Prairie Lily Arts

When You Say "I Love You"... Stop

 
I love you. The words tumble easily to those who hold our hearts.  As the car door closes, as the phone call ends, as quilts draw up about shoulders and lights switch off...  "I love you" spills naturally.

When spoken through years of days and moments, crests and valleys, "I love you" flows without hesitation.  No break in stride. No lingering of eyes. No pause between sentences, nor change of inflection. We speak the treasured into the ordinary.

Yet these gems of words are so worthy of  intention.  Softened tone, warm cupping of the face, smiling eyes, fingers interlaced... and the world stops.  For a split moment... nothing else exists, but the exchange of one heart for another... held fast in safekeeping.

Cherished are the hearts... so shall be the words.  I love you.

Suz

The Passion of Christ: Who Would You Be?

 
The first pink glimmers of sunrise through the trees found me lingering in the the last words Jesus shared with his disciples.  I wondered, as I have so many times before, who I would be among those involved in these hours of suffering.  Who would I prove myself to be in the passion of the One who loved so completely?

I am grateful for a community of families with whom to share my heart.  Journey with me at The Homeschool Village as I share about the hope that is Easter?

May your heart draw near to the One who gave you this life... who offers eternal life... by laying down His own.  This One, He calls you child, knows your every desire, every thought, every dream, every fear.  This One... He waits for your gaze upon His face, your hand in His own.

As the sun rises next, I pray you sing.

Susan

This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, 'Follow me.' John 21:19

It's Friday

In the dark, quiet hours I draw still.  I linger over the words of John... Matthew, Mark, Luke.  Tears spill in streams.  Surely the sound of heartbreak can be heard in the silence.  Oh, that I could be Simon of Cyrene this day... to do something... something to bear the load of my own weight upon the back of the One who never failed.... the One who loved... this much.  It's Friday.  And my heart aches to breaking.

Suz

"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, 'Thou sayest that I am a King. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." John 18:37

 

Drawing Near to His Heart

 

Moments come when walking hand in hand, the heart yet desires to draw nearer. Moments come when mere inches seem too great a distance. Moments come when eyes fix upon eyes... whispered words flow directly to the soul... yet the heart longs to be one, to know the mind that even conjured the thought.

I hear His whisper into my heart, His hand upon my own. Yet I long to close the distance.

As Easter approaches, a dear friend confides in me. "I always feel as if I lost out." The entire season slips from our grasp as busyness swirls. How I know. How I know.

So I determine to stop... to draw near through the words of His beloved disciple, he who would be His chosen brother... that I, too, might walk those final steps, experience those last days... and drink of His presence, resting against a strength, a wisdom, a love like none other.

For though He's not yet returned, He is so preciously near.

"A little while, and ye shall not see me and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father." John 16:16

Suz

Spring Unspoken

 
The spoken word,

But introduction.

 

The meeting of eyes,

A setting of the scene.

 

But it is with the human touch

That the story of life is told.

 

And the most tender of hearts

Breathtakingly,

Exquisitely,

Completely

Unfolds.

Suz

Re-Posting: A Broken Heart

 
Coarse and heavy, the rock we placed last year now rests in the palm of my hand.  My finger traces the inscription, the writing of such a young, yet wise, heart.  Dayenu. 

Dayenu.  It was enough.  Sufficient for me.  Entirely undeserving and yet for me the price was paid. Ultimate, unconditional, sacrificial love... beyond understanding. Tears fall silently against dry stone.

It is time, again, for us to build our Calvary Hill.  Are you looking for a fresh perspective, a hands-on way of experiencing Easter's beauty with your children? Let them cup wet earth, plant tiny seeds, build three crosses, feel the cold tomb... and watch grace grow.  May your hearts open to quiet moments of awe... steeped in grace.

Broken alone... completed in Him,

Suz

 A Broken Heart - Original post 3/26/10

 Sometimes the blogging universe

 brings unexpected gifts of friends and experiences...

gifts that can change your lens on the world.  

Tucked in my inbox this week from Ann Voskamp at Holy Experience 

was a link to an Easter project from Janna at Mustard Seeds.

It spoke volumes to my heart.

(Not to mention it involves mud. 

Did I say I have boys?!) 

My search for a fresh perspective was answered.  

  

 We would create our own hill of Calvary. 

Our own rough terrain.  

Our own rugged cross.

Our own cold tomb.

 Our own representation of love.

The truest love.