We line pebbles
on the path,
one
for each day,
and hope for more.
Our eyes rove
the swish of leaves
in the verdant
lushness
of treetops,
the bright snaps
of daisies,
the flitting burst
of butterflies
that land soft on our
arms
and legs
and flip-flopped
toes,
the swell
of the ocean,
dolphin-dipped
with joy.
We watch
the sky burn pink
when night falls
and the stars begin
to dance;
and contemplate
how all this reminds
us
of how love’s
branches budded
to bring us your
smile.
Maybe tonight
Gavin and Cassidy and
Sawyer
will dream
of their mother’s
eyes,
Derik, her voice at
his ear,
and Susan
of her little girl
so brave, so strong.
Something like
God’s lovenotes
dropped
even when
we’re not looking.
And what we thought
were scattered
pebbles
lost in this life’s
storm
are picked up
and churned with
God’s tears
and our own,
placed in His bottle
these new-polished
pebbles
are jewels
close to His heart,
treasured and
unforgotten,
until we see
your smile bright
again
and are
together
Home.
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your
bottle. You have recorded each one in
your book.” Psalm 56:8 NLT
© 2014 Jennifer
Wagner
Behind the poem: a few days ago my
sister asked me if I could write a poem for her sister-in-law’s daughter,
Amanda, who had been a given a prognosis of two weeks to live, as a special gift to her family. She survived leukemia
as a young child and had more recently been diagnosed with cancer again. Yesterday she passed away. She was 31 and has three children who are 8,
6, and 4 years old. This poem is for her,
for them, the man she shared her life with, her faith-filled mom, and all her
family and friends who love her and wait for the day they will be together again. With love and prayers for comfort and peace. ~
Jen