Grace Unfurled

This is the day the Lord has made;we will rejoice and be glad in it.Ps. 118:24 I began this poem, inspired by dawn's golden tideas it rolled across the waking countryside...(side note; did you know the word 'countryside' is one of myfavorite words in the English language?!!) ...but helping a friend with strawberry-pickingand Cutie-duty prevailed before it was finished! Once more summer morn’s golden tideWashes across the countrysideDuty’s demand wakens a worldOf consumers, to grace unfurled The grand escape from YesterdayRouses both hunter and its prey…the padlock on dusk’s westward arcIs obsolete; Dawn melts the dark As tug of wars of want and needEither encourage or impedeOur will to do or rue the taskThat sparkles from a new day’s flask This is the day the Lord has lentWe reply with hope or lamentBlessed are they who live to praiseThe faithful Giver of our days Where we, consumers of His graceShould view nothing as commonplaceBut revere He who frees the tide That rolls across the countryside ...transforming the place where we standTo holy ground, beneath the HandThat wears the scars that paid the priceThat authored grace through sacrifice ...a sacrifice second to noneThat paid sin's debt for everyoneBut left it up to you and meTo choose the grace that sets us free 'for it is by grace we are saved'Pardon's proof on God's Hands engravedThe hands that reach to you and ITo draw night's mantle from the sky © Janet Martin Where we, consumers of His graceShould view nothing as commonplace... But revere He who frees the tide That rolls across the countryside