ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

This season of my life is giving me pause. I am finally realizing that I cannot do the things I used to do. For a couple of years now, I’ve been pushing very hard to maintain my garden and the beauty of my outdoor sanctuary. This is the place I go to reflect and pray each morning. It’s also a place that has been invaded with weeds and lack of TLC. The words of my husband keep coming back to me. “When you look outside all you see is work to be done. Instead, enjoy the beauty that is already there.” I expected that I would be long gone by now. That my former life would be just a whisper of memories to those I left behind. They won’t notice the dust settling on my furniture. The cobwebs in the corners will also go unseen. The massive buckthorn or ragweed growing behind my garden will be considered part of the scenery. Time changes everything, but God remains the same. When I am gone, I will go to a perfect location. No weeds, no dust, no cobwebs – just paradise. While I wait, I will try to find the beauty outside my window, rather than the work.

i look out my window and what do I see?

A whole lot of work staring right back at me.

The weeds so gigantic, they hide the beauty,

I work very hard. I think it’s my duty.

If I don’t take time to restore what was there,

I’ll worry about it. It’s too much to bear.

My body screams loudly, “forget it, you’re old,”

My knees crack and crinkle, my allergies scold.

I should prune broken limbs, lay weed killer down,

I should smile at the beauty – instead I frown.

You’ve made all things new with the life of your Son

Help me, dear Father, to enjoy what you’ve done,

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY!

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY!