Some moments are frozen in time, stilled in sense and sight. Etched on our minds and engraved in our memories.
I’m remembering a week when my beloved was away for a few days and (very thoughtfully) provided me with meals in the freezer.
All lovingly home-cooked and pre-prepared ahead of time. Yes I know, I’m one blessed woman!
There was even a typed list of what to find where and how to deal with it. How’s that for organisation?
He takes such good care of me; his hands willing to work on my behalf since he lost paid employment, and despite having developed Parkinson’s disease over the last 2 years.
Thankfully, he can still do most things he used to do before his diagnosis, albeit slower, with a degree of pain and fatigue.
I’m not completely helpless in a kitchen. I can muster up coffee, breakfast and a snack, but I am unused to coping alone with main meals.
Because cooking and cleaning are lost arts to me since I’ve become more chronically unwell with arthritis, fibromyalgia and M.E.
I can’t stand for long, lift or carry much, can only walk a few steps unaided, experience a great deal of muscle and joint pain plus profound fatigue on a daily basis, cognitive problems, brain fog and hypersensitivity to light and sound.
Thankfully, my husband actually loves to cook because he’s pretty good at it and preparing meals relaxes him.
We may live a rather limited life compared to some, yet we are grateful for small mercies and experience moments of joy in little things.
The poem below speaks about my determination to press past my problems and push myself to enjoy a moment in time – although it’s not a recommended practice for those with M.E to extend themselves too much. Sadly, there’s always a payback afterwards. 😦
A moment in time
It’s only a moment in time
as I heed the inner need
to step outside a while
My senses alert to burgeoning
life as I peg laundry to line
I feel warm sun rays
playing on my face
like a heaven’s breath
benediction of grace
Whistling wind whips swift
tussling through hair and
trees, its resonant notes
vibrating each green leaf
Echoed in chiming ice-cream
van, roaming nearby streets,
while ‘sun has got its hat on’
sounds make children fleet of feet
My arms and legs ache so
with every move I make
And this bitter-sweet task
is no mean feat for me
Although washing is often
dried inside, today I yield,
follow my heart’s yearning,
welcoming embrace of Spring
©JoyLenton2015
**I’m editing and sharing this pre-prepared post I’d intended to share last year, because my health remains rather challenging at the moment and fresh inspiration is a bit thin on the ground. Hopefully normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. Thank you for your grace! ** 🙂
Poetry Joy 
I love your poem and your determination to keep sharing words despite the difficulties. They are beautiful and, though they were reposted from last year, they are NEW to me. 😉 Your life is an inspiration. I am stopping over from Holley’s link up – so glad that you were the one before me!
Hello Britta. Thanks for stopping by! My words were actually written only in draft form, so this is their first airing, just rather later than planned. Life has a way of delaying things sometimes. Bless you for reading and leaving a lovely encouraging comment. It’s good to meet you. Do feel free to visit again! 🙂
Beautiful words of overcoming! You never fail to inspire me with your determination and faith. Thank you for the blessing of your words today.
Mary, I’m so pleased to see you here and even more so to think these words speak to you of overcoming. Some days it feels more like surviving by the skin of my teeth! Praise God for His grace and equipping to write even when we’re weary and think we may have nothing to say. I’m blessed as always by your visit. 🙂 x
I’m so sorry you are increasingly chronically unwell, Joy. I’m grateful you have such a devoted, helpful hubby. Yet God keeps giving you words to share with us. Whether prewritten or present, they are always encouraging. This line especially brings me comfort and calmness today –
“I feel warm sun rays
playing on my face
like a heaven’s breath
benediction of grace”
Heaven’s breath of grace. So beautiful! Thank you.
I pray God will give you special strength and peace for each day!
Dear Trudy, I’m so grateful for your understanding and kindness. Yes, God has blessed me hugely with a patient and devoted husband who is always willing to help. Thank you for seeing encouragement between these lines. It’s what I aim to offer here and at wordsofjoy.me as I share my life and faith experiences. It warms and delights my heart to know you have found some comfort and calmness here, my friend. And I am humbly thankful for your prayers. May you also be blessed with all the health, strength and peace you need! Xx
Thank you for sharing and giving yourself in vulnerability. Your joy shines through, a testimony to how we should all live for Him.
Thanks, Debbie! It’s a daily struggle to choose joy in the midst of our mess, isn’t it? And impossible to do without God’s sustaining grace. Bless you for stopping by. 😊