My Psalm 301 February 15, 2018
Heavenly Father, Creator of all things, Abba, Father,
Praised be Your Name in the heavens and on earth,
For You have heard my cry; I can feel Your Presence
Because Jesus brings me to Your loving arms
When I cry out to You for strength this hour.
My heart is heavy with grief
Because Your children have strayed so far
From Eden’s perfection.
Senseless killing of students in a school
Brings me to tears. Do You weep too?
Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers
Mourn for their loved ones
Ripped so quickly from their arms
Without words of goodbye.
Lost potential, all with dreams for tomorrow
Now like withered grass blowing in the wind.
And for those parents, show Your mercy
For You indeed know what it is to see Your Son
Face the cruelty of violence and suffer death
To pay sin’s penalty, Your grace to share.
Give them strength, share Your Sovereign power
To face what comes next:
The empty chair, the silent laugh, the fading memories,
The denial, the tears, the anger,
And agonizing grief.
Bring them before You, Your compassionate Presence,
Until they can forgive and heal soul-depth wounds.
Abba, Father, hold us all in Your arms
That we can find comfort
In knowing that before even our first breaths,
You know the hour of our returning to You,
And that Your children, those who knew You in this life
Are safely with You this day in paradise.
For all of us who mourn, bring us peace
That peace that passes all mortal understanding
To fulfill our purpose, to love You well
Until, when our tasks are done
You call us Home for eternity with You. Amen.
A career teacher, with forty years of teaching language arts/English, Betty Jackson enjoys wordsmithing, writing, and reading as a vocation and avocation.Retirement is her "age of frosting," a chance to pursue postponed hobbies with gusto. She especially sends kudos to the Space Coast Writers Guild members for their encouragement and advice. Her five books, It's a God Thing!, Job Loss: What's Next? A Step by Step Action Plan, and Bless You Bouquets: A Memoir, And God Chose Joseph: A Christmas Story, and Rocking Chair Porch: Summers at Grandma's are available at Amazon.com. Ms. Jackson is available to speak to local groups and to offer her books at discount for fundraising purposes at her discretion. She and her husband soon celebrate their 47th anniversary, and have lived in New York, New Jersey, Iowa, and now the paradise of Palm Bay, Florida. Their two grown children and daughter-in-love, all orchestra musicians, and our beautiful granddaughters Kaley and Emily live nearby. Hobbies, and probably future topics on her blog: gardening, symphonic music (especially supporting the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra as a volunteer and proud parent of a violinist, a cellist, and an oboist), singing, book clubs, and co-teaching a weekly small-group Bible study for seniors. She volunteers and substitute teaches at Covenant Christian School, and serves as a board member of the Best Yet Set senior group at church. Foundationally, she daily enjoys God's divine appointments called Godincidences, which show God's providence and loving kindness.