Established Hands & Guarded Hearts

Two new pieces I put together

over the past few days.

The first is inspired by

my prayer for

my husband. . .

He works hard as a rancher

here with his family.

Carrying on a legacy

of a great-grandfather

who immigrated from Ireland

over 100 years ago.

It is my prayer that the work of his hands

would be established

~ held up ~ strengthened ~ solidified

by the Lord.

Those of you that work

outside year-round in the weather

are familiar with the yellow chore gloves.

The way they smell when they are new.

The feel of them...

the warmth.

But also the cold

when they get wet.

And the smell of them

in the spring.

When the baby calves

are dropping into the snowbanks

and have to be brought in

on a calf sled

to the barn

or to a calf heater

or to a bathtub

to be saved.

In the middle of the afternoon

and

in the middle of the night

when the snow is blinding

or when

the mud is relentless.

The season will come soon enough.

And several pairs

of these yellow gloves

will be thrown away.

Before the season is finished.



And so I pray

that God would establish

the work of these hands

in these gloves.

Make the work firm,

long-lasting,

well-rewarded

fulfilling.

Established.



~

*

~

The second piece is a verse for me.

Reminding myself

that is ok

to protect my heart.

It is ok

to

have

boundaries.

It is ok to have a fence

with a gate.

It is ok to have walls

with doors and windows

to open and shut.

To welcome in

and to close for protection.

It is ok to protect that which is sacred.

And I hope

to teach

my kids

to establish

their

boundaries

and guard

those

especially

around

their

sacred

heart.

The part

of them

that is for

the few

that have proven

trustworthy

and

for themselves

and God.

When it is ok

to

open

and

when it is ok

to

shut.

Learning.

There is a time for both.

Copyright 2011 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw

Branching Out Art & Photography