A Mother's Heart

Written for Martha, Mother’s Day, May 11th, 2008​




Those dreams you dreamt as a girl while lying sprawled 
in Spring’s green grass,freckled face,
hands behind your head, contemplating clouds,
dreams still dreamt as you became a woman, became a wife. 

Dreams, heart seeds planted by God, put forth tendrils, 
for He was looking down upon you, as you – wide eyed, 
were looking up. Beyond dreams, fairy tales, 
potions, nostrums, mystical remedies, 
wishful thinking and most wretched self deceit,
hope turned to prayer - God’s thoroughfare.

Physician’s frigid prophesies, verdicts, edicts rejected and also
sad – or bitter – unspoken - or not, 
mockings from, paradoxically, - unbelieving believers. 
Oddly, pagans seemed to know miracles were possible,
that the unknown God could love, create.
As reporters, - not explainers, we told them all,
in the faces of laughter, pity, contempt,
complacent matriarchs and dead religion.

God saw, laughed with His Angels at naysayers, shook his head,
their words died, fell to earth while His took wing. Question-,
“Who is he that speaks, and it comes to pass,
When the Lord commands it not”?
Jesus turned his face to you, 
tarrying, smiling. 


“Martha” he said, extending his open right hand, finger pointing,
“I will do for you this thing.
This thing you have believed that
only I could do, and the mouths of the scoffers
will be shut at the telling."


Writing, you wrote our firstborn’s name in a book
long before doctors ever saw you pregnant.
“And so it came to pass” says His word, 
an earthquake, creative explosion, a few words yet echoing, rumbling, 
still powerful that creative echo.

So, you became a joyful mother of babies, your own, our own
after 5143 days of marriage,
God’s gifts began to arrive……
Prepaid and exactly on schedule.

You nurtured, loved, sacrificed, taught, – poured your life into them.
Tears? Watering with those too, but rippling laughter, 
merriment and joy the more. Certainly no greater love – 
except Jesus’ love – can be, than this; 

laying down your life for others. He said it.
Rejoice all of your days, for God has blessed you
with blessings unaccountable. 
Pitiful effort this, since these things can’t be penned 
on the longest scroll, or fathomed through many tellings.


I, a mere witness of His doings, and as floating, 
carried along on his river of life,
basking in the Heavenly sunshine of His anointing, 
audience to a grand act of the Creator God Almighty. 
A bowed head and trembling,
even now, as I reconsider - marvel.


Martha, I speak for God these words he gave me for you; 
“I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men 
have desired to see those things which you see, 
and have not seen them; and to 
hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them”.

Your dreams were not dreams, but prophesies.
We know. We bow together before Him
that lives forever and ever, and brings forth all life. For it is His love,
encouraging, empowering a Mother’s heart. 
Your heart.

Your Husband, Frank

Luke 14:8
"When you are invited by anyone to wedding feasts, do not recline in the first place, lest one more honorable than you might have been invited by him."


Shalom, Come sit here.