Nestled in the Woods

Dark…gloomy…what a night!
We settled down to watch the sheep,
and knew that there would be no sleep,
expecting night be long and deep,
but blackness became bright.

Hark! Light now fills the sky!
An angel bathed in light appears.
We fall upon our faces. Fears
that as the heavenly choir nears
we’ll perish where we lie.

Dark? Gloomy? Night is gone!
The angel says we need no dread:
The Christ is born in manger bed.
“Go see the infant…good news spread,”
the angel choir swelled.

Why infant, not a king
to bring fair rule upon the earth?
And why with such a humble birth?
Could not He bask in worlds of worth,
brought on an angel’s wing?

Why? Why not a feed box?
By humble birth He comes, a man,
indentifying with our clan…
(It was the Father’s perfect plan)
low, with sheep and ox.

 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father…Philippians 2: 5-11

September 4, 1959 was a beautiful and bright, if hot, day. It was our wedding day. What a trip that fifty years has been!
I have learned so much in those five decades, but I think the lesson I learned the best is that it is not “all about me.” I couldn’t really learn about love until I addressed that issue. When it’s all about me, any diversion from my desire, my feelings, or my control creates a barrier between us. Throw in some legalistic religion on top of that and you have a recipe for conflict.
When it’s all about the one another, we begin to see that our life is a connection. Marriage should be the greatest example of that connection. We live for our mate, and in return, we receive the benefit of love.  We have children together to express that love and the connection grows. This is the way it is supposed to work, but the minute “all about me” intrudes, love is compromised.
I hope that I have learned this lesson, and my goal is to perfect it over the next however many years God gives us together.

FIFTY YEAR SONNET

It’s been a fascinating fifty years
Of marriage, both “in sickness and in health.”
We planned for challenges and new frontiers,
And hoped for great success and maybe wealth.
Of course there would be trials marked by tears,
And sometimes conflicts cause by prideful self.
On some occasions undeservéd fears
That one would leave the other on the shelf.
But now we’ve set aside our separate spheres
While yet retaining differences we held,
And to our great surprise it now appears
Success for us has been unparalleled.

‘Twas neither pleasure nor prosperity
But love and trust has sealed the guarantee.