We are Called to Carry

 

We are Called to Carry

We are called to carry*

Carry one another's burdens 

Carry our young ones over the sands the sands pass so swiftly through this hourglass , brief life

We are called 

We carry brothers, we carry sisters, We carry nieces, and nephews

Oh, and  carry moms and dad's and their hearts 

Siblings carry one another, the yesterdays, today, and tomorrows

We find encouragement and perseverance, 

and are moved to endure

To produce "hopeful living"

Lighten the load they carry, I plead 

Lighten the load I carry

"Come to me" we lean hard on one another 

"Come to me" we read

You tired, heavy and weighed down 

Come to me we hear , rest and listen -

 "I will not tell you to do things that are too difficult. I will not tell you to carry anything that is too heavy for you."*

Carry one another's burdens 

We are Called to Carry, Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

About this poem: We are Called to Carry is a poem about how we lean in to carry one another's burdens. "We find encouragement through the Scriptures and a call to perseverance that will produce hopeful living." God provides, helps us , and gives peace of mind. Joe Holuta

******

*We are called to carry

We find encouragement through the Scriptures and a call to perseverance that will produce hopeful living.

Romans 15:1,4 voice

**Matthew 11:28-30

EasyEnglish Bible

28 Come to me all of you who are tired. You are like people who have worked for a long time. You are like people who have carried heavy things. Come to me. If you do that, you will find a place to rest. 29 Do what I teach you to do. Listen to my message and learn from me what is true. I am very kind and I do not make myself important. I will help you. Then you will have peace in your mind. 30 I will not tell you to do things that are too difficult. I will not tell you to carry anything that is too heavy for you.’

***Galatians 6:2

Amplified Bible

2 Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].

Sitting together

 

Sitting together 

Sitting together on the beach

End of the day

My sons and I are sitting together 

Rare times like this with no others around

We watch  the "sea billows" roar 

Cooling Breeze, the heat lessens at the end of the day 

Our favorite time of the day 

The tide is rough 

Much wind today 

Just sitting here

Trying not to fill the silence with words

Just the heart beat of family among 

We each have seen the high points of life together 

Vacations and high mountains 

Also some perplexing times when I wish they were near

Strength from them I now receive

Younger days I helped them along

Now they share an encouraging word or hand on the shoulder without a word 

They have carved their path 

Now leading their young ones to see and hold what matters

The waves crash hard today but 

I remember 

"When peace like a river, attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well, with my soul" *

So we sit quietly together 

We [pause]* together 

So hard for me not to speak so 

I say a few words of gratitude to them on their lives well lived 

Amidst exhausting times in the middle of life

I remember God

Your way ran through the sea,

    Your path cut through great waters *

"where there is life there is hope"

Dove c'è vita, c'è speranza.

I reluctantly stand and fold my chair 

They rise as well like they were waiting for me to make a move

We turn from the ocean and walk the sand back to the beach house 

packed with life and laughter and the like, the surf now ponding behind

I had brief time from the fleeting pace

"The sweetness of doing nothing"

La dolcezza del far niente

Sitting together, Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

About this poem:  Sitting together is a poem about sitting together with my two sons near the beach at the end of the day out of the heat with the cooling breeze. Everything cleared from the beach, chairs , umbrellas, -including family, friends, children, and we just sit there together not filling the quiet with many words, but just thinking and relaxing together. This does not happen with the three of us together very often due to distance separating us by many miles. Today we did  rest for a moment.  Thoughts of my grandparents who came from Italy and possibly enjoyed a pause of life the same. It was a "sweet time to do nothing"  La dolcezza del far niente! 

******

* "It Is Well with My Soul," written by Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss

*[pause] to life up

*Your way ran through the sea,

    Your path cut through great waters

 and still no one can spot Your footprints." 

