He Said No                 by S. Francis     © 2007
He accepted me just as I was,
A woman aged with time,
A body showing all the evidence
Of the wear and tear of many years,
But none the less,
He accepted me just as I was,
Just like you Father.

He always had an ear for my cares.
                                                                  I could go to him with anything
                                                                  That was on my mind.
                                                                  Just like you Father.
                                                                  
                                                                   He encouraged me when I thought,
                                                                   I could go no further.
                                                                   Helped me to hope again, to reach for
                                                                   Stars beyond my sphere of gravity,
                                                                   To stretch beyond my wildest imagination,
                                                                   Just like you Father.

                                                                    I felt loved.
                                                                    I felt secure.
                                                                    He was kind and patient,
                                                                    Gentle of heart, protective,
                                                                    Wise, seeing far and wide
                                                                    Just like You Father.

                                                                     I must confess.
                                                                    There were times
                                                                     I made him larger than you.
                                                                     Oh, please, forgive me Father.

                                                                      And then at decision time,
                                                                      I pressed him for an answer.
                                                                      Would he dig up the tiny seed of love,
                                                                      That he had carefully planted in my heart?
                                                                      Would he pull it out by its tender root and crush it?
                                                                      Just so he could hold on dearly,
                                                                      To his Bachelor Members only card.

                                                                       Would he let his sewn seed die?
                                                                       Or just like you did for your bride Father,
                                                                       Would he die to himself and to his life?
                                                                       Just to take me for his bride, his wife.

                                                                        Well now I know.
                                                                        He wasn’t really like you at all Father,
                                                                        Because, he said no.
                                                                       
photo: 99U.com

Do you remember the last family gathering you attended? Maybe it was on Thanksgiving or Christmas

Well, for Lila May Thompson it was her annual dinner that she prepared for her relatives on the first Sunday of each New Year.

Her dinner consisted tender succulent meats and several kinds of green vegetables and delicious rice and potato dishes. And, she out did herself with her sweet, tangy fruit pies and banana puddings.  

The whole family was there from Grandpa Amos and Grandma Bea to the newest members of the family, the 8 month old twins Tyler and Tara, and all the cousins, aunts, uncles, and sisters and brothers in between. 

The parents of the twins realized too late that in their hurry to get to Lila May's house they had left the twins' baby food on the kitchen counter.  But not to worry, Lila May was a quick and innovative thinker.

She used her food processor to puree bits of the meat as well as the veggies and potatoes. She even used her food processor to puree some fruit from the pies. The twins were able to enjoy the same meal as the rest of the family in a way that was digestible for them.

And that's how it is with the Word of God and children.
God's Word is good, relevant, and edible for all ages when prepared in just the right way!

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.
Psalm.34:8 KJV

Photo: brothermelsbbq.com

To get the right fruit you have to plant the right seeds. It’s crazy to think that you can plant orange seeds and get apples. It’s even crazier to think that you can plant the seeds of unforgiveness and get lasting satisfaction. Cultivating seeds like that in your garden will only yield a root of bitterness.

Save your crops today. Forgive someone who’s hurt you. That’s what I’m going to do!
photo: greenfusephoto.com