A Page from the Lesson Book( in the School of Life)

Hello! First of all, I am going refer to because you might be wondering if I got carried away by a couple of renegade bats and a mouse, due to a longer than normal quietness here, but no! those bats were caught on Thursday night after much more shrieking drama and a husband who came back from a road trip just in time to be the valiant hero of the hour. The bats were deposited outdoors before we left early on Friday morning for a little holiday to Lancaster Pa. and Niagara Falls. We returned home on Monday afternoon to find the mouse trap also lived up to its charge,so here's hoping to a critter-trespassing-free week!! On Friday I turned 58! I can hardly believe it and I am thankfulfor God's grace, goodness and mercies in every year of mycontinuing education in the School of Life💖So often it seems what I once thought I learned I need to relearnSo this poem is about what I am learning rather than what I have learned...(I'm sorry this poem was a bit like a runaway team of horses;I had to chase after it and rein it in)In my defense, this is almost five day's worth of pent-up poem release 😅after admiring many horses 💖💖 A few shots from the weekend... I'm learning, it is futile/foolish to lament the haste of TimeThat every day we should embrace as 'living in our prime'I'm learning, regret and repentance are not the same thingTo live to love is manifold and all encompassingHow the lens that we look through affects thought, then word and deedAs moments toll/roll toward a goal for deathless soul decreed   That every day is holy ground, with so much to amazeThat happiness is found as we extinguish Want with praiseThat hope without an Anchor is not really hope at allThat no matter how we progress, pride still fathers The Fall I'm learning love must be learned, and learned best when very youngThat much is built or torn down by the timbre of the tongue That grief can carve a chasm only faith in God can cheerThat to exchange His Word for mine earns Consequence severeThat the enthralling thrill of the Splash swiftly disappearsBut the ripple effect of it can outlast years and yearsThat our words are sweeter if we taste before we bite That licking frosting from beaters is an ageless delight That we cannot do everything to help our fellowmanBut we can all so something, and we should, the best we can That no one is too rich or poor to desire 'a good turn'That we never outlive the class of 'still so much to learn'That we will surely spoil the child if we withhold love's 'rod'That flowers are a universal love language from GodThat kindness and compassion prove the love that never failsThat laughter is good medicine for anything that ails That though Mother Nature and Father Time will have their say We are not at their mercy, but God's mercy, new each dayAnd though, as time goes by, we mourn the good of Good Old Days God's everlasting and unchanging goodness naught can faze I'm learning truth speaks for itself; a Voice none dethrone That the noise of rebellion cannot shift The Cornerstone  That with each generation, nothing will stay quite the sameSave this, Jesus; salvation exists through no other Name(though some have become bold enough to boast another wayBehooving all who still believe in Him to pray and pray)I'm learning that in spite of so much to be sad aboutGod overflows creation with much to be glad about And kindness is still like a little miracle of joyAnd one of life's best gifts is still a little girl or boy And life is like a cookie; we should savor every crumbAnd Choice is like a Door always hinged to what will becomeAnd though a good book can be good company for a whileA good book never can replace a warm handshake or smileThat Older Age reserves surprises we would never tradeFor prettier disguises that will pitilessly fade I'm learning how to touch and taste brief sparkles from Time's FountWhile all the while revering that for which I'll give account And how a number cannot keep us from kicking up heelsThat the fountain of youth is not in how one looks, but feels 💖 I'm learning how the common task is not common at allThat duty is a beautiful, breathtaking bestowal That it is a rich blessing to be busy with demandsLest we give place to the devil with idle mind or hands That we get out of life what we put in, no more, no lessThat the antidote to discouragement is thankfulnessThat it is no cliché; God grants much to be thankful for"God, forgive me for the fathom of mercies I ignore' I'm learning that to number days with wisdom's gain and loveHowever old or young we are will always be enough I'm learning how kind and cruel unblinded love can beHow the sting I despise often refines humility And how these lessons equip love with a gentler replyWhen in a situation when we don't see eye to eyeI'm learning in the tug of hugs as heartstrings strain and acheNo distance is quite far enough to cause heartstrings to breakI'm learning not to fret the 'druthers' while pushing the plowThat, though all dreams do not come true, the birds still sing, and how I'm learning, bit by bit, and prayer by prayer's imperfect plea  How holy is each lifetime's blip before Eternity ...how season over season tunes ruthless relinquishments How reason cannot reason away harvest-recompenseHow we grow too soon old and too late smart; ah, sacred sighThat unfolds the umbrella of daybreak's marmalade sky I'm learning that a slice of buttered bread is luxuryAnd what and who we love the most is very plain to see And that a garden nook is pleasure at its simple best And that a winding brook can satisfy the Poet's questAnd that it is no use to try to slow the haste of timeBut rather snare wisps of thin air to tame into a rhyme  © Janet Martin 1 Tim.6:6-16 Godliness with Contentment Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. Fight the Good Fight But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:  Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,  which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time. He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.