Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:

A few years back I helped Katy Ramsey, a wife of one
of our elders, plan a week-end retreat. Our theme was
"Joy For All Seasons." We had four speakers, a woman
from each season of life. I certainly enjoyed working with
Katy and it was  great growing experience for me. Katy
and her husband, Henry have since gone home to be with
the Lord. I treasure the time spent planning that retreat.
Lynne Lawson, another dear, sister in Christ, typed up
the program and put it in a workbook. I wrote the
following poem to go inside the workbook.

JOY FOR ALL SEASONS
Joy for all seasons,
In every circumstance of life?
Lord, how can I be joyful,
There is so much sorrow, so much strife?

"My child I shall be with you."
He answered patiently.
"No trial shall befall you,
That I shall not be with thee."

Lord, how can I be joyful,
I'm in a lot of pain?
"Endure," He whispered softly,
"Heaven is your gain."

Lord I've lost a loved one
I miss so very much!
"Did you know that I cried with you?"
He said, with a gentle touch.

My tears were were not tears of sorrow,
For your loved one is with me.
They were tears of compassion
And sympathy for thee."

Lord, this world is cold and lonely,
And I feel so all alone!
"My child, you're on a journey,
This world is not your home!

How can you be joyful?
Remember at this journey's end
There's a candle in the window
And a long awaited friend."

Freda Fullerton
February 28, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:

One time, we bought a book for a gift with the title, "Eventide."
The title intrigued me so much, I wrote the poem below and
gave it the same title.

EVENTIDE
In the eventide of life
God wilt thou be near?
If I put my trust in thee
Whom shall I fear?

As I walk life's pathway
And come to eventide,
Dear God, it shall suffice
If thou with me abide.

You walked with me at sunrise,
At noon, was with me still,
My prayer... be there at eventide,
My God I know you will!

Freda Fullerton
February 27, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:

God has blessed us with three wonderful children,
two girls and a boy. Janet is the oldest and Julie is
twenty-three months younger and John is almost
seven years younger than Julie. They're all grown
and wonderful, responsible adults, with great
Christian ethics. We're proud of each one. Today
is Janet's birthday and my poem below was written
several years ago. I'm posting it today, in honor of
her birthday!

MY LITTLE GIRLS
Girls are something special,
With pony-tails or curly hair.
God gave me an extra blessing,
For he gave to me a pair.

All the ruffles and the lace,
That I stitched up by the yard,
And to believe that now, they're grown-up
Is really very hard.

I see the dolly dresses,
Made with tender, loving care,
The play hi-heels and make-up
And nurse's kit is there.

I see the birthday parties,
With the candles on the cake
I see the Christmas cookies,
That they loved to help me make.

I can hear the little prayers they offered
As I tucked them into bed,
And I recall the many,
little funny things they said.

Now, they're all grown-up,
But they shall remain, in a special way
My little girls forever,
In my memories of yesterday!

Freda Fullerton
February 26, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:

Lasting treasures are the kind money can't by.
My poem today is taken from Matthew 6:19-20
"Do not store for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy and thieves break
through and steal."

THE THINGS I TREASURE
Father, you ask us not to lay up treasures
In this earthly land,
But I think the things I treasure,
Are the things you understand.

I treasure little children,
And the smile upon their face.
I treasure special loved ones,
And their fond embrace.

I treasure a lovely sunset
On a sea of blue,
I treasure every sunrise,
For the day is completely new.

I treasure older people,
And the example they have been,
And all the treasured moments,
Spent with a special friend.

I treasure sight, to see the beauty
Of this lovely land.
I treasure sound, to hear the music,
Of a lively marching band.

I treasure laughter,
for it lifts the burden of the day.
I treasure special memories,
That have come my way.

I treasure springtime showers
You send from up above,
I treasure your Son, Father,
For His unselfish love.

These are the things I treasure,
And I hold them up for You to view,
For I think the things I treasure,
Are the ones You treasure too.

Freda Fullerton
February 25, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:

Man has accomplished many great things, my computer
for instances, with the touch of a button, I can instantly
send a message around the world; that still amazes me
so much! There is one thing man can't do, he can't save
himself. He needs God for that! In my poem below, I've
pointed out some things man has done and the things
that are only done by the "Hand of God."

THE HAND OF GOD
Man with his mighty works of steel
Hath created many an awesome thing,
But only from the Hand of God
Were wrought the days of Spring.

Man's cities stand a monument
To the things that he can do,
But man can never create a sky,
Tinted a heavenly hue.

Man can scale a mountain,
Sail an ocean wide,
But tis God you see,
That marks the boundaries of the tide.

Man has learned to fly a plane,
And tis a grand, grand thing,
But ah, grander still, the humble bird,
Only God can make it sing.

Freda Fullerton
February 24, 2011

Freda's Garden:

Welcome to my Garden:

When our two daughters, Janet and Julie, were babies they
each had a soft, pink nylon baby blanket, with satin binding.
They loved those blankets, especially Julie, the youngest. She
seemed permanently attached to it. It was so worn from washing
that it was full of holes. I had to bribe them with new dolls, to
get the blankets away from them!
We all have a weakness for certain soft things. Below is a list of
the soft things I like.

I LIKE SOFT THINGS
I like soft things...
A little fleecy lamb
A baby chick's soft down.

I like soft things...
Springy grass, so green,
Heaping scoops of soft, ice cream.

I like soft things...
Sand sifting through my toes
My old, cotton clothes.

I like soft things...
A bunny rabbit's fur,
A kitty cat's purr.

I like soft things...
Snow so white,
A kiss good-night.

Freda Fullerton
February 23, 2011

Freda's Garden

Welcome to my Garden:

I read a story once, about this mother that was having
a difficult time getting her young son to go to sleep.
He kept asking for one thing and another and finally he
called, "Mamma, I'm afraid!" She answered, "You
do not need to be afraid, God is watching over you."
There was a pause, and a small, trembling voice said,
"But I need someone with skin on!"
 Don't we all?
We need a hug a pat on the back, a hand to hold.
Tuesday's are special. I get to fellowship with my
Christian sisters, in a Bible class. God knows that
fellowship is important, as indicated in my following
poem.

FELLOWSHIP
Lord it takes a lot of faith,
To believe that you are there,
When I'm overwhelmed,
With sorrow and despair.

When I'm really suffering,
And my life is filled with pain,
It is easy to believe,
My faith is all in vain.

 I need the comfort,
Of a physical embrace,
And the smile of reassurance,
From a human face.

In your wisdom lord,
You must have known I'd feel this way,
That must be why you gave me other Christians
To fellowship today.

Freda Fullerton
February 22, 2011