Loss

Sometimes words aren't enough to say what we mean. They paint pictures but still leave much unsaid. Poetry whispers and shouts emotions more eloquently than other forms of words on a page. I guess that's why I enjoy reading the psalms. This year has been one where perhaps lament has been more appropriate than joy. It started with me taking the funeral of an uncle. My father died. A good friend died. An aunt has also now sadly passed away. Why? I guess it was just their time.

Life is short. It's meant to be lived and enjoyed. Why do we spend so much time arguing and falling out with one another?

We are left with the memories of loved ones ingrained in our hearts. They remain a reminder of joy shared and lives entwined.

In memory of Pauline....

With painted nails
          hair in style
                  and raspberry lips
                          from which you
                                      smiled.
Dainty tiny feet
             danced a tale
                            of long ago
                                 of joy and
                                      soul.
Dark brown eyes
          twinkled to the
                           dawn of yesterday
                                     no more alight
                                           this 'morn.

Revdjo 23/6/2015

Daddy on the train!

For those of you wondering why I haven't continued with my blogging every day through Lent unfortunately my father was taken ill. I have been visiting him most days for the 5 weeks that he was in hospital. At 4.45am on the 5th March he passed away. I held his hand as he slipped away. It was peaceful and my prayer of being there was answered. I think Dad had been waiting for me. My husband and I were only there 5 minutes before he died. 

I have written about my Dad before, you can find it here.

When I was a little girl I would wait for him to come home on the train. I could see the station from the bedroom window and would shout, "Daddy on the train!' when he came home. One evening there was no Daddy on the train, he had missed it, but that's another story. I wrote this poem in memory of Dad. It will be read out at his funeral which takes place on the 25th March, it would have been his 80th birthday on that day.



Daddy on the train!

"Daddy on the train!"
"Daddy on the train!"

I waited for you
As I called out your name
Home you would come
To give me a hug
You read me a story
And turned out the light
I always felt safe
When you held me tight.

"Daddy on the train!"
"Daddy on the train!"

You brought me books
And painting sets
Beano comics, Dandy too
And icecream cones
On sunny days
That dripped down my arms
And made a mess.
I'll never forget.

"Daddy on the train!"
"Daddy on the train!"

Memories live on
Although we can't be together
For walks in the summer
Or a drink in the pub
But the journey continues
And so will our love
Until we meet on the platform
In heaven above.

"Daddy on the train!"
"Daddy on the train!"

Tears of goodbye
Are never enough
There's a hole in my heart
A vast empty space
As I wave in the distance
I know you are there
waiting for me
As I call out your name.

"Daddy on the train!"
"Daddy on the train!"

copyright Revdjo 23/3/15

Lent 2015: things that make me laugh - the Easter Bunnie

I think I may have posted this image before but it does me chuckle. Bunnies seem a good thing to laugh at. I'm sure they don't mind. 

I can't understand why the Easter Bunny exists. But he doesn't you say.  Oh yes he does... He is not only alive and kicking in children's imaginations but also in consumerism. I'm sure we will soon be inundated with Easter bunnies  making an apearence in our shops as an alternative to Easter eggs and pictured on Easter cards. There is no Easter bunny in the Easter story so why has he hopped into the limelight? Answers on a postcard and deposited into the nearest rabbit hole.

Lent 2015: things that make me laugh - cartoons

You can't beat a good cartoon to make you laugh. Tom and Jerry, Roadruner; Tweetiepie and Sylvester the cat were favourites. I can't tell you when the last time I saw a cartoon was. Certainly it was some time ago. But why is that? Do we think we can't watch such things as an adult? Do we just get more serious as we get older and loose that inner child? What we laugh at changes as we get older. Tastes change. Life gets in the way.  I hope you have managed to laugh today evening it's been a tough day.

Lent 2015: things that make me laugh - my husband

My husband, John, always seems to make me laugh. We often laugh at the silliest of things. 

This evening I was eatting some grapes when one dropped from my hands and rolled across the floor. John jumped and said, 'I thought it was a mouse'! How on earth does a grape look look like a mouse? I couldn't help but laugh. 'It scared me' he chuckled. Today has been a good day. All age worship at church and lots of fun. No one really wanted to go home which is always a good sign. 

Worship doesn't have to be always serious, and neither should life. There are times when lament is appropriate such as, when someone dies in tragic circumstances. God has made us as emotional beings and yet  so often we try and deny our emotions. The British stiff upper lip is still alive and kicking in the UK. I am sure other countries and cultures are better at being honest with their emotions that we are here. God likes us to be honest with him and if our worship is to be heart felt then we must learn to laugh and indeed cry as we worship him in spirit and truth.

Lent 2015 21 February: things that make me laugh - Comedy

I found this statue of Charlie Caplin in London. Having my photo wth him was a must. The photo still makes me laugh. Watching Chaplin and Laural and Hardy and their capers was a must growing up. Other comedy classics such as Some Mothers do 'av 'em and Only Fools and Horses will forever remain in my memory. Chaplin waving his walking cane, Laural and Hardy pushing a piano up the stairs, Frank Spenser on roller skates, and Del Boy falling through the bar hatch as he eyes up some young lady all make me laugh. I'm sure we all have our favorate comedy classics. God has designed us to laugh, even when it is at ourselves, so why is it that most of us take life so seriously? Life is for living and enjoyng but why do we so often loose sight of that and whallow in our own sadness and discontent? We may never have any money, we may never meet the man or women of our dreams, we may never have perfect health but we have so many other things to be grateful for. 

So what's your favorate comedy?