Heaven, Upside Down or Such Is Love

Such is life, we often say, as plans change and carefully arranged schedules run awry! Sometimes love pours a cup of tea, ‘with milk and honey, dear?’... As I finished this poem I returned and traded the word 'life' for 'love'; it was originally going to be a 'such is life' poem because this was a week rife with changed plans...butas the poem evolved so did the realization the 'such is life' is often more aptly expressed  'such is love!' The ultimate plan of Love, for man's redemptionGod fulfilled at Calvary!Love appeared in that hour, to have lost! Heb.2:10For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Isa.53:10-11Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Himand to cause Him to suffer;and when His soul is made a guilt offering,He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days,and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.After the anguish of His soul,He will see the light of life and be satisfied.By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many,and He will bear their iniquities. Sometimes what first looks like love’s loss is Heaven, upside down... Love suffers long and is kind...1 Cor. 13:4 Oh, if only love more often, suffered longer and was kinder how much more lovely,and much less broken this world would be! Sometimes we find it, sometimes not; such is love’s want-list, honSometimes love is a little tot that keeps us on the runSometimes it caters to our plan but often not, it seems…love’s give and take twixt God and man far outmaneuvers dreams Sometimes love is a graceful glide, a ballet’s perfect hurtBut oft it is a wild slide to home-base; face down, in dirtSometimes love pours a cup of tea, ‘with milk and honey, dear?’But oft it startles you and me with sudden, bitter tear Sometimes love's havens that we seek must first weather love's galeSometimes love’s kiss upon the cheek is crushed in love’s travailSometimes love's payoff that we thought should bear visible fruit/lootGets lost; often love’s prize is not a made-to-measure suit Sometimes, we would forget to pray; I think love's push and shoveMust be God’s higher thought and way to teach us ‘such is love’Whoever does not bear love’s cross is not fit for love’s crownSometimes what first looks like love’s loss is Heaven, upside down © Janet Martin