugh even though the dog had diarrhea, and the four-year-old and the two-year-old BOTH stepped in it? I brainstormed as I folded laundry. The young lady, who seven years ago had been my maid of honor, was now getting married herself. Her bridal shower theme was, “Celebrating Womanhood,” and she had requested that her guests bring a picture or a poem that represented how each one felt about being a woman at her particular season of life. Being of a linguistic nature, I decided to go the poem route and began meditating on my non-stop life in the mommy trenches of homemaking with three small children. Focused at first on how hectic it all seemed, how tired I felt, how often I had to pray for patience and repent of grumpiness, I tried to weave in thankfulness and a sense of the Lord’s presence through it all. I had a few great lines. (“’Panacea,’ wow! What a stellar rhyme for ‘diarrhea!’”), but the poem just wasn’t coming together.
Finally, as the shower date neared, I prayed in desperation, “Lord, please give me a poem for Esther, one that will bless and encourage people.” And that’s when I realized it. My focus was all wrong. Sure life is hard sometimes, but that is not the underlying theme of my “season” here in the trenches. Strip away the daily struggles and what is left is an overwhelming sense of awe at the tremendous honor it is to have the job I have been given. Here is how my poem turned out.
Can it be?
Can it be that you have chosen me, Lord?
Me?
To be the helper for this man
The one who shares his dreams and plans
To be his beauty and his bride
And loved a lifetime at his side?
Can it be that you have chosen me, Lord?
Me?
To hold in my arms eternal souls
And teach them to pray over cereal bowls
To be the one they cry for in the night
The one whose love is their first delight?
Can it be that you have chosen me, Lord?
Me?
To shape the culture in this home
And daily see Your glory shown
To cook, and clean, and shop, and sew
To praise, and teach, and serve, and grow?
Can it be that You have given this to me?
This responsibility
To make a home for my family?
Exhausting privilege! Exuberant love!
Daily gifts of grace enough.
Can it be that you have chosen me, Lord?
Me?
May 5th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Wow. Today was definitely a “dry morsel day” for me. I read your post with that title, then I read “Can it Be?” and cried the whole way through your poem. I was desperately needing someone - ANYONE - to encourage me in my quest to be a good help meet and mom. Your poem reminded me of the things that are truly important to me. Thank you for helping me to feel not so alone today.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Dear Mrs. R,
Thank you for taking the time to encourage me! I sure do know what it’s like to have hard days. Here’s a big hug over the internet.
May 19th, 2008 at 8:53 am
What a beautiful poem! I truly enjoyed it.
http://adlynmorrison.blogspot.com/
May 19th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Dear Mrs. Parunak,
I found your link through LAF. This is a wonderful poem!! Through I am not a mother (I am only 18) this has some truth for big sisters, too. The Lord spoke to me in that way “in between the lines”.
I like to write poetry, too. I have a poem website at the link listed above. Stop by sometime!
Keep up the good work!
A friend
May 19th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Sorry about the link above, it was not correct. Lord willing, the above changed link to The Poem Place should work!
God Bless!
May 19th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I’ve never actually commented on a blog before. Ever! What a blessing your poem was to me! Thank you!
May 20th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
What a wonderful poem! Thank you for sharing that.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
How beautiful! I too came from over from LAF and I’m so glad I did. Your poem has really blessed my day.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Thanks. Though I have moved from the season you are currently in, I am encouraged by your words for my current growing season. God Bless You and Yours!
Leigh
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Your poem inspired this in me yesterday, so I wanted to share. Hope it inspires someone else.
God Bless!
Lord, Is It True?
Lord, is it true
That you chose me to live this single life?
To work out my daily walk with no man
And me not a wife?
To have toils and cares and be full of strife?
Lord, is it really true?
“Yes!”
Lord is it true?
That on you I can depend
That you will be my Husband
Closer than my closest friend
Lord, is it really true?
“Yes!”
Lord, is it true?
That I really am your wife
That you carry will all my pain and strife
If I but lay down my life
Lord, is it really true?
“Yes!”
Lord, is it true?
That no matter what befalls
You will answer all my calls
And no harm can prevail
Unless it is your will
Lord, is it really true?
“Yes!”
Lord is it true
That all things work out for good
And I’m covered, protected, by your blood
If I follow close to your side
Forever in your will abide
Lord, is it really true?
“Yes!”
Lord, is it true?
That you chose me; I haven’t chosen you
Lord, is it really true?
“Yes!”
Lord, Thank You!
Leigh
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Leigh,
That was beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing it!