Psalm 77:19 voice 

Two clouds now three years

Two clouds now three years 

When I think of thee
Maudey V
I think of the wonder of "two clouds" 
"two" 
now three


And the wonder of time 
Your love of reading and rhyme
So, fast the years a blink
Pictures capturing your uniqueness and how you think


About the love you have for sister and cousins and such
Starlings hovering and together so much 
Your big sister's care 
And keeping and hugs you bear 


When you question something, your eyes light up
Ready to learn and not a care where we wind up
Even when you see something unacquainted 
Lamb' ear, flowers, or tree leaves falling and fainted


We walk to see the city together
Scrapes and bruises along the way
Oh, I hope we could do this forever
Day after day after day

It’s said time flies as a breeze as lavender in the wind
As a breath, a passing mist so kind

Our prayer is for us to build more and more memories as fly the years

Our heart is to see more and hear your voice more on this spinning sphere

"No eye has ever surveyed the world and said, "I have seen enough";

no ear has ever listened to creation and said, "I have heard enough."1

About this poem: Two clouds now three years is a poem about the third birthday of Maude Veltri. Jayne and I have had the joy and blessing to see Maudey grow these last three years!  Emily Ann and Zach pour their lives into their lovely daughters Maude and Winter and it truly is taking root in their beautiful lives. 
Maudes love of reading books, her bright gestures and play time with Frozen characters with Nana warm my heart, forever! - Joe Holuta.

1 Ecclesiastes 1: 8 voice

The Smile of Winter

The Smile of Winter

"The Smile of Winter" over me all day long

But none so beautiful as the one I see so closely

But then you look and see... 

The newness, surrounding beauty

A Winter like we have never known

No snow or cold just as warm smile and warmth in her dark brown eyes 

Inclement days  or ill-nature comes over her

She smiles on anyway 

Your smile is "Like the fair light of Dawn, or summer Eve....."

"like a light that shines for you in the darkness of night"

"At some point we become our surroundings"

The fragrance of a rose

The rest of long days of summer

The first rays of a sunrise on a cool spring morning 

Sparkling diamonds of snow on a endless winter field or woods

The voice of a dear friend when you need it most

Fever breaking to bright eyes again 

The Smile of Winter that gladdens every day and every heart

About this poem: The Smile of Winter is a poem about a time of reflection on our youngest granddaughter Winter. We had the pleasure of spending a week together. Whenever our eyes met she would smile. Pleasantly content with the pace of life, the surrounding home, and even chaos.

I would glance at her and she would smile - her bright eyes seemed to smile as well!

The season of winter could have various meanings to folks. Winter's smile to me dispels any bleakness in my soul and inspires me with a deep, abiding hope. - Joe Holuta

I Sit I Wait

I Sit, I Wait

Sitting on a step, I see her as I drive by
Reading a book
Outside 
House sold, empty now 
Sitting now on a step where she did when she was young 
Home where she grew up 
Read books there before when she was young
Sentimental longings for some of the past 
Mom and dad were vibrant and young
now both passed 

Another one sits and waits

A mom with an enabled son 

She waits for the school bus to drop off her son

Last day of school

She mentions the day routine 

Early to bed and rise with no relief

Dad talks of the future and how they are perplexed on direction to go

Another neighbor taking picture of children's last day of school summer break 

She snaps the photos

Waiting with sure hope of their future,

the full summer, and busyness and years ahead

Waiting at the arrivals doors 
Oh, the anticipation to see your love
Entry of the "all is new" again 
And the baggage claim
Hoping, nothing lost
Looking for your sign, each sound, each bag 
Completing the arrival 
Some to a happy journey home
Some to a continuance of some pain Or uncertainty 
Young in wheelchairs, random factors
Young running together / mom and dad looks of exasperation 
"Mountains" of baggage 

Yet the joy, oh the joy of being home 

"I realize that everything I know is only part of the big picture,

 I see in fragments now."

We sit, we wait

In so many ways and times 

Anxious waiting, waiting in despair,

Anticipation and joy, 

Waiting in good and hard times, and struggle

Waiting for the sun to set

"Infusing our souls with life"

"Long, high and deep 

Surpassing everything love"

Loving life more with every breath 

A table in the setting sun 

Gentle wind - ripples on the lake 

Fish breaks the water's surface, barriers broken 

Writing as many years before

And now, today 

About this poem: I Sit, I Wait is a poem about waiting in life as we sit with those we love through loss of family, perplexing mental and physical health challenges, dreams realized or shattered for the future for those we love. Hope is what keeps us forging ahead. As we sit, wait and pray, we gain hope and approach tomorrow! Folks like us all around are going through something we may not be aware. We take time to listen, to love, and gain strength for the journey.- Joe Holuta