ART & POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

Today’s painting was actually done at the end of autumn, when trees were almost completely empty of foliage. It’s a peek through a barren forest. The focal point is a distant, not yet frozen waterfall crashing over rocks. The trees in the foreground act as a framework for the art. The centerpiece during the Advent season is the yet unborn baby, Jesus. The days are winding down to that event. Soon, this child would make His way into the world to begin His work of saving that same world. This post is a piece of my imagination which might have been said to His mother.

Did you know on that first day?
Was it apparent to you, just how much I needed you?
For nine months I rested snuggly inside of you,
Hearing the ever-present beating of your heart,
Soon it grew fainter, but still, I had you close to me,
Did you know on that first day?
That I would now become dependent on you,
For shelter,
For comfort,
For love,
For guidance, and yet,
In those early months you were also teaching me to be independent,
You gave me the gift of life,
As time went by, did you know?
That with each step, each adventure, each new beginning,
I held you close within,
You were my motivator, my caregiver, my provider and my mother in all that I did,
I wanted so hard to please you, yet I didn’t have to try,
You loved with the same unconditional love of my Heavenly Father,
Undeserved at times,
Unrequited often,
Unselfish always,
Did you know that I couldn’t have gotten through most of my early life without you?
Did you know that I was testing your love each time I challenged you?
I wanted boundaries,
I wanted guidelines,
I wanted rules,
Yet I also wanted to break them,
Did you know how proud I was of everything you did?
You were so beautiful, so kind, so compassionate,
Did you know that I cheered for you when things didn’t go your way?
Did you know that even in my last hours, as I surrendered to death, I felt the sting of each one of your tears. My ransom payment was for you and the entire world, but I would rise again,
I could still feel the beating of your breaking heart as part of mine? Did you know that all this would happen as part of the plan for your redemption? For the salvation of all mankind? I will return again. I will judge the world. I will separate the sheep from the goats. I will destroy the old and bring a new heaven and earth.
Did you know, I will always love you?