Tuesday, November 29, 2011

my favourite things/ remember


have you ever
gone back
a long ways

can you
remember
sunny days
under the old willow
climbing up high
to the sky
trying hard to hide

hop scotch
for hours
on your big patio squares
borrowed swimsuits
held together
with
safety
pins...

our friends
all different
no two the same
it didn't quite matter
what colour
or frame

hide and seek
or scraped knees...
a friend was
someone there
in your time of need
they laughed with you
and maybe cried
but were always there
to help you through

before you grew
into who you are
it was just
you and me
it was all
I knew

with you at my side
I learned about God
we'd watch the clouds
just waiting to see
when Jesus would come
to take you and me
we'd watch Billy Graham
and I'd always cry
I was only six
and I don't know why
but it meant the world to me
that your family cared
and I felt the love
that was always shared
meatloaf
barbies
your room
or the stairs
watching you play the piano
or a walk to the pool
an ice cream at Peter's
was always so cool
hide and seek
at the park
ice skating
on the pond
we shared skates
and secrets
and love was our bond

just friends
you and I
through thick and thin
through bad times and good
it was Love

always
wins

I'm not six anymore
neither seven nor eight
but with a friend right beside me
I"ll reach Heaven's gate
there'll be friends all around us
And Jesus will say
let them come unto Me
for I am the Way
I know these kids love Me
I've watched them at play
I've placed My love in them
I gave them today

you told me your mom
though the years have caught up
still sings all the hymns
knows every word
every chorus

she's the one
I remember
will never forget
for she told me about Jesus
that day on her bed
She opened the closet
pulled down the big Book
we sat there together
as she asked me to look
I watched as she turned pages
that became life to my soul
I felt my heart lighten
and burdens unfold

I still see those pictures
in your Mama's big Book
all the giants of faith
the Daniels
the Elijahs
the Esthers
the Pauls
but Jesus was sweetest
on His Name I called
he cleansed me
and saved me
now with faces aglow
we played through the hours
His great love
we did know

so I was just wondering
dear friend of mine

have you ever
gone back
a long ways
do you remember
at all

how God's grace
did save us
from
Adam's
great
fall

forever
my friend

I'll remember
it all

my favourite things


----------------------------
I dedicate this to my friend Carolee and her sweet mom....my friend writes:
Happy to be once again moved to joyful tears watching my almost 91 year old mom singing hymns in church BY HEART. Even though she's lost much of her memory, God has graciously allowed her to remember the words and music to praise Him!!

---------------------------

Remember...

my favourite things

19 comments:

  1. Dear Susan,

    Your best friend and her mother have a special place in your heart. I know that place real well. Without my best friend and her mother's faithful witness and caring, I would not have had the absolutely, unmistakably magnificent childhood and adolescence I had serving the Lord. It was not flawless, but forgiven, and that, Dear Susan, as you know, made it magnificent.

    Carolee must feel so blessed today to read this. What a glowing tribute to a life well-shared. We are all just adjectives, you know.;^)

    Rejoicing with you today,
    Dawn

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  2. My friend just told me today...on thanksgiving she and her sisters sang hymns and your dad...late stages dementia...could sing some of the lines...the only sign of him and a very long time...I just love that these songs we have woven into our souls it what reminds when all else is gone:)
    Lovely tribute...
    Blessings~

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  3. Oh my goodness this was beautiful..from your words to that of your friend... Just moving.
    Thank you for being my friend.
    T

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  4. I hardly know what to say, dear Susan. What beautiful words and thoughts. I do often travel back to those days, in fact almost every time you post something on FB. What an amazing memory you have! My brothers and I were at my parents' house last Saturday, tidying up before we put it on the market and I looked out at those patio squares and remembered all those hours of pushing a rock with our foot from one square to the next - our own special brand of hopscotch. You were my first really good friend and I'm so proud that you still consider me one of yours. You are a wonderful, sensitive, godly and gifted woman and my Mom would be beyond thrilled to see how God has used your life to further His work. Even though we live far away from each other, I can feel your warmth and I see your influence in your family and community. May God bless you with all His very best stuff - you deserve it! And thank you so much for this amazing tribute.
    XO
    Carolee

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  5. Carolee you got me a cryin'
    I will miss that dear home but we have another home more dear where we will all meet one day!
    I will see you there dear friend
    and we can push a new stone...

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  6. I think this was my favorite part:
    "I know these kids love Me
    I've watched them at play
    I've placed My love in them
    I gave them today."

    Beautiful, beautiful post!

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  7. Oh, how your beautiful words make my heart ache! Thank you for sharing - this is a gift.

    Blessings,
    Jana

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  8. thank you all for sharing here... It is quite amazing how God has wired us to live...so fully...and have moments of remembrance to recount His goodness and faithfulness. His mercies are new every morning.

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  9. Beautiful, touching words from the heart! You are certainly blessed to have these dear ones in your life! I think of words in Psalm: "I call to remembrance. . ." And remembering blessings strengthens our faith in the God who has brought us safely to today.

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  10. This is beautiful!
    I just read that in our late years when senility often sets in, the essence of who we are is exposed. I want to be like your friend's mother singing hymns by memory - when remembering doesn't come easy.
    Nice to "meet" you!

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  11. This is absolutely beautiful! My ears are filling with ears...sweet nostalgic tears...thankful tears.

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  12. * eyes are filling with tears.

    I am tired and not typing well. :)

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  13. pronetoponder... you got me laughing... I do the same thing so often and its like... there's no going back to fix it... hugs to you
    I'm so glad we are all human together... and can smile lots!

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  14. Goosebumps. And tears. Wow. I want to go back to your childhood and be friends with Carolee and family. What a legacy. Wow.

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  15. Well, you got me going with this, really teared up, but in a good way. Your memories are as crisp as an autumn apple off the tree, and just as sweet! Mixing the more everyday memories with a deep, abiding faith in God makes for a very moving poem. Thanks so much, Amy
    http://sharplittlepencil.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/repairers-of-the-breach/

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  16. Oh so beautiful. I felt like I was holding my breath as I read and was right there too. :) Happy sigh! Thank you!

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  17. you have all blessed me so much by coming by and sharing your comments...friends give a fresh breath of air to our days! Thank you friends!

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  18. Susan, you are amazingly talented! :-) I loved this poem so much. :-) I caught myself grinning several times as your wrote about memories I've experienced too. Lovely. And those dear faces are so precious!! I just want to hug them all. :-)

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    Replies
    1. hugs and smiles back dear Rambling Tart...we would have welcomed you in our game playing!

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