I'd Buy it Back

I’d buy it back, if I could find it,
That old rocker where my babies slept
I tossed it out in a steeled moment,
Braced against the longing to hold on
For one more night snuggled close with a book
I’d like to rock them each again
But I can’t hold their tiny faces
Their hugging arms reach all around now
And I don’t rock them
Even the small ones
Who get less small every day.

I’d buy them back, those lost days
When I looked the other way and missed it
I should have held my breath
And held you each and all
Why didn’t I see the treasure in the moment?
Each night when you were sleeping, I could feel the wealth I had
But when tummies were hungry
And phones were ringing
I lost it
I wandered off and couldn’t make myself stay.

I’d buy it all back,
That rocking chair and all those chances
I’d hold your gaze in my smile
And keep your hand in mine.

But where would I put those moments if I could take them back?
My hands are small and can only grab one chance at a time--
And another chance is here at hand.
Free for the asking.
I'll take it.

Fowl Lessons

The tiny chick didn't wake up. I put it under the heat lamp, hoping that the warmth would soak in and revive it, but there was no flame of life to fan. Becca, who watched broody Lacy daily and reported on how the setting was going, pinned her hopes for poultry parenthood on this egg. The chick tried to hatch out some time last night, but when I found it this morning checking the hen, there was no sign of life.

"If God is so big, why did the chick die, Mom?" Becca asks. All the nice Sunday school answers don't seem like enough.

"That's a hard question, Becca." I move her on to the next order of business, because I don't have a better response. Why should the earth go on turning and the suffering go and on? Why should evil be allowed to increase and humankind be let believe all manner of nonsense and practice every wicked thing? God is good, why doesn't he step in? I know somehow it fits with his nature to hold off, but just how does that work?

I was surprised to find 2 Peter 3 going over this very question. God has promised to "do something" about evil, and yet he is taking forever to do it. What gives? "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance..Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation." The payment made by Christ is enough for every human to be redeemed and God is giving each of us every chance possible to embrace Christ. Judgement will fall, but God will draw as many as possible to the cross first.

Why did the chick die? Because the creation is broken with sin. Why doesn't God fix it? He will...when he's reached as many as he can with his mercy, and destroyed the broken creation with fire, all things will be made new.

Photos from Flickr, raizn4 and donewiththetaxman