days stack up
like pancake plates
of postponed ease
and delayed dates
and time continues
while children grow
and weekends pass
and don’t you know
that all the bounty
collecting dust
is waiting for
our cores to trust
that God is with us
and knows our woe
no need to spin
and labor so
the weeks accrue
and grace keeps on
patient for
a braver dawn
when we’ll let go
of task and hurry
and clear the heart
without the worry
for when the years
are memory
and grind and gig
mere history
the busy living
outside in
will pale against
what might have been
so let’s release
and dare to be
abundant in
simplicity

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38-42

This poem was inspired by and written for Beth, and for all of us.

image: original painting by Diane Whitehead