Friends and Guest Blogger

When we moved to Texas, we moved into a unique situation. We have three families we have known for years… like LOTS of years, who all live in this general area. However, each family lives at least an hour away from us, and in different directions. We don’t see each other often because everyone is busy with their own lives. But it doesn't change the fact we love each other.

Keatha and I decided in January that we would go to lunch once a month. We haven't seen each other since! Good intentions, you know. We went to lunch today, though, and we had a great time talking and laughing and looking at pictures of her trip to Italy. As you know from my previous post, I desperately needed this.

She told me that she wrote another poem, and I asked her if I could read it. She emailed it to me, and it really moved me. So I requested her permission to share it here on my blog, and she agreed to it.

So, thank you, Sweet Friend. You are a beautiful woman, loving wife and mother, and a treasured friend. Oh, and you are so talented, too! :-)

Here it is…

Faith, Dogma, and the Sins of the Mother

(Written by Keatha Frederick)

Faith is a shiny thread running through my life-

inextricable, though I might not want to see-

pulling so tight if I try to run from it,

weaving a net for setting me free.

The Fear of Isaac, the God of Jacob-

Is this who opens a staircase?  For me??

I wrestle with Him, with my past and my future-

my discipline needed, to bring honesty.

My son- he believes that this is all dogma,

a listing of rules to tangle his life.

He has his own notions of God and the universe,

choosing himself what he figures is right.

The universe:  safety- so distant, no pressure-

A “force” that is willing to give what it should.

How do I show him the God who created it,

who’s personal, reaching down,

aching with love?

“The sins of the father”:  yes, they followed Jacob.

He got what he gave, and his children as well.

And now I see my sins-

Repeating, repeating-

A family curse, or just common to man?

Yet faith wove through Jacob,

his children,

their children-

a legacy flowing through imperfect lives.

And it will entangle itself in my family,

tapestry beautiful, darkness with light.

And God, will I finally be, someday, like Jacob?

Limping, yet worshipping you at the end?

Blessing my sons, because You didn’t leave me-

wrapping around me,

pulling me home.