Helpfulness

I stopped reading to the boys midway through a sentence.
Was Caleb actually throwing away his board books?
Yes. He was.

I fished out the three that had already nestled among torn plastic packaging,
Then pulled the garbage bag over so Caleb could continue.

He strutted back and forth from shelf to trash basket,
Broad grin, proud that he was enhancing the orderliness of the home.

Did I mention that yesterday he found a blanket in the bag of our guests
And brought it to them for their son. They didn’t need it, but they received it.

It was the first true act of service I have seen of him.
He walked away, head high, smile big, satisfied that he contributed.

As, indeed, he had.

Fig Tree

But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

For months, I had been tempted to purchase a fig tree.
I would walk past them at the grocery,
Check on them online.
I resisted the temptation, barely.

We had sheep then, and the sheep had to go.
The final one loaded, the buyer pulled out a fig tree
With one small fig, a promise of more to come.

“God told me to get you a fig tree.
They weren’t easy to find this time of year,
But I finally found a place that still had one.”

How to tell him that that had deep meaning for me?
How to say to this stranger strongly enough,
Thank you for hearing and obeying the voice of God,
To bring me this gift, this message.

It astounds me even now that a fig tree can speak,
That a man can be the voice of God.

Amy

I.
I hope it does not make you dislike your name
If I point out how much I appreciate
The beautiful shape of “Amy” on the printed page.
A letter at an angle above the line,
A letter, both straight and curved, in the middle,
And a letter at an angle below the line.
Compact and perfect.
(I’m sure your name is nice, too.)

II.
And I hope it does not disappoint you
If I mention more to appreciate.

Only three letters, but two syllables.

Twice as many vowels as consonants.

Composed of the first letter of the alphabet,
A letter in the precise middle,
And final letter the second to the last.
Beginning, middle, end.

It is not elegant or unusual,
But cheery, energetic.
More freckles than lace,
More fun than mellifluous.
I think it suits me.

And “Amy” means “beloved” and that is very nice.
(But really: I’m sure your name is nice, too.)

Clementines

When I packed Phil his lunch every day,
I would peel his Clementines.
It was a little treat for me:
I’m amazed every time by their easy peeling.
And Phil doesn’t like getting his hands sticky.

A coworker asked once:
“Do your oranges come that way?”

Another answered:
“Only when you’re married to Amy.”

Calling

A friend said, Though I knew God,
I was not living faithfully.

My girlfriend didn’t know God.

Then God called us both,
And we spurred each other on.
Now live faithfully.

I love to hear how God is at work.

No Preference

A friend said
About a major life choice,

I wanted to reach a place
Where I would have been content either way.

And when I reached that place,
God spoke clearly, and I knew what to do.

At Last

Caleb brings me his shoes,
Then tries to escape out the open door.

His brothers joined him and blew bubbles for hours.
He wandered around, smile on his face.

At last I have an outdoors boy.